2015 National Rehab Week Contest

HTS hosted our 4th Annual Rehab Week Contest and it was a huge success!
National Rehab Awareness Week was established by the National Rehabilitation Awareness Foundation (NRAF) to educate people about the benefits of rehabilitation. This year, “Rehab Week” was September 20-26th. Every year, we challenge our HTS therapy teams to participate in a contest to engage and educate their patients and community on the benefits and life changing offerings of physical, occupational and speech therapy.

Our people go all out! Utilizing themes, organizing fundraisers and engaging entire towns, we had 13 teams participate this year. Teams submitted pictures, video and shared stories to show how they celebrated rehab week! As always, we are amazed by the creativity and time that went into making this week so special for residents, staff and the community. Thank you to everyone that participated in National Rehabilitation Week.

The National Rehabilitation Awareness Foundation’s (NRAF) mission is to educate people about the benefits and impact of rehabilitation; develop programs which aim to increase opportunities for nearly 50 million Americans with disabilities, and help those who are disabled live up to their fullest potential. For more information, go to www.rehabweek.com.

Read more about the winners and there fun contributions to National Rehab Week in long term care.

1st Place Winners!
Hazard Health & Rehabilitation Center | Hazard, KY

This year, the therapists at Hazard Health & Rehab organized a full week of fun and education that involved the entire community. They planned a “pirate-themed” adventure with a focus on teaching the long term care staff, residents and community how to “Treasure Your Health”. Utilizing social media, they posted daily rehab topics to educate the public on the benefits of physical, occupational and speech therapy. They organized a county-wide treasure hunt to keep the community involved, giving daily clues to a hidden prize. Every day, the Hazard Therapy Department held special events from games to educate on therapy terminology, to testing strength and eye-hand coordination.  Hazard Health & Rehab Center in addition to the entire community embraced the theme during this wonderful week of celebration!

2nd Place Winners!
Wolfe County Health & Rehabilitation Center | Campton, KY

The therapy team at Wolfe County kicked off Rehab Week by organizing a 5K Color Run for the entire community! People came from six different counties and out of state to participate in the color run.  The run involved the community and promoted fitness for all ages from 10 to 50+.  All proceeds from this event went to the Wolfe County Residents fund.

The residents and employees were involved as the therapy team had a daily the Rehab/Game Show.  Let’s Make a Deal, Family Feud, Wheel of Fortune and The Price is Right are just a few of the games played by residents and staff. Employees played Jeopardy and all questions were directly related to educate through fun! Topics included: Safety, Proper Body Mechanics, Anatomy, Policies & Procedures and Adaptive Equipment.

Wolfe Health & Rehabilitation organized many other events such as an outing to Natural Bridge State Park. Congrats to Wolfe Health & Rehabilitation!

3rd Place Winners!
Hillcrest Health & Rehab Center | Corbin, KY

Que this awesome intro…“Boy oh Boy, the residents and staff were exhausted from their coast to coast travels across the United States during Rehab Week. Before departing on their trip, the residents participated in a Bon Voyage Balloon launch.  After traveling 12, 486 miles across the United States, the residents still suffered from jet lag.” How awesome is this? The Hillcrest therapy department and staff organized and designed events in the building to replicate parts of the country for residents. The states visited include: Kentucky, Hawaii, Texas, California and Alaska.

Residents saddled up stick horses and placed bets at “Hillcrest Downs,” and created beautiful artwork using sensory processing skills and range of motion while making thumbprint hearts on Kentucky canvases. After landing in Hawaii, residents were welcomed with leis, fruit salad and virgin daiquiris while playing a competitive game of pineapple bowling. As a souvenir, residents captured the beauty of the ocean by making their own sensory ocean bottle. In Texas, residents were decked out in cowboy attire, deputized with sheriff badges and laced up their boots while using their functional endurance and increased resistance and center of gravity to climb the incline to a hayride. Therapists assisted on trunk stabilization and transfers on and off the hayride. Later that day, they participated in Tumbleweed Bingo using fine motor skills and visual scanning and recognition.

In California, they had a red carpet photo shoot and the “Hillcrest Stars” took a stroll down the Walk of Fame while working on sensory processing skills and proprioceptive input through their  hands.  Elvis entered the building and definitely got the crowd going. Lastly in Alaska, they began their adventure by making marshmallow igloos and snow using a sensory activity. Hillcrest’s Rehab Week was fun, super creative and one to remember!

Honorable Mention:

Corbin Health & Rehab Center
Bethel Manor
Williamsburg Health & Rehab Center

Thank You to All the Teams that Participated!

Glenburn Home, Hickory Creek at Winamac, Bethel Manor, Cumberland Valley Manor, Barbourville Health & Rehab, Corbin Health & Rehab, Harlan Health & Rehab, Hazard Health & Rehab, Hillcrest Health & Rehab, Hyden Health & Rehab, Knott Health & Rehab, Williamsburg Health & Rehab, Wolfe County Health & Rehab

Look for more contests and fun events from our amazing therapists that work for Healthcare Therapy Services, Inc. Our therapists give their best every day and are the foundation of our success by providing a “hope and a future” for each person they serve.