Activities Professionals, we see and value your unwavering commitment to enriching lives. We've crafted a week of activities that mirror your passion. Let's create moments that matter!

Monday: Name Your Car Day! 🚗
Get in Gear: Who knew that giving your car a name could be this much fun? We're kickstarting our week with "Name Your Car Day!" Have a chuckle hearing the creative and quirky names everyone comes up with.
The Fast Lane: Get those minds racing with a game of Car Cross on our platform.
Road Trip Anyone?: End the day with a virtual trip down memory lane. Buckle up as we tour the iconic Route 66 with 'Visit Familiar Places' on the RESTORE-Wellness platform.

Tuesday: National Fruit at Work Day! 🍎
Fruity Fun: Dive into the vibrant world of fruits. Not only are they juicy and delicious, but they're also packed with health benefits.
Catch if You Can: Navigate through 'Falling Fruit,' a game that's both fun and, well, fruity.
Blend it Up: As the cherry on top, get those blenders whirring and treat everyone to fresh fruit smoothies. Yum!

Wednesday: National Golf Lovers Day! ⛳
Hole-in-One: Golf enthusiasts, this is your day! Tee off with 'Mini Golf Masters' and get everyone involved, no matter their skill level.
Zen on the Green: After the competitive fun, bring everyone together for a serene 'Guided Meditation' on the RESTORE-Wellness platform. A perfect way to wind down and embrace tranquility.

Thursday: Get Funky Day! 💃
Move to the Beat: Today, we embrace the funky rhythms of life. Get everyone up and dancing with 'Move & Groove'.
Dress to Impress: And, what's funkiness without some sassy, vibrant outfits? Dress in your funkiest attire and light up the room!

Friday: National Coaches Day! 🏀
Shoot and Score: It's game on with 'Hoop Stars'. Perfect for all our aspiring basketball enthusiasts.
Bring the Spirit: Encourage everyone to show their spirit, because the best energy wins a prize today. Cheering, clapping, and team spirit will be the order of the day!

Activities Professionals, you're not just the heartbeat of recreation, but also crucial promoters of well-being for our residents. This week, as we engage in diverse games and experiences, we're not just having fun; we're stimulating minds, promoting physical activity, and fostering community.

P.S. We'd love to hear about the creative ways you're using these games and activities pairings. Post in the RESTORE  Game Changers, skilled-care professional Facebook group and let the world see your genius!

Transform how residents receive care all while streamlining workflow with RESTORE’s innovative platform. Click Here to schedule a RESTORE-Wellness demo.

October's here, and PT Month is the perfect time to focus on Lateral Mobility and Weight Shifting. Delve into these game-based strategies that promise both fun and functional outcomes!

🏀 Hoop Stars: Shoot & Score

• Lateral Mobility: Encourage patients to step laterally, aiming and shooting those baskets with precision.

• Weight Shifting: Nailing that golden basketball requires balance and a smooth transition of weight.

• Bonus Tip: Mix up the game speeds! A slower game pace for understanding movement and a faster one for challenging mastery.

🎯 Bullseye: On Target Every Time!

• Lateral Mobility: Moving the scope to hover over targets fine-tunes side-to-side hand-eye coordination.

• Weight Shifting: Holding position over a target, especially for bonuses, promotes steady weight balance and controlled shifts.

• Bonus Tip: Turn each bonus into a mini-challenge! Ask patients to predict their next move or anticipate the next bonus.

💃 Move & Groove: Let's Dance

• Lateral Mobility: As the arrows light up, guide your patients to hover over them using their controller, emphasizing rhythmic lateral transitions.

• Weight Shifting: Feel the beat and transfer weight with each lit arrow.

• Bonus Tip: Let them pick a song they enjoy! Recognizable rhythms can aid with anticipation and coordination.

🎰 Jackpot: Skillful Lever-Pulling

• Lateral Mobility: Reaching the top of the lever promotes lateral hand-eye coordination. An engaging way to practice precision!

• Weight Shifting: The act of pulling down the lever is an exercise in subtle body weight adjustments.

• Bonus Tip: Set mini milestones for patients, like achieving a consistent weight shift across multiple lever pulls.

🌊 Jet Ski Adventure: Navigating with Agility

• Lateral Mobility: From the vast sea to the challenging rocky paths, lateral swerves become an exhilarating practice in mobility.

• Weight Shifting: Dodge and weave, shifting weight dynamically with each rapid maneuver.

• Bonus Tip: Encourage patients to craft their own adventure story during play. This not only stimulates their imagination, but also engages them further in the activity.

By integrating these game-driven techniques into your therapeutic approach, you're primed to deliver sessions that fuse fun with foundational physical therapy goals. Here's to an October filled with innovative therapy, playful challenges, and transformative results!

Click Here to schedule a RESTORE-Skills demo and experience a facility-wide commitment to skill building. 

Already part of RESTORE-Skills? Then join Game Changers, the skilled-care professional Facebook group!

Sing-A-Longs are now available on the RESTORE-Wellness platform! Thank you to Ricky Pena and Ace LiPuma from Marquis Health Services for their collaboration and energy. Their talent and passion have shaped this unique offering. Tune in and witness the transformative power of song!

For Activity Professionals

1. Diverse Content: With songs from the 40s-50s, 60s-70s, and Patriotic Classics, there's something for every resident's taste, ensuring a broad appeal and accommodating diverse musical preferences.
   

2. Easy Accessibility: The platform's digital format simplifies the organization and initiation of sing-a-long sessions, reducing the need for physical materials and manual setups.
   

3. Continuous Learning: Activity Professionals can fine-tune sessions for maximum participation and enjoyment by gauging which songs resonate most with residents.
   

4. Collaboration: Featuring artists like Ricky Pena and Ace LiPuma introduces a touch of novelty and authenticity, enhancing the overall experience.
   

5. Flexibility: The digital platform allows Activity Professionals to tailor sessions according to residents' preferences, moods, or specific events or themes.
   

6. Reduction in Resource Dependence: Digital sing-a-longs eliminate the need for physical CDs, instruments, or other equipment, leading to cost savings and ease of setup.

For Residents

1. Cognitive Stimulation: Singing and listening to familiar songs can stimulate the brain, triggering memories and enhancing cognitive engagement. Music can be helpful for residents living with Dementia.
   

2. Emotional Well-Being: The power of music to evoke feelings of nostalgia, happiness, and a sense of belonging can significantly uplift residents' spirits.
   

3. Social Interaction: Sing-a-longs are inherently communal, promoting interaction among residents and helping reduce feelings of isolation.
   

4. Physical Health: Singing exercises the lungs and releases endorphins, acting as both a mood booster and mild physical activity.
   

5. Personal Expression: These sessions offer residents a chance to express themselves, share personal stories, and connect with their past and each other.
   

6. Familiarity and Comfort: Classic songs, mainly from their formative years, can provide solace and a reassuring touch of the familiar in their environment.

Access the RESTORE-Wellness platform to find our fresh Sing-A-Long sessions. Activity Professionals and residents, you're the stars of the show. Ready, set, sing!

P.S. We'd love to hear about the creative ways you're using these Sing-A-Longs. Post in the RESTORE  Game Changers, skilled-care professional Facebook group and let the world see your genius!

Transform how residents receive care all while streamlining workflow with RESTORE’s innovative platform. Click Here to schedule a RESTORE-Wellness demo.

Stephanie Staudigel, one of our users from Summit Home Health, recently showcased the incredible potential of Discharge to Home Trivia. She used it to empower her patient with vital home safety awareness, ensuring they felt confident in their home environment.

🏠 An essential tool for a safe and smooth transition to home 

Comprehensive Safety Awareness: The game covers a wide range of topics related to safety at home. Questions like, "What are the safest ways for your caregivers to transfer you from one place to another?" and "Why should you have a non-slip bath mat or adhesive strips in your shower or bathtub?" address critical safety concerns.

Empowering Residents: Discharge to Home Trivia empowers residents by equipping them with the knowledge and awareness they need to navigate their homes safely. It fosters independence and confidence.

Engaging Learning: Learning through a game is far more exciting and memorable than traditional methods. Residents are actively involved, making the educational process enjoyable and effective.

Covering Essential Topics: The game covers a wide range of topics, from preventing falls to ensuring proper hydration and medication management. Each question provides valuable insights into key aspects of home safety.

Supporting Caregivers: Caregivers also benefit from the game, as it reinforces the importance of safe transfer techniques, proper wheelchair maintenance, and other essential skills required to provide excellent care.

🔑 Unlocking the Benefits for Your Residents

Regular Game Sessions: Incorporate Discharge to Home Trivia into your residents' routine. Regular sessions can reinforce safety awareness and keep residents engaged.

Encourage Participation: Create a supportive and inclusive environment where residents feel encouraged to participate. You can even organize friendly competitions to make learning fun.

Tailor the Experience: Work with residents on new questions addressing their needs and concerns. This personalized approach ensures that residents receive the most relevant information.

Follow-Up and Application: Encourage residents to apply what they've learned daily after playing the game. This practical approach reinforces safety habits.

Promote Open Dialogue: Foster open discussions about home safety. Prompt residents to share their concerns and questions, creating a collaborative learning atmosphere.

Discharge to Home Trivia isn't just a game. Stephanie's success story is a testament to its effectiveness. Incorporating this valuable resource into your residents' discharge preparations will give them the knowledge and confidence they need to enjoy a safe and successful transition.

Click Here to schedule a RESTORE-Skills demo and experience a facility-wide commitment to skill building. 

Already part of RESTORE-Skills? Then join Game Changers, the skilled-care professional Facebook group!

RESTORE is a versatile tool for group and concurrent therapy in skilled nursing facilities and senior care, offering resources like cardiovascular exercise videos, cognitive therapy, and functional movement interventions to effectively target functional skills.

The Advantages of Group Therapy: Group therapy involves treating multiple patients simultaneously in a group setting. 

1. Social Interaction: Group therapy facilitates social connections, addressing potential feelings of isolation among seniors.
   

2. Shared Experience: Seniors can bond over mutual experiences, learning from each other's journeys.
   

3. Cognitive Stimulation: Engaging in activities and discussions promotes mental activity.
   

4. Skill Building: Group sessions can target specific skills, from mobility to cognition.
   

5. Cost-Effectiveness: Serving multiple participants can be economical without sacrificing quality.

The Power of Concurrent Therapy: Concurrent therapy often refers to delivering rehabilitation services to two patients simultaneously when the patients are not performing the same or similar activities.

1. Increased Efficiency: Concurrent therapy allows therapists to serve two patients simultaneously, optimizing their session time.
   

2. Motivation through Observation: Witnessing a peer's engagement can drive motivation.
   

3. Customized Activities: Each individual takes part in activities tailored to their needs.
   

4. Safety is Prioritized: The proper measures ensure all participants are secure and well-tended.
   

RESTORE introduces a game menu crafted for both group and concurrent therapy. This feature is pivotal for:

• Directed Game Selection: The platform refers users to games ideal for the selected therapy type.

• Active Engagement: These games are more than just pastimes; they aim to enhance functional skills.

• Measurable Progress: Track improvements and gains made during each session.

When powered by RESTORE, group and concurrent therapies offer a direct approach to improving functional skills. Explore our platform, use our specialized game menu, and witness the tangible progress in therapeutic outcomes.

Click Here to schedule a RESTORE-Skills demo and experience a facility-wide commitment to skill building. 

Already part of RESTORE-Skills? Then join Game Changers, the skilled-care professional Facebook group!

Benefits of Trivia For Your Activity Calendar:

• Adaptive Scheduling: Trivia can fit into various time slots—be it a 10-minute filler activity or a two-hour special event.

• Resident-Led Rounds: Let a resident be the quizmaster daily, giving them a sense of empowerment and leadership.

• Community Outreach: Invite local schools or community groups for an intergenerational trivia event, enriching your residents' social experience.

• Trivia Leaderboard: Create an ongoing scoreboard in a communal area to keep up the excitement and competition even when trivia is not being played.

Double the Fun: Trivia and Activity Pairings

Planning a gardening session? Warm up the crowd with our Food trivia. Chat about fruits, veggies, and homegrown herbs to get residents eager for some hands-on planting.

Team Spirit: Group Play & Contests

Gather residents into teams for a spirited Trivia Night. Decorate the space, offer refreshments, and dish out small prizes for a session that's as competitive as it is engaging.

Seasonal Synergy: Trivia for Holidays and More

Are holidays on the horizon? Use trivia to prelude festivities. Our Veterans category is tailor-made for Veterans Day, and Food trivia is a crowd-pleaser around Thanksgiving.

Smooth Integration: Pair with RESTORE-Wellness Activities

Why stop at trivia? Integrate questions into our physical activities module or use trivia to kickstart a meditation or yoga session. The options are endless when combined with the RESTORE-Wellness platform.

You've been asking, we've been listening, and these new Trivia categories are our way of saying thanks! Light up those trivia games and tell us how these new categories add a fun twist to your activities. Your input fuels the RESTORE community and we can't wait to hear your success stories!

P.S. We'd love to hear about the creative ways you're using these pairings. Post in the RESTORE  Game Changers, skilled-care professional Facebook group and let the world see your genius!

Transform how residents receive care all while enhancing outcomes and streamlining workflow with RESTORE’s innovative platform. Click Here to schedule a RESTORE-Wellness demo and experience a facility-wide commitment to skill building. 

We've just added seven new trivia categories thoughtfully selected to align with your high-quality therapy sessions. Interested in how these topics can contribute to more engaging cognitive training for your residents? Keep reading.

Occupational Therapists, Make Every Session a Hit!

Working with residents on activities of daily living (ADLs)? Incorporate our Country Music and Eighties categories to prompt memories and stories that can be intertwined with ADL tasks. Remembering lyrics or iconic moments can serve as excellent anchor points for cognitive exercises, helping residents focus better and participate.

Physical Therapists, Flex Those Mental Muscles!

Physical exercises are essential, but why not layer on a cognitive challenge? Use the Sports category to quiz residents while they perform balance or strength tasks. Not only does this require them to think on their feet—literally—but it also elevates the level of mental engagement necessary for each task.

Speech-Language Pathologists, Turn Up the Volume!

Aphasia, cognitive-communication disorders, you name it. Our new categories can be helpful tools. The Slogans and Retro Games trivia can be a fun and engaging way to work on word retrieval and expressive language. It'll get your residents talking, remembering, and perhaps even laughing.

September, World Alzheimer's Month

We want to recognize World Alzheimer's Month, and Trivia Night can help. Use the Food category to prompt discussion about textures, tastes, and sensory experiences that can often be vivid, even when other memories fade. Prompting these discussions can be particularly impactful in memory care settings.

Honoring Our Veterans, The Veterans Category

Many of our residents have served in the military. The Veterans category can be an honorable and respectful way to pay tribute while sharpening cognitive skills. Discussing military slogans and historical events, or even just sharing service stories, can offer deep emotional and cognitive engagement.

Takeaways You Can Use Today

• Multi-Tasking is Your Friend: Layer cognitive challenges over physical or speech therapy sessions for a two-in-one win.

• Use Memories as Anchors: Anchor the therapy session with deeply resonant and familiar topics to stimulate more focused interaction.

• Be Inclusive: The new categories cater to various interests and backgrounds, making every resident feel included and engaged.

We hope you find these new trivia categories exciting and helpful. Your input was the catalyst for this addition, and we can't wait to hear how you put these categories to work. Thank you for being a valued part of the RESTORE community.

Transform how residents receive care all while enhancing outcomes and streamlining workflow with RESTORE’s innovative platform. Click Here to schedule a RESTORE-Skills demo and experience a facility-wide commitment to skill building. 

Already part of RESTORE-Skills? Then join Game Changers, the skilled-care professional Facebook group!

Hey, you incredible Activities Professionals! Guess what? September is here, and so are we with some sizzling hot tips to make your resident programs the place to be. Hold onto your clipboards because we're about to dive into a wonderland of game and activity pairings that will leave your residents craving for more!

1️. Trivia Night + Guided Meditation

Why It Works: Balance the mental workout of trivia with some relaxation for the mind.

Pro Tip: End your trivia night with a guided meditation to help everyone wind down and celebrate their victories, big or small.

2️. Kitchen Mixin' + Fitness with Paul Eugene

Why It Works: After some light exercise, residents will love "cooking up" something fun.

Pro Tip: Do a 'Healthy Recipe' challenge where they make virtual healthy recipes right after a fun workout session with Paul Eugene!

3️. Sequence It + Visit Familiar Places

Why It Works: Sequencing events and recalling familiar places are both powerful memory-boosters.

Pro Tip: Allow residents to sequence events related to the familiar places you 'visit.' Memory lane, here we come!

4️. Plinko Party + Chair Yoga with Sherry Zak Morris

Why It Works: The mindfulness from yoga pairs beautifully with the focus needed for Plinko.

Pro Tip: Incorporate some of the same deep-breathing techniques from Chair Yoga when dropping those Plinko chips.

5️. Word Search + Travel the World (Video)

Why It Works: Enhance word recall by adding some geographical zest!

Pro Tip: Show a ‘Travel the World’ video and have residents find related words in the Word Search game.

6️.  Grocery Grab + Explore Places of Worship (Interactive Video)

Why It Works: Shopping for groceries and exploring places of worship both involve elements of planning and spatial awareness.

Pro Tip: Create a grocery list of items related to a recently explored place of worship. Think: matzah for a synagogue or lotus flowers for a Buddhist temple.

7️. Spooky Spiders + Explore the Globe (Interactive Tour)

Why It Works: Both activities demand hand-eye coordination and keen attention.

Pro Tip: Make up a fun story that the spiders are from the same global destination they just 'visited.'

Bonus: Off-Platform Pairing Ideas

• Have an Arts & Crafts day where residents can make their own Plinko board or trivia cards.

• Outdoor Scavenger Hunt after playing Sequence It to keep the theme of 'following steps.'

• Bake some cookies after playing Kitchen Mixin’. Recall the steps involved in the game.

So go ahead, be the Activities Rockstar we all know you are! 🎨🎲Until next time, keep making the world a more fun and fabulous place, one activity at a time.

P.S. We'd love to hear about the creative ways you're using these pairings. Post in the RESTORE  Game Changers, skilled-care professional Facebook group and let the world see your genius!

Transform how residents receive care all while enhancing outcomes and streamlining workflow with RESTORE’s innovative platform. Click Here to schedule a RESTORE-Wellness demo and experience a facility-wide commitment to skill building. 

Celebrating World Alzheimer's Month with Skills That Matter

Hello, fabulous therapists! September is World Alzheimer's Month, and we're focusing on improving attention and cognition skills, especially for Alzheimer's patients. Learn how games can help enhance these skills and boost active participation in rehabilitation! 

Games to Energize Your Therapy Sessions

1️. Trivia Night

Skills Targeted: Attention, Recall, and Information Processing

Tip: To keep the energy high and to cater to different cognitive levels, vary the categories or get competitive, by playing as a group.

2️. Kitchen Mixin'

Skills Targeted: Sequencing, Attention, and Working Memory

Tip: After your patient completes a recipe, ask them to summarize the steps. This reinforces the sequencing and aids memory.

3️. Sequence It

Skills Targeted: Logical Sequence, Planning, and Problem-Solving

Tip: Use the game as a conversation starter about the significance of each step in the sequence, further enhancing cognitive engagement.

4️. Plinko Party

Skills Targeted: Attention, Visual Scanning, and Decision Making

Tip: Encourage your patients to strategize before releasing the chip. Ask them why they chose a particular slot to reinforce decision-making skills.

5️. Word Search

Skills Targeted: Visual Scanning, Word Recognition, and Focus 

Tip: Use the settings to add a layer of complexity that demands attention and quicker information processing.

6️. Grocery Grab

Skills Targeted: Planning, Categorization, and Spatial Awareness

Tip: Make it more challenging by having them guess the price before they cash out, this incorporates math and financial planning into the mix.

7️.  Spooky Spiders

Skills Targeted: Hand-Eye Coordination, Visual Tracking, and Focus

Tip: For an added cognitive twist, narrate a story behind the activity. Why are we capturing these spiders? Imagination stokes cognition!

Let's not just observe World Alzheimer's Month; let's participate! These games not only offer a fresh and engaging approach to traditional therapy but also make a significant impact on your resident’s attention and cognitive skills. Happy gaming, therapists! Let's make this September count for something extraordinary. 

Transform how residents receive care all while enhancing outcomes and streamlining workflow with RESTORE’s innovative platform. Click Here to schedule a RESTORE-Skills demo and experience a facility-wide commitment to skill building. 

Already part of RESTORE-Skills? Then join Game Changers, the skilled-care professional Facebook group!

 Hello RESTORE Tribe,

Today we would like to introduce you to the amazing Sherry Zak Morris and Chair Yoga. Read on and be inspired!

Setting Out on a Yoga Adventure: A 25-Year Journey

Over two decades ago, in the midst of my forties, I embarked on a journey into the world of Yoga. Amidst the hustle and bustle of life, I sought a sanctuary of peace. From an initial spark of curiosity to a flame of unwavering dedication, each Yoga pose and mindful breath etched a unique chapter into the tapestry of my life.

Guided by Yoga's ancient wisdom, I found my compass through life's unpredictable currents. It became a steadfast companion, helping me navigate the challenges and joys with equal grace and resilience.

Destined Encounters and Chair Yoga’s Genesis

A twist of fate introduced me to Mary Cavanaugh, a visionary whose work laid the foundation for Chair Yoga. Collaborating with her marked a turning point in my journey. Together, we embarked on a mission to adapt Yoga for seniors, creating a unique blend that resonated in senior living communities, educational institutions, fitness centers, and beyond.

Our partnership fostered the spread of Chair Yoga, igniting a movement that united generations in the pursuit of holistic well-being. Through workshops, seminars, and practical sessions, we set out to prove that Yoga is truly for everyone, regardless of age or physical limitations.

Personal Drive from Lifelong Lessons

My passion for empowering seniors through Yoga is rooted in personal experience. Witnessing my parents, both in their nineties, embrace movement and vitality, fills me with a profound sense of purpose. Their resilience is a living testament to the power of Chair Yoga to enhance not only physical well-being but also the overall quality of life.

Chair Yoga: Celebrating Life's Joys

Among the seniors I had the privilege to work with, Chair Yoga became a celebration of life's beauty. It wasn't just about the physical movements or the breath; it was a vehicle for genuine connections and shared laughter.

Creative Endeavors and Meaningful Bonds

My journey with Mary extended beyond the boundaries of Yoga mats and chairs. It led us to create collaborative video projects and establish Yoga Journey Productions (YogaJP), a platform to share our insights with a broader audience.

The culmination of our efforts is visible in the collection of videos available on the RESTORE-Wellness platform and our other platforms. Each video reflects our dedication and serves as a testament to the transformative potential of Yoga.

Sharing Insight and Radiance

As I reflect on my journey, I am humbled by the profound impact Chair Yoga has had on countless lives. Through the RESTORE-Wellness platform, I invite you to experience its magic firsthand. Let our story inspire your own path of self-discovery and well-being. May you, and your residents, find in Yoga a wellspring of energy, wisdom, and radiant joy.

With love and light,

Sherry Zak Morris

Thank you Sherry! Check out Sherry and Chair Yoga on the RESTORE platforms today. Not yet a RESTORE user? Click Here to schedule a demo and experience our facility-wide commitment to skill building. 

Already a RESTORE user? Then join Game Changers, our user-only Facebook group!