Category Archives: Games

spread the restore love

Spread the RESTORE Love!

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We love bringing you seasonal versions of your favorite games to help boost patient experience! This month, we have two Valentine’s themed games Slots of Love and Cupid’s Arrow. Therapists, Care Partners, and players will fall head-over-heels for these fun and vibrant activities! 

icon for Slots of Love gameSlots of Love

We know players love the virtual slot machine, making it a favorite game year-round. In the themed-game Slots of Love, players will pull the lever to collect three (3) matching Valentine’s items! A perfect activity for patients working on activity tolerance or UE range of motion. When asked why it was their favorite, one player said, "I have to really 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! 

 

Cupid’s Arrowicon for Cupid's Arrow game

Help Cupid make a love connection by playing our Valentine’s game Cupid’s Arrow. Using your controller with one hand (small controller) or both hands (larger controller), focus Cupid’s bow on a couple to strike them with love! 💗 Make sure to aim for the center of the couple to release the arrow. A great game for those players working on reaching, crossing the midline,  or targeting balance.

Slots of Love winner

Looking for new ways to engage your residents this Valentine’s Day?! Here are a few tips for your next event: 
  • Make use of the abundance of red decorations hanging around your center and use a paper heart or another fun item as a controller during a special Love Day session.  If the player is wearing red, however, be sure to use contrasting colors to play! 
  • Set up a special partnered session of Cupid’s Arrow and have them work together to strike the couples on screen with an arrow. 
  • Organize a Valentine's-themed competition to see who can get the highest score in Slots of Love during a group therapy session.
  • Award your top players or group therapy participants with candy, flowers, or homemade cards! 

We can’t wait to see all the ways you use these games to boost the patient experience and get them moving (and loving it!)  

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!

 

Who is a Good Candidate for RESTORE?

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When first starting RESTORE people often ask "who's a good candidate?" or "who can play?" We want residents of all levels to play our games, move more, and have fun! If you can successfully facilitate the session, you can play with anyone. So in this post, you'll learn who can benefit from playing and get tips on how to get started. We'll also look at examples of how others are incorporating RESTORE into their routines.

Players can engage in any position. Sitting, standing, supported by a therapist, or lying down.

Play More, Reach for More, Achieve More

The most important thing to know before setting a patient in front of RESTORE is what skills you will target. Our therapeutic activities focus on the following skills areas:

  • Mobility - balance, weight shifting, sit to stand, lateral, forward/backward, dynamic
  • Upper/Lower Extremity - ROM, coordination, isolated/integrated movements, activity tolerance
  • Cognition - attention, concentration, memory, problem-solving, judgment, sequencing, decision making, following directions

When you first introduce the platform to your patients, begin by explaining how the tech works and how playing can help them achieve goals in a fun yet beneficial way. Then discuss the skills to be addressed and help the player choose a game and an object to use as a controller. Regardless of the goal, players will stay engaged in therapeutic activities longer and have fun!

Who Can Play?  

Our platform is accessible and adaptable. With a simple object and a webcam, residents can interact with games in any position: standing at parallel bars, seated at a desk or in a wheelchair, supported by a walker or therapist, or lying in bed. The following stories are great examples of the different types of players who've succeeded with RESTORE!

Long Term Patients

First is the story of a patient we'll call 'Sarah' who was recovering from carotid surgery when she first played. During her initial session, the therapist had 'Sarah' play the game Ski Saga to work her range of motion. She started by using her right arm to reach outside the base of support in seated and standing positions. Next, she played the time using her full body. With assistance from her therapist, 'Sarah' shifted from side to side and squatted for the bridges on screen. Even though she hit almost every obstacle, with the skier yelling "oomph" each time, 'Sarah' was cracking up! Her friends were visiting during therapy, and they were all laughing together. When 'Sarah' sat down, she was short of breath from the session. We asked what she thought, and she responded, "That was tough and made me work hard! I almost said the "f" word!"

At a different center, the recreation team often brings long term residents to the gym to play RESTORE games. One of their patients, Tina, enjoys playing the game Jackpot to work on her active range of motion, crossing midline, and functional reach. Every time we played and scored the jackpot, she got so excited and yelled out her winnings to everyone in the gym. As Jen, the center's Recreation Assistant, shared, "the residents caught on fast and were remembering fun times in Atlantic City. So, we weren't only exercising but playing and reminiscing too!"

Short Term Patients 

One of the most enthusiastic players we met was Tamie in Cleveland, Ohio. Tamie was a short-term patient who recently had surgery on a torn rotator cuff in her right shoulder. Her OT, Liz, knew Tami was a great candidate and explained how RESTORE can help her have fun while she develops her skills! Liz was working with Tamie to increase her range of motion and activity tolerance so that she can soon independently manage dressing, bathing, and other self-care needs. Tamie played the game Ancient Temple using both arms to reach the top! When we asked her what she thought of playing, she said, "I forgot about the pain, I forgot everything! I forgot that this was therapy. It allowed me more mobility & I had fun."

Elsewhere therapists set up a mobile platform in front of a patient while she was sitting on a mat. They asked her favorite color and placed a green RESTORE controller (ball) in her right hand. She played games to challenge her core control and dynamic sitting balance while working on functional reaching with the right UE. The player had the most beautiful smile and felt empowered being in control of her movements while interacting with the games. The session ended up being 45 minutes, although the patient didn't want to stop! She stayed engaged the entire time, and it was clear this was the best she had ever performed. The multiple skill goals of the session were realized, thus accelerating her outcomes.

The RESTORE Difference

Each of these players went into their session not knowing what to expect but they left feeling excited and accomplished. Because when patients smile, laugh, and have fun, they push harder, practice longer, and move more. In this post, we learned who's the right candidate for RESTORE, reviewed practical tips to get started, and saw the magic of therapeutic gamification in each story. We can't wait to see how you create a better day for your patients!

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!

restorative nursing

Getting More from RESTORE: Supporting Restorative Nursing

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We’re back to discuss how nurses, caretakers, and family members can come together to support a patient’s recovery. We want to help teams connect as they advance patient goals, whether they’re in short term rehab, long term, community, or home care! In the first post of this series, we looked at the ways Activities Directors have put RESTORE to use with their long term patients. In this post, we’ll first talk about the benefit to nursing and restorative teams before finally covering tips for utilization!  

Restorative Nursing 

We’ve all heard the phrase, “If you don’t use it, you lose it.” Restorative services provide hope and independence to residents by working with them to improve functionality. RESTORE activities brings interactive, skill-based fun to your nursing tool kit! For patients, daily practice is critical. And practicing outside of the therapy gym will help to prevent functional decline. Using RESTORE in conjunction with traditional treatment is ideal because it allows the resident to focus on what they can do rather than what they can’t. Take Mrs. Vanessa Cummings, a resident at Elmhurst Rehabilitation and Healthcare Center, for example. Vanessa was experiencing pain in bilateral LE and had difficulty standing. But, after playing & standing for 5 minutes she said, “I know this serves a purpose, it helps me forget about the pain when I focus on the fun of the game.”

Put it Into Practice

To support the interdisciplinary collaboration between rehab and nursing services, patients no longer on therapy caseload can include RESTORE as part of a maintenance program. For example, a therapist can assign sessions to a care partner (nursing or restorative care) for supported play with the patient 2-3 times per week. Working on medication management with a patient? Play Pill Skill using hand over hand guidance to ensure your patient locates the correct medication bottle. Then help facilitate movement to appropriate pillbox location. The game allows players to practice this task repeatedly in a fun, positive environment. It also builds their confidence as they move onto replicating the task in real life. 

medication management for restorative nursing
Screenshot of the RESTORE game Pill Skill

I hope this post provides some tangible ways to use and implement RESTORE both in and out of the gym. If you’re a non-therapy professional, we want to hear from you! Share a favorite experience, patient progress story, or photo by emailing amanda@restoreksills.com. We can’t wait to hear from you! 

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!

group and concurrent therapy

Getting More from RESTORE: Collaborating with Activities

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From our work with our facility partners, we know that RESTORE can be a pathway for collaboration. Our mission is to help teams within facilities connect so that they can advance patient goals together! In this next series of blog posts, we’ll talk about how different departments can use RESTORE to create fun, engaging, and meaningful experiences in support of patient goals.

Activities & Recreation

Whether it’s a group outing or afternoon social, Activities brings a sense of community, joy, and excitement to residents, helping them get the most out of their day! They create meaningful experiences to keep residents engaged and healthy while providing valued support to other departments. Working in tandem with the therapy department, for example, to increase residents’ function and physical movement, elevate their mood, and decrease any adverse events like falls and readmission. 

One way buildings can get the most out of the RESTORE platform is to utilize games as a part of a group/community activity! For example, play our Thanksgiving-themed games during your building’s Thanksgiving celebration. Have fun laughing and reminiscing with your patients and their families about their favorite holiday stories, recipes, and traditions! Activities staff can then follow up with therapy if a specific patient/resident expresses interest for more frequent use of RESTORE. 

support patient goals

The RESTORE Difference 

As we heard from the New Eastwood Healthcare & Rehabilitation Center, residents of all levels love to engage with the platform. Their Activities team will often bring long term residents to visit the gym to play RESTORE games. For example, Tina played Jackpot, focusing on AROM, crossing midline, and functional reach. Every time she scored a jackpot, she yelled out her winnings, she was so excited! She told the OT in the gym that she wants to come down to the gym more often and play more games. Vicki, another long term resident in the group, said Ski Saga was her favorite, “it had me squatting and moving, but if I hit the hit the trees or bridges, the skier would make a noise!”  

Therapists at Crest Pointe Rehabilitation & Healthcare Center also take advantage of RESTORE! Recreation Director Barbara S. told us, “I’ve noticed how much fun our residents are having, and it’s a great resource for them to use coordination.” Jen C, the recreation assistant, told us that she usually worked evening in the sensory program and noticed that “the residents caught on quickly! When playing Jackpot, they remembered times in Atlantic City. So, we were not only exercising but playing and reminiscing too!” 

What Our Users Have to Say!

residents enjoy RESTORE with activities

 

“The RESTORE program has added a whole new level to our Activities Program. Residents who were not interested in anything else,
are participating & enjoying the games, & at the same time, they are receiving the valuable benefits of exercise. Residents are pairing up to do the group games, working as teams & socializing more.

We had one resident that had lost a loved one, and the RESTORE games helped her past her depression. As an Activities Director, I am excited to be able to employ this new technology, to bring enjoyment & increased quality of life to our Residents.”  – Erin McCorry, Director of Activities, Coral Harbor Rehabilitation & Healthcare Center

Put It Into Practice

These are the kind of experiences we want to help create, both in and out of the gym! I hope this post showed how RESTORE could be played by any therapist, Activities director, nurse, or family member supporting a player’s (patient) goals. If you’re a non-therapy professional who uses RESTORE, we want to hear from you! Share a favorite experience, patient progress story, or photo by emailing amanda@restoreksills.com. We can’t wait for our tribe to hear from you! 

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!

Thankful for more RESTORE!

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Beans, greens, potatoes, stuffing, pie…yum! We can’t wait to eat & celebrate with our families next week. Luckily, your players can start their festivities early with these Thanksgiving-themed games! Have fun with the following activities while you reminisce with your patients and families about their favorite holiday stories. They’ll be grateful you did!

Turkey Hunt 

What’s Thanksgiving without the turkey?! In this game, players aim the target at a turkey & dwell on shooting. After playing, a patient said, “I like that it makes you competitive with yourself, and it’s fun to compete with the other patients. I love it! It exercised my arms and mind while having fun!” Launch this game to work on bilateral coordination, accuracy, and range of motion. After all this turkey, you might need a nap!

Fall Feast

It’s time to set the table for your big family dinner! Control the pilgrim by moving side to side to catch the fall feast items shown (listed from bottom to top) while avoiding the incorrect items. When playing this game, a speech therapist in the Marquis network said: “This is great for working memory!” You’ll have your plate full with options, like playing with a controller attached to the hand, head, chest, or finger. Be sure to adjust the range of motion based on the amount of movement desired for your player.

Throwing a Thanksgiving meal for your residents and looking to add some fun?!  These games will have them laughing, reminiscing, and returning for seconds. Log in today to satisfy your appetite! 🍽🦃

Follow  RESTOREskills on Facebook & LinkedIn for updates on our platform, new game announcements, testimonials, tips, and much much more! To have your story featured on our blog, please contact our social media manager via email amanda@restoreskills.com or call (330) 968-2879. We look forward to supporting your goals

fun group therapy

Can You Participate in 2 Group Sessions at the Same Time?

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To wrap up this series of posts, I’m happy to share one more joyful moment from my trip to our MA facilities last month. If you have yet to read my other posts about great customer experiences, you can find them here, but now I am thrilled to share a fun group therapy story with you.

Meeting Diane

This time, we’re back to Cedar View Rehab! On this day, the therapy team had every patient participate in some epic group play. Here I met Diane, RESTORE’s #1 fan, who blew me away when she participated in two group sessions back-to-back! It was truly a delight to see her so eager to engage.

For their group session, the therapists split people into two playing groups. Each station was set up to play Ski Saga where players worked on weight shifting, trunk rotation, squatting, strengthening, and standing tolerance. It was great to see the variety of exercises and controllers used to enhance the session. The whole room was full of excitement players took turns “skiing” to reach their therapy goals.

The RESTORE Difference

In her first session, Diane used a dowel rod to work on standing trunk rotation and upper extremity strengthening. Still energized after soaring through her first session, she joined my group where she practiced weight-shifting, squatting, and balance. Even when a therapist told Diane, “you can take a break and sit down if you’d like” she continued to play, pushing herself to complete each task. 

When she finally agreed to take a break, I showed Diane her playing time.  The smile on her face was undeniable when she realized she played for over 20 minutes! “I feel great,” she said, “I was having so much fun, I didn’t even realize I was playing so long!” The room buzzed with happiness from the fun and everyone seemed to have a better day because of it.

Do you have any fun stories from a RESTORE group play session? Tell me about it by sending an email with your story and a few of your favorite pictures. We can’t wait to share the smiles from 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!

 

increasing patient independence

“I’ve got this, I don’t need help!”

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Thank you for following these posts as I share another happy moment from my trip to our MA Marquis facilities. If you haven’t had the chance to read my first blog post about Maria or the second post about Joe, you can find them here. But now, I am thrilled to share Madeline’s story about patient independence!

Meeting Madeline

Elmhurst Rehab was the first facility I visited during my trip, talk about a perfect way to begin the week. Their therapy team was so excited to get started, and that energy spread to everyone who played that afternoon. During our session, one of the OTs brought in a patient “who was already in love” with RESTORE. Now, if I had one word to describe Madeline, it would be fierce! As she told us, this wasn’t her first time playing, and she was ready to show off! 

The RESTORE Difference

During her session, Madeline worked on a targeted range of motion and strengthening her upper extremities. I was very impressed when she picked one of the toughest games, Ancient Temple, for her session. Now, I’ve played this game myself, and I can tell you that after a few minutes, your shoulders and arms will feel the burn! But with each level, Madeline kept climbing higher and higher. Even when met with a challenge, she pushed through until the level was complete. Having fun helped her independence and pushed her to play unassisted. Even when our Clinical Director, Ian, tried to guide her with a task, Madeline said, “I’ve got this, I don’t need help”!

With all it’s levels, Ancient Temple is a game that can last for over 12 minutes! And Madeline, being the independent person she is, reached the final one! What was even more incredible was the fact that this was only one of the games she played that afternoon. I was amazed by Madeline’s efforts and loved getting to know her fierce personality.

Do you have any stories about RESTORE helping with patient independence? Tell me about it by sending me an email. 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!

patients encourage each other for a better day

Patients Encourage Each Other for a Better Day!

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Here is another happy moment from my trip to our MA facilities last month. If you haven’t had the chance to read my first blog post about Maria’s great therapy experience, you can find it here. But now, I am thrilled to share a story about Joe encouraging his fellow patients that is sure to bring a smile to your face.

Getting to Know Joe

Joe was the very first patient to stop in the gym at River Terrace the morning of our visit. I love meeting patients like Joe, he was open-minded and jumped at the chance to try something new during his therapy session! When finding the right game, Joe mentioned that he had never skied, so we checked that off his bucket list by loading Ski Saga.

While practicing, Joe used various controllers and played four different games to work on weight-shifting, balance, and stepping up & down. He told us that he couldn’t wait to tell his grandson that he went skiing in therapy! After his session was over, Joe left the gym with a big grin on his face. Lucky for us, that wasn’t the last time we would see him during our visit. 

The RESTORE Difference

Just twenty minutes after leaving the therapy gym, Joe was back! At that point, a few other patients had joined our group. “Can I come back and watch you play?” he asked, “this is better than being in my room.” It was fantastic! His positive and upbeat attitude was the key to all of us having a better day.  

The entire time Joe was there to encourage patients as they worked on their own skills. He watched as they played, cheering them on, and making conversation with everyone in the room! It was incredible to see everyone laugh, play, and learn more about each other.  

Do you have a patient story like Joe’s? We’d love to hear about the difference RESTORE games make in your daily treatment! 

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!