Reddy-Care Physical & Occupational Therapy Newsletter
N E W S L E T T E R Your Safety & Independence Never Gets Old
IN-HOME PHYSICAL THERAPY & FALL PREVENTION
At Reddy Care Physical and Occupational therapy, we believe that patients and individuals should be able function to their utmost potential. This means that along with being pain free we want our patients to be active and maintain a healthy lifestyle so they’re able to do all the activities they enjoy. Our In-Home physical therapists have the unique ability to evaluate, treat and improve our patient’s condition in the comfort of their homes through a one-on-one personalized and scientific approach. We realize that falls and
unsteadiness are a major factor in decreasing the functional ability and quality of life of individuals especially seniors. We are going to look at some of the factors that cause falls and how your In-Home physical therapist can help you navigate through this to help you lead a more confident lifestyle. We want you to be able to walk in the park, go up and down stairs and participate in your community without any inhibitions or second thoughts.
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IN-HOME PHYSICAL THERAPY & FALL PREVENTION Your Safety & Independence Never Gets Old N E W S L E T T E R
INSIDE : • Fall Prevention Falls are a major cause of loss of function and resultant decline in health status among seniors. It is a well-documented fact that 1 out of 3 adults over the age of 65 sustain a fall every year and those who fall are 2 out of 3 times more likely to fall again within the next 6 months. Apart from the obvious adverse effects of sustaining a fall such as injury, hospitalization and decrease in physical status, a fall can also have debilitating effects on the individual’s lifestyle causing fear of falling and overall decrease in their ability to go out and socialize in the environment which they are living. Our In-Home physical therapy program provides an excellent opportunity for individuals who are prone to falls or have sustained a fall to work on improving their balance and have a personalized approach to help improve their overall physical activity to promote wellness. To prevent falls we must look at the body systems that help us maintain our balance. There are 4 primary systems that help our body stay in equilibrium as we stand, move, walk, and perform our day to day activities • Vestibular system
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As an individual gets older these systems can get affected such as increase in muscle weakness of the legs, arthritis and neuropathy leading to decreased sensation in the joints, vertigo, dizziness and a decline in visual ability. Our In-Home physical therapists through their training, clinical experience and ongoing educational expertise are able to evaluate the deficiencies that cause an individual to fall and come up with a plan of care that will help act on these systems to help improve the individual’s ability to balance themselves without help. This can be from creating an exercise program, performing manual techniques to alleviate pain, educating patients on modifications required in their homes such as grab bars and toilet seats. Through balance re-education in the home, your physical therapist will help you navigate through obstacles, train you to walk on uneven surfaces, go up and down stairs, carefully reaching for objects. Some of these simple tasks can get really difficulty especially if you have had a history of falls and through neuromuscular reeducation your therapist can help you regain confidence. The fact that this can be established in your home is extremely beneficial as it gives you the chance to function independently without fear of falling. Fear of falling is seen in individuals
who haven’t sustained a fall recently which can be equally debilitating as the person’s confidence is hindered and he/she confines themselves to their homes. An in-home physical therapist can help you by providing one on one care in the comfort of your homes working on specific exercise and balance programs which will help you tackle the functional difficulties you are having with confidence and energy. Our physical therapists also specialize in providing an individualized home exercise and self-management program which will ensure that you are able to maintain your functional status even after you have stopped therapy. Remember health and wellness is not merely the absence of disease but also the ability to function to your full potential within the environment that you are living. Our in-home physical therapy program will help you create a more independent and a more active lifestyle for yourself.
Blog by: Dr. Stanline S. Anto, PT, DPT, CAFS
• Nervous system (Proprioceptors) • Musculoskeletal system (Strength) • Vision
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Could You Benefit From In-Home Therapy?
Do you get frustrated when you attempt to put on your favorite necklace, count pills, tie your shoes, manipulate coins or put the cap on the toothpaste tube?
Hand function and fine motor skills begin to decline due to normal aging, arthritis and neurological diseases. Try some of these Occupational Therapy exercises to improve your dexterity at home. Don’t forget alternate hands for an extra challenge. • Manipulate coins: pick several in your hand one at a time and put them in a bank or a small jar, one at a time. • Make a chain of paper clips. • Stack small blocks. • Practice writing your favorite poem, quote and name/signature. • Flip playing cards. Shuffle. • Flip pages in a book or magazine. • Complete jigsaw puzzles. • Manipulate pieces to board games; i.e. MasterMind, Perfection, Monopoly, Chinese Checkers, Connect Four • Knit, crochet, sew. • Play computer/video games. • Fasten buttons on a shirt (can be on lap). Repeat several times. • Tie laces (can be on lap). Repeat several times. • Keep fingers extended and flat on a table. Open and close fingers while gathering a tissue or towel in between fingers. • Rip paper into pieces and crumple into small balls with fingertips. • Manipulate nuts and bolts. • Fill basin with raw rice and place objects in rice. Remove objects. • Crumple and flatten a piece of paper, paper towel, tissue. • Manipulate marbles. • Stack checkers. • Fold paper.
Tips From Our Occupational Therapists To You!
Doesn’t everyone want to live as independently as possible at home? For most of us home is a personal collection of memories. Its filled with our most prized possessions and comfortable belongings, BUT ARE WE TRULY SAFE in this familiar place? Here are some tips from our Occupational Therapist to minimize your fall risk at home and keep you or your loved one safe: • Throw away the throw rugs. • Keep electrical cords out of pathways. • Use nightlights to illuminate pathways. • Install grab bars next to the toilet or in tub/shower or anywhere that you need extra stability. • Install railings on stairways and stoops. • Consider using a bedside commode, tub seat, small bed rail, a walker tray or an ambulation device. • Remove glass doors from the tub, hang a shower curtain instead. • Organize kitchen items, grooming supplies and clothing closets so that commonly used objects are within easy reach. Minimize the need to bend to get to those hard to reach drawers or to stand on toes to reach overhead. • Get rid of clutter. • Wear sneakers instead of slippers or sandals.
• Carefully label and store medications. • Keep a phone close by or wear an alarm. • Rest when you feel fatigued!
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WE ARE NOW OFFERING OCCUPATIONAL THERAPY IN THE HOME CALL (516) 829-0030
Therapist Spotlights
Dr. Stanline S. Anto, PT, DPT, CAFS In-Home Therapy Director
Dr. Stanline Anto, DPT has been working as a physical therapist for almost 9 years now. Dr. Anto, DPT graduated with a Bachelor’s in Physical Therapy from Rajiv Gandhi University of Health Sciences, India and received his Doctorate in Physical Therapy from Utica College, NY. He has been with Reddy Care for over 3 years now and is proud to be part of a team that is such a powerful force in driving our profession forward. Dr. Anto, DPT works as the Clinical Director for In-Home therapy at Reddy Care and also treats patients as an In-Home physical therapist. One of his main goals is to make sure that all our patients receive unparalleled patient care during their road to recovery. Dr. Anto, DPT supports, supervises and mentors all our PTs and OTs who perform In-Home therapy. He also ensures that therapists are able to provide the best possible patient care with ongoing professional development.
Rita Levey, OTR/L In-Home Occupational Therapy Director
Rita Levey, OTR/L graduated from New York University with a Masters of Arts in Occupational Therapy. Since then, she has received several awards for her leadership and service and loves to participate in post-graduate work. Rita has over 25 years of experience and is now the director of our In-Home Occupational Therapy Program! Rita has extensive experience that ranges working with patients who’ve had injuries to their hand, spinal cord, brain, neurologic dysfunction, stroke recovery, MS, Parkinson’s, and the severely disabled. We are excited to have Rita part of our team and know she will make a huge difference in her patient’s lives, as she’s had for many years!
What Our Patients Have to Say
Thank You Monica
CELEBRATING 10 YEARS!
“My balance has improved greatly and my legs are feeling stronger.” “I have been receiving In-Home physical therapy from Reddy Care for about 6 weeks. I am happy to say that with the help of my PT, my balance has improved greatly and my legs are feeling stronger. I was impressed by all the different equipment brought by my PT to my home for our treatment sessions. It was as if the clinic was coming to me. I am very happy with the care I have been provided thus far.” – Nasir “My husband was receiving In-Home occupational therapy after his stroke. He has dementia and some blindness and needs help using his right arm, getting up from a chair, feeding & balance. He has been able to use his hand since beginning OT with Rita. He can bend his fingers to hold things like the walker. He works on reaching and balance. Rita gives suggestions for safety in the house. OT has helped my husband get stronger so he can do more for himself. The therapist brings exercise equipment and suggests ways to do things safely. She relates well and is very cheerful and motivating.” – Urmila “He can bend his fingers to hold things like the walker. He works on reaching and balance.”
We would like to thank Monica for all of her hard work over the last ten years! Her welcoming personality has spread joy to all the patients and staff. We wish her the best of luck with her move to Ohio. She will be greatly missed!
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