Pools are open for the season across the  Commonwealth, but there are some Kentuckians who cannot access traditional pools. That’s where Home of the Innocents Aquatic Therapy Center in Louisville steps in.

“Our pool is accessible to everyone. We have a ramp to enter the pool with an aquatic wheelchair, so if you are not able to walk, you can get in that way. We have stairs, we have ladders and we also have a chair and flat bed lift. Some of the residents that live at the Home don’t sit in a chair, so they are able to get in the pool as well even if they aren’t sitting down,” Home of the Innocents Communications Director Meredith Pack said.

The structure of the pool is just the first step. Home of the Innocents offers classes for people of all ages and ability levels. That includes group sessions for any type of aquatic therapy someone could need.

“It can help with buoyancy which gives people a lot more flexibility and it’s a lot gentler on their joints, so people can really get a lot more out of their movements by using the pool instead of on land where you are fighting against gravity a lot harder,” Pack said.

Tony Blesdoe has taking aquatic therapy classes at Home of the Innocents for six to seven years now. It all started when a friend of his, who is a physical therapist, suggested looking into the practice.

“I have a bad back. All I can do is walk a little bit. I come here and feel like little kid in the pool,” Blesdoe said.

For many, the pool is a way to move around without all the aches and pains they may face on land. While that’s often what brings people in the doors, it’s the class comradery that keeps them coming back.

“It’s nice to have people to talk to. A lot of them have the same aches and pains and stuff like that. We’re all friends,” Blesdoe said.

The Home of the Innocents Aquatic Therapy Center is open to the public. There is more information about hours, prices and class offerings on the Home of the Innocents website.