Tag Archives: Functional Skills

engage isolated residents

Engage Isolated Residents of All Levels

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Engaging isolated residents with moderate to severe cognitive impairments during the current COVID-19 outbreak can be challenging. However, with just a laptop & a simple ball, you can have a fun and dynamic therapy session right at their bedside! RESTORE games can be enjoyed by players of any level. We find that therapists experience the most success when they match the game with the player’s history or hobbies. To help gain agreement and make your treatment approach meaningful, begin the RESTORE session with asking the player about their life and interests. Prioritize engagement, reminiscing, and communication over playing. 

RESTORE is meant to be a compliment to your treatment session and not by itself there to treat your patient. One challenge you might encounter is that a goal-directed player understands the activity they are to perform, but may not want to participate for fear of failure. Therapists can quell this fear by grading activities/settings to player ability so they can succeed and be challenged. Below are some tips to help you successfully engage a player with moderate to severe cognitive impairment:

Playing Tips & Tricks!

  • Give strong consideration to your environment: Identify an environment with limited distractions based on noise, congestion/traffic, lighting, etc.
  • Take the Time: Allow extra time for player to respond to directions/commands
  • Distinguish between limitations: Don’t allow a player’s physical limitations to interfere with your assessment of their cognitive function

engaging players of all levels

When playing your first session, to take time to see if the player can correct mistakes or improve after gaining understanding - but avoid the player getting discouraged or frustrated whenever possible! We hope this post encouraged you to try something new with your residents today. Our fun, engaging, and meaningful games are meant for everyone to enjoy, so open your laptop, grab a controller, and watch the magic of a RESTORE session unfold!

To start now, click here & learn about our COVID-19 Special Offer!

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!

motivate residents

Motivate Residents to be Active in Their Rooms!

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Motivating resients isolated in their room can be a struggle. This fun upper body activity is a favorite among all of our players. Bring the excitement of the casino to your patient’s room to boost engagement AND practice UE strengthening! All you need is a laptop and a rounded object for the player to experience the fun of a virtual slot machine.

In the game "Jackpot", players pull the handle to try and win big! They can engage with the game while standing, seated, or even lying in their bed to target AROM, crossing midline, and functional reach. Below are some great tips to help you engage a player in the room with our #1 game "Jackpot"!

Playing Tips & Tricks!

  • Get the Most from the Capture Settings: Range of motion & camera capture options can be adjusted to a large, medium, or small semi-circle for players seated or lying in bed.
  • Increase the Challenge: Attach wrist weights to the player or calibrate free weights as a controller for added resistance & strength training!
  • Players Can Win...Really! If a player pulls a rare "Triple WILD" jackpot, let us know, and we'll send them RESTORE a t-shirt.

Engaging Activities Anywhere

With more therapy sessions happening in the room, motivate residents and offer a distraction from environmental barriers and psychosocial factors. Play "Jackpot" with a resident to help them forget about their discomfort, loneliness, or anxiety. We hope you’ll follow these tips for an exciting and innovative therapy session.

To start now, click here & learn about our COVID-19 Special Offer!

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!

Home Safety Scenarios

New “Safely Home” Game Supports Hazard Awareness

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After several requests from therapists, we are so excited to launch our newest game designed to help players identify and resolve hazardous scenarios in & around their homes. "Safely Home" allows players to interact with different areas of the home in order to identify and reduce a variety of hazard risks in a fun, engaging, and meaningful way. 

Home SafetySafely Home 

Players work to recognize safety hazards they may encounter inside or outside of home. To play, move the controller to the hazard to activate solution options. Choose the best solution to resolve the safety hazard, until all hazards in the room are corrected. The player will use attention/concentration, safety recognition, problem-solving, judgment, and decision making skills to manage the hazards in the household.  The game addresses balance, activity tolerance/endurance and can be played seated, standing.

 

Home Safety

Adapting one’s home to accommodate the needs of seniors is vital for independence, happiness, and longevity. Therapists can launch "Safley Home" as a means to engage in important conversations with their patients, while players build upon the critical skills needed for a safe discharge. 

We love hearing from you!

We were built by therapists for therapists. In fact, our most popular game "Jackpot" was suggested to us by an OT in Colorado. Be sure to share your thoughts on the game "Safely Home", including any suggestions you have for additions to the game.

Our team is always looking to improve our existing games & create new ones to address the skills you target in your sessions. So, please don't be shy! Send your tips, fixes, or ideas to info@restoreskills.com!

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!

 

New “Stop the Spread” Game Promotes Awareness of Healthy Practices

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Businesses, healthcare centers, and concerned individuals everywhere are looking for resources which reinforce the use of proper hand-washing & other health practices in response to the current COVID-19 pandemic. 

In an effort to help promote awareness for patients & residents, we’ve launched a new game designed to educate in a fun, engaging, and non-threatening manner. "Stop the Spread" combines essential health education with cognitive skill-building for attention, concentration, memory, problem-solving, & safety awareness!

Stop the SpreadStop the Spread

In this game, players work to identify and match the health tip on each card. Move the controller over the cards to flip over and reveal the healthy practice on the card. Test your memory by finding all of the matches as fast as you can!  Therapists & Care Partners can change from the memory to matching setting to directly match a card to the image in the bottom left hand corner of the screen. A wonderful game to target recall, scanning, problem-solving, functional reach, and crossing the midline.

Stop the Spread

 

Play anytime, anywhere! 

With 90% of therapy treatment sessions being delivered in resident rooms, now is the time to take advantage of RESTORE's portability.

Team members can simply bring their laptops to the resident's room to address functional skills and review best health practices by playing Stop the Spread. Use the games cards as prompts for conversation to help with health education. 

  • Tip: Devices can be used on a bedside table or stand to accommodate patients whether they’re lying in bed, sitting on the edge of the bed, sitting in a chair, or standing. 

Be sure to follow our blog for more tips & examples of how you can set up a meaningful skill-building session right in the resident’s room! 

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!

in room therapy

Keep Patients Active with an In-Room Session! 💪👟📈

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Our customers are reporting 90% of therapy treatment sessions are now being delivered in patients’ rooms. A major shift from 95% of therapy sessions occurring in the gym prior to the pandemic. Now is the time to enhance your own devices! Take advantage of RESTORE’s portability to keep residents active, happy, and healthy in their rooms.

Take advantage of RESTORE portability, engagement, and FUN

  • Laptops/Tablets access RESTORE through internet connection and webcam
  • Follow center guidelines for cleaning if planning to remove from the room once brought in - but consider dedicating a device to an isolation room for the duration of isolation precautions
  • Using RESTORE on one device does not limit simultaneous use of RESTORE on other devices

Build Skills Anytime, Anywhere!

RESTORE offers a full skill-building platform to address mobility, range of motion, coordination, cognition, activity tolerance, life-skill readiness, & much more!

Therapists can simply bring their laptops to the patient room to stay on track with a treatment plan, address functional skills, & teleconference patients’ families for encouragement and education. Devices can be used on a bedside table or stand to accommodate patients whether they’re lying in bed, sitting on the edge of the bed, sitting in a chair, or standing.   

 

The RESTORE Difference

RESTORE games/activities promote player engagement and are a great distraction from environmental barriers and psychosocial factors (such as discomfort, loneliness, anxiety, etc.) Therapists can simply bring their laptops to the patient room to stay on track with a treatment plan, address functional skills, & teleconference patients’ families for encouragement and education. "We had a flu lock down, so people could not come to the gym. We were stuck doing in-room treatments & residents were very bored. RESTORE was an incredible tool for us to have for in-room treatments!" - Elisabeth Gardner, DOR at Elmhurst Rehabilitation & Healthcare Center 

 

Be sure to follow our blog for more tips & examples of how you can set up a meaningful skill-building session right in your patient’s room! 

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!

COVID-19

AVOID the Health Risks of COVID-19 Isolation

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Now, more than ever, it is imperative to keep your residents active, happy, and healthy! In this series of posts, we will discuss the challenges & health risks that may arise due to patient isolation and restricted visitation in the wake of COVID-19. 

We know your first priority is the health, safety, and well-being of everyone in your community. During this time, we want you to know we’re here for you! RESTORE can help mitigate the physical, cognitive, and psychosocial risks involved with social isolation.

 

Physical Health Risks COVID-19Physical Risks

  • Skeletal muscle strength can decrease up to 1.5% per day of bed rest → Skill-building with RESTORE can occur bedside in the patients’ room (and may be used by multiple team members simultaneously)
  • Heightened risk of falls with fracture → Our games support functional mobility, range of motion, coordination, balance, & activity tolerance
  • Increased risk for skin breakdown & pressure sores → FUNctional games turn every patients’ room into a skill-building gym 

 

Cognitive Health Risks COVID-19Cognitive Risks

  • Seniors who suffer from social isolation have a 64% higher risk of dementia → RESTORE helps dementia patients reach their best abilities
  • Potential for a shortened attention span → Games promote cognitive skill-building with attention, concentration, memory, problem-solving, & safety awareness
  • Loss of trust and self-confidence or decreased safety awareness → Players succeed with patient-centered activities individualized to their cognitive level

 

Cognitive Health Risks COVID-19

Psychosocial Risks

  • Increased prevalence of anxiety, depression, & unwanted behaviors → Features include leaderboards so players can compare their game scores with others
  • Heightened sense of loneliness, social isolation → Friends & family can be included during a RESTORE session via video conference with screen sharing
  • Increased thoughts of mortality → RESTORE creates an opportunity for meaningful interaction, encouragement, & education

 

How We Can Help! 

Players can experience the FUN of virtually pulling a slot machine handle to win a jackpot, skiing down the slopes of a world cup race, or controlling the flight path of a plane from the comfort and safety of their room. Enhance your own devices and take advantage of RESTORE’s portability to keep residents active, happy, and healthy from the comfort of their room. 

To help you overcome these challenges, we’ve decided to dramatically reduce the cost of our platform. Now your residents and team members can enjoy RESTORE and connect family members at a special monthly cost.

3-MONTH SPECIAL OFFER*: $199/month (MSRP $495)

*Special offer grants three-month access to a limited version of RESTORE-Skills. Valid until 03/31/2020.

For more details click here or if you have any questions or would like to learn more about our special offer, please email us at info@restoreskills.com. 

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!

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

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!

Meet Your Group & Concurrent Therapy Goals

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We want to help you reach your group and concurrent therapy goals in an exciting and engaging way. Add fun to your center, encourage residents to move more, and build community with our new group play feature. In this post, we'll discuss group play and learn how centers are incorporating games into their group practice. Then, we'll review tips to help you and your team get started!

The RESTORE Difference

The Group Play feature helps with the PDPM requirements for group and concurrent therapy. The portability of the platform eliminates environmental limitations to promote enjoyable and engaging group therapy opportunities. For instance, you can create practice opportunities by setting up several stations or engaging multiple players on different devices simultaneously.

Our users love to engage with the group play setting. In fact, at a team training in a Massachusetts center we saw the power of gamification during simultaneous group sessions. To start, the therapists split people into two groups and set up each station was to play Ski Saga. Then, 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 as players took turns "skiing" to reach their therapy goals.

Together is Fun

Our fun, innovative, and engaging therapeutic activities bring a vibrant boost to your therapy gym. Playing games in a group session can facilitate conversation among players as they discuss their hobbies, memories, or traditions. Players enjoy playing together as a team, in large groups by taking turns, or even tournament style to create some excitement and light-hearted competition.

Centers can also enjoy Group Play when playing as part of a community event in the activity department or elsewhere. For instance, the team can create a "pet therapy" day at the center and incorporate RESTORE animal-themed games as one station, along with stations for making dog biscuits, playing fetch with a therapy retriever, and setting up a pet show.

We hope these tips spark your imagination and encourage you to step out of the box for your next therapy session or group activity. Do you have any fun stories from a RESTORE group play session? Tell me about it by sending your account and a few of your favorite pictures to amanda@restoreskills.com.

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!