Tag Archives: engagement

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: 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!

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!

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

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!

WOmna plays online therapy games with therapist

Therapy that Patients Love to Tell Their Families About!

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Last month, I visited several of our facilities in the Marquis Health Services network. It was amazing to see how happy patients in therapy are when practicing with RESTORE!  I was so thrilled to see patient’s smiles, laughter, and sense of achievement in “real life” and not only over the phone or by reading testimonials. These moments remind me of why I love my job and I want to share my amazing experience with you over the next few blog posts.

Meeting Maria

During a visit to Cedar View Rehab, I was thrilled to meet Maria who was recovering from knee surgery and recently began working on standing tolerance in her therapy sessions. Maria was eager to play, even though she “wasn’t sure what to do” at first. Well, as it turns out, she was born natural when it comes to RESTORE.  Using her walker and guided by a therapist, Maria worked on standing tolerance, balance, weight shifting, and squatting. It was amazing to see how incredibly determined she was throughout her session. Even when she felt pain or discomfort, she pushed herself to reach the next goal! 

The RESTORE Difference

When she finished playing, a huge smile spread across Maria’s face. She couldn’t believe she engaged with the game for over 7 minutes! The energy from her RESTORE session carried over into her other treatment, still smiling as she talked to others in the group about the games. As I was leaving, Maria even introduced me to her son who came to visit! It was a wonderful morning and it felt great to be part of her good day.

My visit to Cedar View was special because it showed me the immediate impact of RESTORE. I saw the difference once therapists pushed past their comfort zone to embrace an innovative tool. I saw her pride when Maria pushed herself to stand and exercise longer than she thought she could. And I got to see her share that moment with her son. It was truly incredible to see how happy patients in therapy were when practicing with RESTORE!

Now that I’ve shared Maria's story, I wanna hear yours! Send me an email of your own experience, we’d love to hear how RESTORE is helping you have a better day. 

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!