Tag Archives: games

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!

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!

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!

Announcing Our RESTORE Halloween Photo Contest 🎃

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October 28th through November 1st, we’re running a RESTORE Halloween Photo Contest! To enter, simply send us a photo of your therapy team & patients playing our one of our SPOOKTACULAR Single Play games. The top 2 photo submissions will receive a Sweet Treat Basket!

Ready, Set, Scare:

  • The photo must feature a therapist, care partner, and/or patient playing one of the Halloween themed Single Play games
  • Be sure to include your name, your patient’s name, & the facility name with your photo
  • Sign & submit this waiver for each person featured in the photo
  • Submissions will be accepted via email amanda@restoreskills.com and text message (234) 303-0723
  • The two (2) winners will be informed on Tuesday, November 5th

So, throw on your costume, turn up the Monster Mash, & host your own RESTORE Halloween Party! May the best ghoul win 👻

-- the RESTORE Team

“Take Flight” with Our New Reaction-Testing Game

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Our newest RESTORE activity takes players out of the therapy gym and into the blue skies above…at least virtually! You will facilitate greater engagement while supporting residents as they practice to improve their reaction time

To play Take Flight, patients navigate their plane side to side or up and down through the obstacles on the screen! The speed continues to increase until the player either (1) crashes their plane 🔥 or (2) manually ends the game. Keep track to see who can get the highest score!

Why Play?

Each of our games is designed to increase skill practice while improving function and Take Flight is no exception! Add this game to a player’s session to:

  • Improve reaction & response time
  • Increase stability & standing tolerance
  • Target visual perceptual & scanning skills
  • Maintain required proper postural alignment to increase endurance & independence with tasks by strengthening the upper extremities. 

This game is ideal for concurrent or group therapy settings! Want to see who can clear the most obstacles? Improve patient socialization skills with a little friendly competition by encouraging 2 or more residents to play at the same time. Motivate skill practice and track user’s daily progress by adding Take Flight to your next session.

Follow the RESTORE blog for updates on industry news, PDPM, platform upgrades, new game announcements, user experience, 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 (234) 303-0723. We look forward to supporting your goals!