Managing Painful Arthritis with Exercise

Approximately 350 million people worldwide have arthritis. Arthritis is a condition defined by painful inflammation and stiffness of the joints. Exercise may be the last thing on a person’s mind when suffering from arthritis. But exercise is absolutely crucial. A person may think exercise will aggravate their joint pain and stiffness, but that’s not the case. Lack of exercise can actually make your joints even more painful and stiff.

EXERCISE CAN…

    • Strengthen Muscles Around Joints
    • Help Maintain Bone Strength
    • Give You More Energy
    • Help Control Your Weight
    • Enhance Your Quality of Life
    • Improve Your Balance

Keeping muscles and surrounding tissue strong is crucial to maintaining support for your bones. Not exercising weakens those supporting muscles, creating more stress on your joints. Exercise is considered the most effective non-drug treatment for reducing pain and improving movement in patients.

How Therapy Can Help You!

Exercise is extremely important in managing arthritis symptoms, but it may be hard to get started and maintain an exercise program. Overcoming the hurdles of pain, exhaustion, or boredom can be difficult, especially on your own. A physical or occupational therapist can help you to overcome these hurdles and gain success in maintaining your exercise routine. Physical therapists evaluate your needs and teach you how to exercise appropriately for joint mobility, muscle strength, and fitness. Physical therapists can also recommend exercises for you to do on your own. These exercises might include; range-of-motion exercises, aerobic exercises, and strength training. Occupational therapists help by teaching you how to protect and reduce stress on your joints while exercising and performing daily tasks. Talk with your doctor about the benefits of both physical and occupational therapy for your arthritis needs!

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Maintain Flexibility with Aging

As a kid, touching your toes was a piece of cake. For older adults, being agile becomes more challenging and is due to a loss of flexibility as our bodies age. Flexibility allows us to move our bodies and joints freely and with ease. Maintaining your flexibility is important in order to function normally and complete daily living tasks such as putting on your socks and shoes, getting dressed, and household chores like cleaning and picking up items off the floor.

The good news is you can improve your flexibility at any age. Try these gentle stretches each morning to reduce pain and stiffness and help you move comfortably throughout the day.

 

 

Therapy Can Help Adults Stay Active & Independent
Physical therapists can teach you how to exercise appropriately for joint mobility, flexibility, strength and fitness. Occupational therapists help older adults to safely do the things they want to do, stay active and live well despite limitations. Talk to your doctor today about the benefits of physical and occupational therapy!

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5 PDPM Process Improvement Solutions

PDPM success is contingent upon excellent communication. Therapy no longer drives the meeting process as all disciplines within the IDT must contribute to the collection of data to assure coding accuracy.

HTS is uniquely positioned with a team of seasoned therapists and nurses to analyze data trends for system optimization under PDPM. The HTS Process Improvement Starter Kit will catapult your building’s ability to tackle PDPM challenges with the use of 5 PDPM solutions.

Starter Kit Includes:

  1. Initial Medicare Meeting Tool & Discussion Guide
  2. Physician Query Process
  3. SLP Component Communication Tool
  4. NTA Case-Mix Group Classification Guide & NTA Quick Tips
  5. Nursing Classification Guide

Get Started Today!

HTS Partners have instant access to all of the tools and resources mentioned above by logging into the PartnerHQ web portal. For questions, please contact your HTS Regional Director.

Need a Powerful Therapy Partner? Contact Amanda Green, Executive Director of Strategic Development amanda@htstherapy.com for information about our contract therapy partnerships.

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The HTS Census Circle… A Powerhouse Network for Senior Care Marketing

Join our Census Circle!

Let’s face it, building and maintaining census is hard work. Now more than ever, you need a group of like-minded professionals that share the same challenges when it comes to the everchanging world of census stabilization.

Brought to you by your marketing team at HTS, we invite you to be a part of our Powerhouse Network…a collaborative of senior care marketing and admission gurus.

HTS partners are invited to attend all live webinar trainings in addition to on-demand recorded trainings hosted on the PartnerHQ web portal.

Trainings for Your Marketing & Admissions Team:

  • Creating Powerful First Impressions & Personalized Tours
    First impressions matter. So how do we create a positive, person-centered first impression? Does our tour quality. both live and virtual, need a little refresh? Are we effectively showing our value as the expert provider of choice? That’s exactly what we will be covering during this 1-hour webinar.
  • Map Out Your Marketing
    The Holiday season in healthcare is super busy. Don’t have time to form your strategy? No problem—we’ve got you covered. Start your New Year off strong with our strategic and tactical tools to meet your outreach, social media and growth needs.
  • Now Hiring! Leverage Your Marketing to Attract More Talent
    To stay competitive and attract candidates to your organization, let’s talk about how to leverage your recruitment marketing! Let’s dive into the importance of building a strong brand, utilizing an omni-channel approach and best practices to streamline your recruitment process.
  • Developing Your Scorecard – Meaningful Metrics for Your Referral Network
    Key metrics you should be sharing with your physicians, hospitals, and managed care networks to strengthen communication and ultimately develop a value-based relationship.
  • All Things Therapy: The marketable therapy and clinical programs happening in your building!
    Let’s dive into our HTS clinical programs…how to sell them to your referral partners, market them to the general public and use our customizable, print-ready marketing materials to get the word out!
  • It Take a Village – Collaborative Care Transitions
    Successful care transitions and client experiences expand well beyond the D/C. Let’s take a deep dive into the processes behind proper care transition and how it can greatly reduce your risk for readmission penalties.
  • What’s Your Secret Sauce? 5 Ways to Attract Referrals
    SNF providers are finding creative ways to stand out against the competition in a crowded market. Sometimes this means going back to the basics. From marketing clinical skills and programs to creating a “red carpet” person-centered experience that leaves a long-lasting impression, your secret sauce can be a powerful differentiator.
  • Social Media Reboot
    Let’s dive into the details and trends of social media platforms. Learn resources for easily organizing and creating powerful content and posts. Optimize social media to create a stronger brand, represent your culture and build a platform to support both workforce and census stabilization. Whether you are a social media novice or expert, let’s come together on this popular topic.

 

Get Started Today!

Login to PartnerHQ web portal for instant access to census circle trainings, hospital data, marketing tools and other popular resources.  For login assistance, contact marketing@htstherapy.com.

Need a Powerful Therapy Partner? Contact Amanda Green, Executive Director of Strategic Development amanda@htstherapy.com for information about our contract therapy partnerships.

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Spring Cleaning Tips for Older Adults

Spring is the perfect time to open your windows, reorganize your space, and complete those cleaning tasks you’ve been putting off all winter. For older adults, keeping your living space safe and accessible will make it easier for you to get around and reduce the risk for a fall or injury.

 

Some important Spring cleaning tips to remember:

Safety

  • Have emergency numbers and your home address posted in every room.
  • Keep a mobile phone or medical alert device with you at all times.
  • Maintain your water heater thermostat at 120° F or lower to avoid scalding.
  • Post a current medication list in your kitchen or on the refrigerator.

Clutter

  • Keep wide-open walkways and remove any unused furniture.
  • Remove throw rugs and electrical cords from walkways.
  • Get rid of unused items just taking up storage space such as extra towels and washcloths, kitchen cookware and plates, home and party decorations, etc.

Organization

  • Store frequently used items in easy-to-reach locations ideally at waist height.
  • Avoid using upper or lower shelves that require step stools or excessive leaning.
  • Keep all important documents (passports and insurance policies) in a secure area.

 

If you are having trouble completing daily living tasks or need help identifying potential hazards in your home, an Occupational Therapist can help.
In addition to working with individuals in the clinical setting on components like strength, balance, and endurance, Occupational Therapists provide Home Safety Assessments. During this visit, a therapist will assess your living environment to identify potential hazards and recommend home modifications that promote your independence and safety.

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Move More for Heart Health

Responsible for moving about 2,000 gallons of blood every day, the heart is one of the most important muscles in the body. A strong, healthy heart can help lower blood pressure and cholesterol, improve blood flow, and prevent heart disease and stroke.

What is the best exercise for your heart? The American Heart Association recommends combining aerobic exercise (walking, gardening, swimming) with strength training (weight lifting, resistance training) to produce the greatest benefit for overall heart health. According to Dr. Levine at UT Southwestern Medical Center, he recommends just keep moving and varying the type and intensity of your exercises each day.

Weekly Workout for a Strong Heart

Making exercise part of your daily routine and finding activities you enjoy can help keep you motivated and moving more every day. *Consult with your doctor about the best way to add activity to your lifestyle.

Therapy Can Help You Stay Active

Exercise is extremely important in managing your health and many common symptoms of aging. Physical therapists can help teach you how to exercise appropriately for joint mobility, muscle strength, and fitness. Occupational therapists can help you safely do the things you want to do, stay active and live well despite limitations.

Talk to your doctor today about the benefits of physical and occupational therapy!

Sources: www.heart.org/en/healthy-living/fitness/fitness-basics/aha-recs-for-physical-activity-infographic
and utswmed.org/medblog/heart-cardio-workouts

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Therapy Interventions for Treating Urinary Incontinence

When you accidentally leak urine, it is known as urinary incontinence. Incontinence is a very common issue and more common in older adults. However, urinary incontinence does not have to be a part of your daily life. Treatment options are shown to be effective for many people and may include medications, bladder training, fluid/diet management, environmental modifications, and exercise.

Physical & Occupational Therapy can help you regain control over your symptoms.
Treatment interventions such as behavior modification and bladder retraining can help prevent future urinary tract infections, restore bladder function and greatly improve your quality of life.

Consider the benefits of a rehabilitation program for urinary incontinence. Talk to your doctor about symptoms and discuss a referring order to physical or occupational therapy.

For more information, please contact your on-site Therapy Department to discuss your concerns and treatment options.

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Diabetes and Neuropathy

Neuropathy occurs when one or more nerves are damaged or destroyed.  This disrupts the nerves’ ability to send messages from the brain and spinal cord to the muscles, skin, and other parts of the body resulting in muscle weakness, numbness, and pain in the affected area.  Frequently neuropathy begins in your hands and feet but can occur in other parts of your body as well.

Diabetes is the leading cause of neuropathy in the United States among other causes.  In fact, it is estimated that 60-70% of people with diabetes experience neuropathy.  Some may experience mild symptoms, but for others, the pain can be debilitating.  If you have diabetes, you can prevent or delay neuropathy by keeping your diabetes under control.

  • Manage Your Blood Glucose Level
  • Frequently Check Your Skin and Feet for Cuts or Sores
  • Wash Your Feet Daily and Moisturize
  • Wear Properly Fitted Shoes that Protect Your Toes
  • Protect Your Feet and Fingers from the Heat and Cold

 

How Can Therapy Help?

Treatment for neuropathy is often focused on managing the underlying cause and relieving symptoms.  Physical Therapy treatment may be focused on maintaining and improving function through range-of-motion exercises and stretching, strength training, balance training, and pain management.  Occupational Therapy treatment can help provide education on fall prevention as well as strategies to reduce pain and increase mobility.

Source: Cleveland Clinic, The Foundation for Peripheral Neuropathy, Mayo Clinic Foundation

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ATTENTION: We need your help to support this bill!

Legislation has been introduced to postpone the 15% reimbursement cuts to PTA and OTA treatments. Please help us to support this bill.

Dear Partners and Friends,

Please take a few minutes to read the below message from NASL regarding the new legislation that has been introduced in the US House. We need everyone to support this bill in order to postpone the 15% reduction in reimbursement for Med B services provided by PTAs and OTAs. This cut is set to happen on 1/1/2022. If this legislation is passed, it will delay this cut until 1/1/2023. Additionally, this bill allows for rural and underserved areas to be exempt from these cuts once they are implemented.

As skilled nursing operators and professionals, I urge each of you to take a few minutes to read the letter, make any additional edits/comments, and submit it to your personal representative. Spending a few minutes of your time could result in a very positive impact for our patients, as well as our industry. Your action is extremely time-sensitive because if this bill does not have enough support, it will not move on.

From NASL: Click here to access the letter and the ability to submit directly to your representative.

The time for advocacy on this issue is now as there is not much time left on the legislative calendar for Congress to act before this policy is implemented on January 1, 2022. NASL has prepared a letter for you to email to your respective House members urging them to cosponsor the Stabilizing Medicare Access to Rehabilitation and Therapy (SMART) Act of 2021 (H.R.5536) and asking them to add the bipartisan legislation to any legislative packages moving before the end of the year.

Use the link above or visit https://app.govpredict.com/gr/m5bwzm-u to access and send this email in under two minutes.

Thank you for your time and effort to support this bill!

Sincerely,

Cassie Murray, President

 

Cassie Murray, OTR, MBA, QCP

President of HTS

Healthcare Therapy Services, Inc.

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Preventing Osteoporosis

Osteoporosis is the most common type of bone disease in which bones become fragile and are more likely to fracture.

Facts:
1 in 2 Women Over 50 Will Fracture a Bone Because of Osteoporosis
1 in 4 Men Over 50 Will Fracture a Bone Because of Osteoporosis

How Do We Prevent It?
You can prevent osteoporosis and strengthen your bones by following these health habits…

  • Eat Foods Rich in Calcium & Vitamin D. Calcium improves bone strength and vitamin D helps bones absorb calcium.
    • Calcium: 1,200 mg per day = 2 glasses of milk or 1 yogurt or 2 oz. of cheese per day
    • Vitamin D: 1, 000 IU per day = 7 oz of salmon or 9 oz of tuna or 2 glasses of milk
  • Exercise can strengthen your bones and prevent fractures. To increase bone mass and density, focus on weight-bearing exercises and strength training.
    • Aerobic Exercises: brisk walking, climbing stairs, dancing, hiking, step aerobics, tennis
    • Resistance Exercises: elastic exercise bands, free weights, weight machines
  • Maintain a Healthy Lifestyle. Avoid smoking as it can interfere with proper calcium absorption and limit alcoholic beverages as it reduces your blood serum calcium level.

How Can Therapy Help?
Therapy is an effective, non-surgical treatment for osteoporosis that may help restore healthy movement, function, and bone strength. Physical and Occupational Therapy can help teach you exercises to promote bone health, build bone mass, and ways to manage your daily activities so you’ll reduce your risk of having an osteoporosis-related fracture.

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