Monthly Archives: December 2019

meet the team

Meet the Team: Jayne

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In this series, you heard from our team members about their favorite moments over the last year! If you missed Guy's post about his trip to the US, you can find that here. In this post, Jayne, our National Director of Partnerships, tells us about one of her favorite RESTORE experiences from 2019. 

I've been a member of the RESTORE family since the company moved from Israel to the US. I have many great memories and favorite moments from over the years. As we shifted from the kids' platform to the adult platform and I started to work closely with therapists and patients in centers, I quickly realized there was a similar trend: a lack of time for creativity and limited utilization of technology. Luckily, I knew this was a problem we could help solve!

It never fails to warm my soul to see how a simple, portable tool can change an entire center. The slight shift in attitude and incorporation of fun, interactive technology makes a world of difference for everyone involved. It can take a therapist from one who does the same things every day to one who boldly embraces a new approach. And whose patients reap the benefits!

Getting Started

The best part of my job, by far, is witnessing players experience our games for the first time! Patients push harder and longer than they have before because they're having fun. They smile, laugh, and cheer one another on, creating memorable experiences for everyone. A great example of this is from a recent visit I had with a center in Maryland. A woman in a wheelchair came for therapy to work on core and lower body strengthening. I was excited for her to play because we have some great options for targeting these areas! 

We explained how to play, and it was clear she was ready for some fun. The therapist attached a controller to her chest, customized the range of motion, and played Ski Saga to start. Guided by her therapist, she shifted from side to side and played for over 30 seconds. She flew down the slopes avoiding obstacles to the best of her ability, smiling the entire time! All of us had so much fun and she asked to play another game. This time, her therapist wanted her to play using her legs.

The RESTORE Difference

We placed a controller on her toes and played another game with her extending her leg straight out. The first time she heard the Ladybugs go "Yippee" as she helped them cross the bridge, she laughed audibly, and her face lit up! After playing for about a minute, the therapist mentioned that she was able to extend her leg more than she has before. This made the patient feel very accomplished and proud of her hard work. Then, I showed them how to access the data to view duration (time played) and the movement map, which affirmed what the therapist said. 

In my opinion, RESTORE is much more than just a therapy tool. It is often-needed defibrillation, restarting the heart of therapy departments and reminding them of why they wake up every morning. Working closely with therapists and patients to ensure that they have the best experience while they are in therapy is why I continue to love what we do here at RESTORE! 

Follow RESTOREskills on Facebook & LinkedIn for updates on our platform, new game announcements, testimonials, tips, and much much more! To schedule an obligation free demonstration of our on-demand therapy platform with our team, please contact us at info@restoreskills.com or call (330) 968-2879. We look forward to supporting your goals!

Meet our web developer, Guy.

Meet the Team: Guy

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In this series, you'll hear from a few of our team members about their favorite moments over the last year! If you missed Karin's post last week, you could find that here. Today Guy, our beloved web developer, shares a beautiful story from his recent trip to the U.S. to meet our users.

 

meet the team

Guy & Karin (Game Developer & Graphic Designer) during their visit to NYC.

Ever since I was a kid, I've been a gamer and appreciated the impact games could have on our lives. When done right, games are engaging, challenging, immersive, and, most importantly, fun! They can take our minds off of things and take us on amazing adventures, while enhancing our coordination, improving our reaction time, and sparking our imagination. My love for games is what made me want to become a programmer and what brought me to RESTORE. 

For the past few years, I have had the opportunity to work and collaborate on a platform that focuses on bringing the fun and engagement of gaming to people who do not get to experience it often (and maybe need it the most). During a recent trip to the U.S. (I'm from Israel), I got to see the result of our hard work in action, and it was AMAZING! I loved seeing how different centers react to and engage with our platform, and I'd like to share one experience that stuck with me.

 

Getting Started

At one center, after our training session with the staff, the DOR invited a nice gentleman in a wheelchair to try out our platform. His O.T. told us that he could stand for about 30 seconds at a time when assisted by at least two staff members. After a short review of the activities, we decided our new friend was about to go skiing for the first time in his life by playing our hit game "Ski Saga." We started the game by having the patient play with his hand while seated to give him a sense of how the games worked. After a short session this way, he was excited and ready to go for real!

It was a bit of a challenge for him to stand up, but with the help of the DOR and his O.T., he was up and ready to go. The game started and...he hit a tree, then another one and another one as he was unable to perform the actions required to move the little skier on the screen. It was then that the DOR asked the player sidestep towards him. The patient took a small step towards the DOR and the little skier responded by changing lanes, avoiding a tree at the last second. It was now time to move to the left, "now sidestep towards me," the O.T. on the other side said while assisting the patient. The patient responded by moving left, and so did the little skier. And then, something incredible happened… another tree came towards our skier, and without any assistance or instruction whatsoever, the patient took a large sidestep to avoid it.

The RESTORE Difference

A few seconds later, and the patient was now playing, standing up assisted only by his O.T. He then went on to play for a few more minutes, eventually entirely on his own (with his O.T. by his side, of course), taking big side steps to the left and right, skillfully controlling the character on the screen and showing the game who's boss! He even forgot about the fact that he was doing therapy because he was having so much fun. Everyone in the room was now watching him play; it was glorious! Our friend, who a few minutes ago was only able to stand for 30 seconds assisted by two people, was now skiing freely from side to side and even taking small squats to avoid bridges.

That was only one of the countless meaningful experiences I had during my fantastic visit, and it sure gave me the motivation to keep making our platform even better for the therapists and patients harnessing the incredible power of gaming.

Follow RESTOREskills on Facebook & LinkedIn for updates on our platform, new game announcements, testimonials, tips, and much much more! To schedule an obligation free demonstration of our on-demand therapy platform with our team, please contact us at info@restoreskills.com or call (330) 968-2879. We look forward to supporting your goals!

Meet the Team!

Meet the Team: Karin

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Everything we do here is to support of our goal of creating enhanced experiences for your team, your patients, and their loved ones. In earlier posts, we heard stories from players who had meaningful experiences with therapeutic gamification. But in this next series, we’ll hear from a few of our team members about their favorite moments over the last year! In this post you’ll meet Karin, a senior game developer and graphic designer in our Tel Aviv office.

This fall, I had the chance to travel to NYC to work with our U.S. team. While there, I was able to visit numerous facilities that use the RESTORE platform. I learned a great deal while talking to the staff, therapists, and residents and hearing the insightful ideas they shared with me. It was so exciting to see firsthand how patients love and appreciate our product. Here is one special experience from the trip I’d like to share:

The day of our visit, I observed a therapy session between a therapist and patient who was not feeling great.  She told us she was feeling off and said she didn’t want to stand at all. The therapist said that was okay and she sat and eagerly watched another patient play the game Jackpot (which I developed) and waited for her turn.

The RESTORE Difference

When her turn came, she immediately knew she wanted to play that same game. It was like suddenly forgot her discomfort and agreed to play the game for a couple of minutes while standing! For me, as the game developer, it was amazing to see how something I created help a patient who earlier refused to stand to go on and have fun with her therapy. After she finished playing, she continued to say how beautiful and fun that slot machine was! It moved me to know that something I designed and developed could have that great of an impact on people.

I hope this made you smile like it made me. It’s a story I will carry in my heart as I build more games that create meaningful experiences for all of you and your patients. It’s an honor to know that my day to day job is to make therapy more fun and enjoyable for patients. I look forward to a brighter future where joy, gaming, and therapy are intertwined. 

Follow RESTOREskills on Facebook & LinkedIn for updates on our platform, new game announcements, testimonials, tips, and much much more! To schedule an obligation free demonstration of our on-demand therapy platform with our team, please contact us at info@restoreskills.com or call (330) 968-2879. We look forward to supporting your goals!

Tis’ the Season for Gamified FUN!

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Are you looking for a fun way to warm up the residents at your next holiday event? Look no further! To celebrate the most wonderful time of the year, we’re launching holiday renditions of your favorite games. Time to serve up some cocoa, put on some music and spread cheer with a RESTORE Holiday party. Below, you’ll learn all about the three (3) seasonal games launched this week, along with tips for best use. Be sure to log in and play before the holiday magic is gone! 

Elf on the Slope

Elves are so busy running around for Santa in the days leading up to Christmas. In this game, patients navigate through candy cane arches and collect presents for Christmas. See who can receive the most gifts with the Elf on the Slope today! This is an excellent game for players working on lateral mobility as they’ll practice weight shifting, balancing, and squatting. When asked what her favorite game is one patient said, “I loved the skiing game! I didn’t think I was going to be able to do it. I was surprised when I was good at it. I’m going to tell my sister I skied in therapy today!”

 

Holly Jolly Slots

Embrace the excitement of the holidays with Holly Jolly Slots. Players will pull the slots to collect three  (3) matching Hanukkah or Christmas items to win the round! A perfect activity for patients working on activity tolerance or UE range of motion and players love engaging with the virtual slot machine!  When asked why it was their favorite, one player said, “I have to concentrate on it. It makes me change hands too. It’s a great fun game. I love it!” Reminder: If a player pulls a rare “Triple WILD” jackpot, let us know, and we’ll send them a special gift! 

 

Tis the Season for Gamified Fun

Santa’s Sleigh

Santa needs to deliver his gifts on time! Your player will guide Old St. Nick’s sleigh through the night sky by moving their controller either up & down or left & right. Either gifts or coal will drop into the chimneys as you fly by, but be careful not to crash! If you observe a player struggling, use tactile cues to help them complete the desired movements correctly. A great game for testing reaction time, activity tolerance, and functional reach. Players can have fun tallying how many children were “Naughty” or “Nice” based on their delivery! 

 

 

These games are so great; you’ll want to grab an ornament or pull on some mittens and play right away! Set up two or more stations where residents can play individually, as a team, or compete in a group simultaneously. They’ll love the nostalgia of the games and have a great time sharing their favorite holiday memories and traditions. 

 Follow RESTOREskills on Facebook & LinkedIn for updates on our platform, new game announcements, testimonials, tips, and much much more! To schedule an obligation free demonstration of our on-demand therapy platform with our team, please contact us at info@restoreskills.com or call (330) 968-2879. We look forward to supporting your goals!

power of therapeutic gamification

The Power of Therapeutic Gamification

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We know it’s not always easy to engage a patient, especially when they’ve had a tough day. We also know that creating fun, interactive experiences can help lead to a better day. This week, we’ll look at another facility to learn about the power of therapeutic gamification and how it can help provide an enhanced patient experience.  

During a therapy visit to New Eastwood Healthcare & Rehabilitation Center, we were so excited to see the impact of the therapeutic activities on patients throughout the gym. The first patient to play during our visit was Mike, who recently returned to the facility from being in the hospital. With his therapist, Mike focused on AROM and activity tolerance while seated. As he played he it was clear he was having a lot of fun! He told us that playing worked out his arms and shoulders and that he was impressed that it made him short of breath! 

The RESTORE Effect

As they progressed through the session, another patient asked to join Mike and play the game Bull’s Eye so they could have a “shootout” competition. So, she set up both players on the same device, selected “Group Play,” and started the contest! The players loved the activity, the second saying, “it’s fun to compete with other patients, but it also makes you competitive with yourself because you want to get better. It exercises your body and mind while having fun!” 

In addition to Mike’s shootout partner joining in on the fun, another patient asked to play! She watched the two men enjoying the friendly and asked if she could play. Although seated during her prior dowel exercise, the therapist referred the patient to stand when playing. So, the therapist placed a ball in the middle of the same dowel turning it into a controller.  The patient stood for 10 minutes and completed too many interactive repetitions to keep track of visually. At the end of the session, the patient expressed how much FUN she had and that she enjoyed not thinking about it being exercise. 

The RESTORE Difference 

Later on, the therapist pulled up the data from the session to show the patient. They reviewed her movement pattern and the heat map of the bilateral movements completed during her entire session. The therapist expressed that this session was far more productive in working towards the patient’s goals than the short dowel sessions alone. The patient added that the 10 minutes of standing flew by because she was having fun!

What started as a single patient playing games quickly turned into additional patients engaging in group play or asking to play on their own. The smiles and laughter generated from the gaming experience caught the attention of other patients working on their personal goals throughout the gym.  From Mike to the final patient, we were able to see first hand the ripple effect therapeutic gamification had on everyone present. 

Follow  RESTOREskills on Facebook & LinkedIn for updates on our platform, new game announcements, testimonials, tips, and much much more! To schedule an obligation free demonstration of our on-demand therapy platform with our team, please contact us at info@restoreskills.com or call (330) 968-2879. We look forward to supporting your goals!

overcoming patient refusals

Overcoming Patient Refusals

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Have you ever tried to get a patient down to the therapy gym for their session without success? If so, you know how difficult it is to overcome patient refusals. The reasons given are many: “I’m too tired; My family is visiting soon; I’m afraid I’ll fall; It’s too hard; I just don’t want to.” So what can you do to handle these situations? In this post, I’m going to share a story about a therapist who adjusted her approach to beat this challenge. I hope it encourages you to try something new when overcoming patient refusals.

The RESTORE Difference 

At a recent facility visit, an SLP shared that the patient she was scheduled to see refused to come to the gym. Simply put, he didn’t want to do therapy that afternoon. The therapist shared videos of other patients playing RESTORE games to encourage him to come down to the gym. But, the patient still didn’t want to leave and said he would only be interested in playing if he could play in his room. As long as you have an internet connection and a webcam supported device, you can quickly load games. So, the therapist quickly grabbed a laptop and started a session right in her patient’s room! 

They played games to address sequencing and Pill Skill for medication management.  At the end of the session, the patient expressed how much FUN he had and that he enjoyed not thinking about it being exercise. It was wonderful because we did not have to disrupt the treatment session in the gym in order to bring the technology to another patient bedside. When the therapist decided to think outside of the box by reaching for a new tool, she completed a meaningful 30-minute session with her patient that they both enjoyed!

Let Us Know Your Success Story!

I hope this post illustrates how you can step out of the box to overcome daily challenges. Do you have any stories about RESTORE helping with patient independence? Tell me about it by sending me an email amanda@restoreskills.com. We want to share your smiles, tips, and ideas with all our users.

Follow  RESTOREskills on Facebook & LinkedIn for updates on our platform, new game announcements, testimonials, tips, and much much more! To schedule an obligation free demonstration of our on-demand therapy platform with our team, please contact us at info@restoreskills.com or call (330) 968-2879. We look forward to supporting your goals!