Assessing and Preventing Falls in the Nursing Home

According to a 2012 study by Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, between half and three-quarters of nursing home residents fall each year, accounting for nearly half of all Emergency Room visits by nursing home residents. As alarming as this statistic may seem, there is a bright side: most of these falls are preventable and proper training and education can help reduce the number of falls among nursing home residents.

As part of the comprehensive services we provide, Therapy Center works with the nursing and administrative staff in our partner facilities to continuously provide educational opportunities and up-to-date information on industry best practices. In working to reduce the number of falls in nursing home facilities, it is important to review each fall instance and understand why the fall occurred. Asking the right questions is the first step to understanding risks and keeping residents safe while still allowing them a sense of independence.

Begin at the Beginning

There are 10 important questions to ask at the time of a fall that will help provide insight into what went wrong:

1. Ask the resident: Are you ok?

2. Ask the resident: What were you trying to do?

3. Ask the resident or determine: What was different this time that may have contributed to the fall?

4. What was the position of resident?

    – Did the resident fall near a bed, toilet, or chair? How far away were they?

    – Was the resident on his/her back, front, left side or right side?

    – What was the position of the resident’s arms and legs?

5. What was the surrounding area like?

    – Was the area noisy, busy, or cluttered?

    – Was there poor lighting or low visibility?

    – What was the position of furniture and equipment in the area? Is the bed height correct?

6. What was the floor like?

    – Was the floor wet, uneven, or shiny?

    – Is the floor carpet or tile?

7.  What was the resident wearing?

    – Was the resident wearing shoes, socks, or slippers?

    – Was the resident wearing poorly-fitting clothes?

8.  Was the resident using an assistive device?

    – Was the resident using a walker, cane, wheelchair, merry walker, or other device?

9.  Was the resident wearing glasses and/or hearing aids?

10. Who was in the area when the fall occurred?

Teamwork Multiplies Success

Answering the 10 questions above will provide a good overview of the circumstances leading up to the fall. Armed with this knowledge, the resident’s team of healthcare providers can work together to conduct a root cause analysis, used to determine exactly what happened, why it happened, and what can be done to prevent it from happening again.

In conducting a root cause analysis, there are 3 areas to investigate:

Internal Evidence:

What does the place of the fall indicate?

At Bedside = likely orthostatic hypotension, can be incorrect bed placement
5 feet away = balance/gait deficits
15 feet away = strength/endurance deficits

What does the resident’s mood status and/or cognitive changes indicate?

Frequent napping may indicate sleep deprivation, which could be a risk factor for increased falls. To help eliminate this risk factor, health care workers can look for ways to minimize interruptions at night, thereby providing residents with the best opportunity for getting at least 8 hours of uninterrupted sleep.

What medications is the resident taking that could contribute to fall risks?

Medications can often have unintended side-effects which contribute to a resident’s potential for falls. In particular, antidepressants, antipsychotics, and diuretics have been found to cause an increased risk of falls in the elderly. It is important for residents’ medical team to determine that all medications are necessary, properly dosed, and being properly taken.

External Evidence:

Remembering that a nursing facility is not an overnight stay for residents, but rather their home – whether short-term or permanently – it is important to create a calming, comfortable environment at all times. Keeping noise levels low and busy activity to a minimum will create a more peaceful home for residents. Rooms that are free of clutter, have adequate lighting and properly placed furniture set residents up for success and eliminate many of the hazards that contribute to fall instances.

Systemic Evidence:

What additional factors could have contributed to a fall? Remember that understanding the details of WHY a fall occurred will help prevent it from ever happening again. Some additional details to investigate that may provide insight into what happened include:

• What time of day did the fall occur?
• Did the fall happen during a shift change or break time?
• What day of week did the fall occur?
• Where was the location of fall?

Therapy Center Can Help

Therapy Center’s therapists are highly-trained to evaluate situations and present skills to assist with identifying possible fall risks. Our therapists will make recommendations, based on their assessments, for environmental adaptations or changes that can help avoid situations where falls would be likely to occur.

Our therapists can make recommendations for proper footwear and correct bed heights based on a resident’s individual needs. In addition, our therapists can evaluate and address any visual deficits that may be causing the resident to fall.

Because we know that it is important that everyone in a nursing facility works together to create the best outcomes for the residents there, Therapy Center’s therapists work diligently to assist and train the staff in our partner facilities, creating a unified team of medical professionals all working toward the common goal of keeping residents safe and providing them with the quality of life that they deserve.

To learn more about Therapy Center’s services in skilled nursing facilities, contact Kristi Fredieu at 337-384-9791or kfredieu@therapyctr.com.

In light of Occupational Therapy month, here is another video celebrating the tremendous difference occupational therapists make in the lives of so many people.  This is the story of three wounded soldiers.

Click here to view the video on YouTube.

For more information on our staff, please go to http://therapyctr.com/why-choose-therapy-center/our-team.

In honor of OT month, we wanted to share testimonials on one of the many occupational therapists who has made a special impact on the lives of her patients.

Greta Bordelon, who is an occupational therapist in our Marksville outpatient clinic, Lemoine Therapy Services, was recognized by two patients whom she treated.  She has been with Lemoine Therapy for five years and her compassion and love for her work has kept patients coming back to our outpatient clinic.  Greta is a great example of the outstanding employees we pride ourselves on having on our team.  Here is what her patients had to say regarding the care they received from Greta.

Pamela Tassin

“I had an injury at work last year.  My surgery was January 9, 2015.  I started occupational therapy with Greta seven weeks after my surgery.  I could not use my right side at all, and within two weeks I had so much improvement.  I was very shocked, I did not expect so much improvement so quickly.  Greta is professional in every way.  She is compassionate and patient with all of her patients.  I am a nurse so I have seen many health care workers as they take care of patients, but I have to say Greta is one of the best!” -Pamela Tassin

Janelle Smith

“I had surgery on March 26, 2015 and began occupational therapy with Lemoine Therapy.  Greta Bordelon has been an angel.  She has worked on and done OT on my elbow three times a week.  She does an EXCELLENT JOB!  Her caring and concern really makes me feel great even on days when my arm hurts.  She has a way of making every day a great day.  Thank y’all for having Greta on y’all’s staff.  She is the best!” -Janelle Smith

Thank you, Greta, for being such a great representation of Therapy Center and Lemoine Therapy Services.

To learn more about the impact our team has made on other patients, visit the testimonials section of our website.

In recognition of Occupation Therapy month, I am excited to take advantage of this opportunity to help people better understand the role of an OT. In 10+ years that I have worked as an occupational therapist I often find myself having to explain what exactly I do. Most people seem to be familiar with physical therapy but occupational therapy….. I get a blank stare.

The role of an occupational therapist is to help patients achieve a more fulfilled and satisfied state in life through the recovery of function and performance in activities of daily living. Basically, we work with our patients to help them live their life to the fullest and to do the things they love in life more efficiently.

As a team leader with Therapy Center (we like to use the term Mentor), I have had the pleasure of working with an incredible group of OT’s and COTA’s (Certified Occupational Therapy Assistants). Although each of my team members has completely different personalities, they all have one thing in common: their undeniable passion for the work that we do in the field of occupational therapy.

The innovative methods that my amazing team of OT’s and COTA’s use to help our patients are as varied as the therapists themselves, which is what makes them so good at what they do. From self-care activities to providing a shoulder to cry on, and everything in-between, these ladies are always finding new ways to keep therapy sessions interesting, fun and most importantly, challenging. Watching patients progress and improve is what continues to motivate our team and when we see the smile on a patient’s face when they are able to do something that they haven’t been able to do before…that’s priceless!

To my team of OT’s and COTA’s and to all of the incredible OT’s and COTA’s at Therapy Center, Thank you for choosing the field of Occupational Therapy and Happy OT month!

-Lauren McCraine, Mentor and Occupational Therapist

Visit the occupational therapy section of our blog to read more information on the field of OT and the amazing team we have working with us!

The patients at our partner skilled nursing facilities are not shy about expressing their appreciation for the care they receive from their occupational therapy team members on their road to recovery. We wanted to share a few of the comments we have received over the last month from the individuals impacted the most…our patients.

Lake Charles Care Center:  Lauren Green, OT & Jessica Cornner, COTA

“Jessica and Lauren have changed my life!  Not only when I get down with my therapy, but personally.  They both always smile and are always ready to get on with whatever task is ahead.  Therapy hurts and they pull no punches, but if there were any two people I could have on my side, it would be my therapy team!  Jessica and Lauren, I’ll never be able to repay you, but I can tell you I will never forget you.  I’ve got so much further to go, but with your help I will have memories to last the rest of my life!” – Love, Esther

LaSalle Nursing Home:  Melanie Lewellyan, OT & Lindsey Allen, COTA

“Just over a year ago I suffered a broken back.  Subsequent surgery and prolonged bed rest caused me to lose the strength in my legs and the dexterity of my fingers.  I was also attacked by arthritis in my hips and hands.  When I began PT and OT, I was so gratified that full use of my hands and fingers began to return, and I give full credit to the occupational therapists for the magnificent job they are accomplishing in working with me.  They are very dedicated and demonstrate a lot of compassion for the residents they associate with.” – Sincerely, Jack M. Willis

Acadia St. Landry Guest Home:  Rebecca Curry, OT & Ashley Bertrand, COTA

“My OT helped me move my upper body easier.” – Mary Ella Thibodeaux

“My OT helped me feed myself on my own.” – Denise Rober

Visit the occupational therapy section of our blog to read more information on the field of OT and the amazing team we have working with us!

Diana Booty is the office manager at Lemoine Therapy outpatient clinic in Marksville, Louisiana.  Her title as an office manager does her no justice; she wears many hats at the facility.  Along with managing the office, she is a Licensed Massage Therapist and handles marketing for Lemoine Therapy as well.  Diana has been with the company for almost eleven years now and is described as the glue that holds the clinic together. 

Diane says the most rewarding part about her job is impacting peoples lives for the better.  What does she love most about her job? “The team of people that I work with and the people that I work for are what I love most about my job. The flexibility Lemoine Therapy offers is a great part of working for this company.”

Lemoine Therapy Services was established in 2005 by Shannon Lemoine, PT, as Therapy Center expanded its outpatient clinic therapy services to the Marksville area. Lemoine Therapy offers comprehensive therapeutic services, provided by exceptional staff who work with each patient to design the best rehab plan to get them back to the activities they love.  Lemoine Therapy offers comprehensive physical and occupational therapy services.

For more employee spotlights, visit the Team Member News section of the Blog.

In April 2015, Acadia St. Landry Guest Home in Church Point, Louisiana opened a new addition to its facility, The Road Home Therapy Center.  This state-of-the-art building houses fourteen private patient rooms, dining room and a spacious therapy gym where our team of therapists are able to provide physical, occupational and speech therapy to residents. 

The Road Home Therapy Center is designed specifically for short-stay patients who have the goal of returning home upon completion of their  therapy program.  Therapy Center is proud to partner with Acadia St. Landry Guest Home and The Road Home Therapy Center in order to provide the care that the local community deserves.

Click here to view the video on YouTube.

Assessing and Preventing Falls in the Nursing Home

According to a 2012 study by Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, between half and three-quarters of nursing home residents fall each year, accounting for nearly half of all Emergency Room visits by nursing home residents. As alarming as this statistic may seem, there is a bright side: most of these falls are preventable and proper training and education can help reduce the number of falls among nursing home residents.

As part of the comprehensive services we provide, Therapy Center works with the nursing and administrative staff in our partner facilities to continuously provide educational opportunities and up-to-date information on industry best practices. In working to reduce the number of falls in nursing home facilities, it is important to review each fall instance and understand why the fall occurred. Asking the right questions is the first step to understanding risks and keeping residents safe while still allowing them a sense of independence.

Begin at the Beginning

There are 10 important questions to ask at the time of a fall that will help provide insight into what went wrong:

1. Ask the resident: Are you ok?

2. Ask the resident: What were you trying to do?

3. Ask the resident or determine: What was different this time that may have contributed to the fall?

4. What was the position of resident?

    – Did the resident fall near a bed, toilet, or chair? How far away were they?

    – Was the resident on his/her back, front, left side or right side?

    – What was the position of the resident’s arms and legs?

5. What was the surrounding area like?

    – Was the area noisy, busy, or cluttered?

    – Was there poor lighting or low visibility?

    – What was the position of furniture and equipment in the area? Is the bed height correct?

6. What was the floor like?

    – Was the floor wet, uneven, or shiny?

    – Is the floor carpet or tile?

7.  What was the resident wearing?

    – Was the resident wearing shoes, socks, or slippers?

    – Was the resident wearing poorly-fitting clothes?

8.  Was the resident using an assistive device?

    – Was the resident using a walker, cane, wheelchair, merry walker, or other device?

9.  Was the resident wearing glasses and/or hearing aids?

10. Who was in the area when the fall occurred?

Teamwork Multiplies Success

Answering the 10 questions above will provide a good overview of the circumstances leading up to the fall. Armed with this knowledge, the resident’s team of healthcare providers can work together to conduct a root cause analysis, used to determine exactly what happened, why it happened, and what can be done to prevent it from happening again.

In conducting a root cause analysis, there are 3 areas to investigate:

Internal Evidence:

What does the place of the fall indicate?

At Bedside = likely orthostatic hypotension, can be incorrect bed placement
5 feet away = balance/gait deficits
15 feet away = strength/endurance deficits

What does the resident’s mood status and/or cognitive changes indicate?

Frequent napping may indicate sleep deprivation, which could be a risk factor for increased falls. To help eliminate this risk factor, health care workers can look for ways to minimize interruptions at night, thereby providing residents with the best opportunity for getting at least 8 hours of uninterrupted sleep.

What medications is the resident taking that could contribute to fall risks?

Medications can often have unintended side-effects which contribute to a resident’s potential for falls. In particular, antidepressants, antipsychotics, and diuretics have been found to cause an increased risk of falls in the elderly. It is important for residents’ medical team to determine that all medications are necessary, properly dosed, and being properly taken.

External Evidence:

Remembering that a nursing facility is not an overnight stay for residents, but rather their home whether short-term or permanently it is important to create a calming, comfortable environment at all times. Keeping noise levels low and busy activity to a minimum will create a more peaceful home for residents. Rooms that are free of clutter, have adequate lighting and properly placed furniture set residents up for success and eliminate many of the hazards that contribute to fall instances.

Systemic Evidence:

What additional factors could have contributed to a fall? Remember that understanding the details of WHY a fall occurred will help prevent it from ever happening again. Some additional details to investigate that may provide insight into what happened include:

• What time of day did the fall occur?
• Did the fall happen during a shift change or break time?
• What day of week did the fall occur?
• Where was the location of fall?

Therapy Center Can Help

Therapy Center’s therapists are highly-trained to evaluate situations and present skills to assist with identifying possible fall risks. Our therapists will make recommendations, based on their assessments, for environmental adaptations or changes that can help avoid situations where falls would be likely to occur.

Our therapists can make recommendations for proper footwear and correct bed heights based on a resident’s individual needs. In addition, our therapists can evaluate and address any visual deficits that may be causing the resident to fall.

Because we know that it is important that everyone in a nursing facility works together to create the best outcomes for the residents there, Therapy Center’s therapists work diligently to assist and train the staff in our partner facilities, creating a unified team of medical professionals all working toward the common goal of keeping residents safe and providing them with the quality of life that they deserve.

To learn more about Therapy Center’s services in skilled nursing facilities, contact Kristi Fredieu at 337-384-9791or kfredieu@therapyctr.cbm.codes.

In light of Occupational Therapy month, here is another video celebrating the tremendous difference occupational therapists make in the lives of so many people.  This is the story of three wounded soldiers.

For more information on our staff, please go to http://www.therapyctr.com/why-choose-therapy-center/our-team.

In honor of OT month, we wanted to share testimonials on one of the many occupational therapists who has made a special impact on the lives of her patients.

Greta Bordelon, who is an occupational therapist in our Marksville outpatient clinic, Lemoine Therapy Services, was recognized by two patients whom she treated.  She has been with Lemoine Therapy for five years and her compassion and love for her work has kept patients coming back to our outpatient clinic.  Greta is a great example of the outstanding employees we pride ourselves on having on our team.  Here is what her patients had to say regarding the care they received from Greta.

Pamela Tassin

“I had an injury at work last year.  My surgery was January 9, 2015.  I started occupational therapy with Greta seven weeks after my surgery.  I could not use my right side at all, and within two weeks I had so much improvement.  I was very shocked, I did not expect so much improvement so quickly.  Greta is professional in every way.  She is compassionate and patient with all of her patients.  I am a nurse so I have seen many health care workers as they take care of patients, but I have to say Greta is one of the best!” -Pamela Tassin

Janelle Smith

“I had surgery on March 26, 2015 and began occupational therapy with Lemoine Therapy.  Greta Bordelon has been an angel.  She has worked on and done OT on my elbow three times a week.  She does an EXCELLENT JOB!  Her caring and concern really makes me feel great even on days when my arm hurts.  She has a way of making every day a great day.  Thank y’all for having Greta on y’all’s staff.  She is the best!” -Janelle Smith

Thank you, Greta, for being such a great representation of Therapy Center and Lemoine Therapy Services.

To learn more about the impact our team has made on other patients, visit the testimonials section of our website.

In recognition of Occupation Therapy month, I am excited to take advantage of this opportunity to help people better understand the role of an OT. In 10+ years that I have worked as an occupational therapist I often find myself having to explain what exactly I do. Most people seem to be familiar with physical therapy but occupational therapy….. I get a blank stare.

The role of an occupational therapist is to help patients achieve a more fulfilled and satisfied state in life through the recovery of function and performance in activities of daily living. Basically, we work with our patients to help them live their life to the fullest and to do the things they love in life more efficiently.

As a team leader with Therapy Center (we like to use the term Mentor), I have had the pleasure of working with an incredible group of OT’s and COTA’s (Certified Occupational Therapy Assistants). Although each of my team members has completely different personalities, they all have one thing in common: their undeniable passion for the work that we do in the field of occupational therapy.

The innovative methods that my amazing team of OT’s and COTA’s use to help our patients are as varied as the therapists themselves, which is what makes them so good at what they do. From self-care activities to providing a shoulder to cry on, and everything in-between, these ladies are always finding new ways to keep therapy sessions interesting, fun and most importantly, challenging. Watching patients progress and improve is what continues to motivate our team and when we see the smile on a patient’s face when they are able to do something that they haven’t been able to do before…that’s priceless!

To my team of OT’s and COTA’s and to all of the incredible OT’s and COTA’s at Therapy Center, Thank you for choosing the field of Occupational Therapy and Happy OT month!

-Lauren McCraine, Mentor and Occupational Therapist

Visit the occupational therapy section of our blog to read more information on the field of OT and the amazing team we have working with us!

The patients at our partner skilled nursing facilities are not shy about expressing their appreciation for the care they receive from their occupational therapy team members on their road to recovery. We wanted to share a few of the comments we have received over the last month from the individuals impacted the most…our patients.

Lake Charles Care Center:  Lauren Green, OT & Jessica Cornner, COTA

Jessica and Lauren have changed my life!  Not only when I get down with my therapy, but personally.  They both always smile and are always ready to get on with whatever task is ahead.  Therapy hurts and they pull no punches, but if there were any two people I could have on my side, it would be my therapy team!  Jessica and Lauren, I’ll never be able to repay you, but I can tell you I will never forget you.  I’ve got so much further to go, but with your help I will have memories to last the rest of my life! Love, Esther

LaSalle Nursing Home:  Melanie Lewellyan, OT & Lindsey Allen, COTA

Just over a year ago I suffered a broken back.  Subsequent surgery and prolonged bed rest caused me to lose the strength in my legs and the dexterity of my fingers.  I was also attacked by arthritis in my hips and hands.  When I began PT and OT, I was so gratified that full use of my hands and fingers began to return, and I give full credit to the occupational therapists for the magnificent job they are accomplishing in working with me.  They are very dedicated and demonstrate a lot of compassion for the residents they associate with. Sincerely, Jack M. Willis

Acadia St. Landry Guest Home:  Rebecca Curry, OT & Ashley Bertrand, COTA

My OT helped me move my upper body easier. Mary Ella Thibodeaux

My OT helped me feed myself on my own. Denise Rober

Visit the occupational therapy section of our blog to read more information on the field of OT and the amazing team we have working with us!

At fifty-seven years old, Mrs. Vicky Landry came to Maison Teche Nursing Center for rehab to home after a lengthy hospital and inpatient stay at Iberia Rehab Hospital.  A year prior to her stay at Maison Teche, Mrs. Landry suffered from a malignant tumor in her brain and also had diabetes type II, hypothyroidism, chronic depression and rheumatoid arthritis.  After surgery she received home health therapy services, but was unable to restore her previous functional status which led her back to the hospital.

At her initial evaluation, Mrs. Landry required total assistance from two people for all functional mobility tasks and activities of daily living, including rolling in bed and sitting up from a lying down position.  She was unable to walk due to weakness and impaired balance.

Initially, Mrs. Landry was very hesitant to participate in therapy due to the pain from her wounds and had difficulty completing simple, lower level tasks requiring assistance from two people to get out of bed.  She was also very fearful of falling.  With the help of a supportive husband and staff, Mrs. Landry eventually became more open to physical, occupational and speech therapy and began progressing in all aspects of functional mobility.

“The therapists were excellent and really helped me out a lot to get me walking again.  If I ever needed something they were my go-to people, and they always figured out a solution,” says Mrs. Landry.

Our physical therapist, Karleigh Sigur, remembers when she first saw major improvements with Mrs. Landry.

“Mrs. Landry first began improving drastically once she trusted not only the therapists, but also herself, allowing her to push herself and get over her fear of falling and failing.  Once she was able to take her first steps with a rolling walker and assistance, she realized that her prior level of function was not only attainable, but very reasonable.”

Therapy Center prides itself on giving the best quality of care to our patients, and taking a special interest on each and every patient we treat.  Karleigh Sigur and the therapy team at Maison Teche exhibited this behavior with their treatment of Mrs. Landry.

“Mrs. Landry was very fond of her several dogs at home and missed them dearly.  We incorporated Maison Teche’s resident dog, Buddy, into therapy treatments when appropriate to engage Mrs. Landry.  With physical therapy, Mrs. Landry practiced recovering from falls and was challenged to get herself up from the floor to increase her safety upon return to home.  She utilized “It’s Never 2 Late” interactive computer program, which includes puzzles and memory games, and was able to stand for over thirty minutes at a time.  She was also challenged with walking up and down stairs, ramps, hills, loose gravel and uneven grass to prepare her for her return into the community.”

“Life is really good now as I am home with my husband and dogs.  I wasn’t able to do anything, really, when I first got to Maison Teche.  I had bed sores, couldn’t get out of bed without help, and wasn’t able to dress myself.  After completing physical, occupational and speech therapy I can now wash clothes, do light housework, load the dishwasher, walk outside with a cane, shower, and go grocery shopping with my husband,” says Mrs. Landry.

Our therapy team at Maison Teche is one-of-a-kind, explaining how rewarding it is to be able to make such an impact in our patients’ lives.

“Mrs. Landry is a wonderful success story and a true testament of how therapy, hard work, motivation, and strong family support can enable a person to return home and live the life they once lived without difficulty even after undergoing many obstacles and complications.  Even though we were so proud of her accomplishments and meeting all of her goals, we were sad to see her go.  She went from not wanting to participate initially to later being the first one to walk down to the therapy gym.  She brightened our days and was sure to put a smile on everyone’s face that she came in contact with.  Mrs. Landry might say that we impacted her life, but she also had a huge, positive impact on our lives as well,” explains Karleigh.

Visit Therapy Center’s blog, to learn about more of our success stories.

The Story of Truffle & Samantha
Article written by Samantha Stanley, Physical Therapist Assistant for Therapy Center in order to celebrate National Love Your Pet Day on February 20th.

In March 2015, my family and I welcomed a new member to our home, a chocolate labradoodle pup that a year later would grow to be a 45 pound bundle of sweet joy, Truffle! I researched the personality of labradoodles and knew instantly by all the positive descriptions and stories that a “doodle-life” was for me. Multiple sites online described labradoodles as intelligent, kind, loving, level-headed and social. I had to get one of my own! I purchased Truffle from a reputable breeder in Oklahoma who has been in business for 15 years. Their site had great pictures and inspiring stories about how many of their labradoodles have brought so much happiness to families and how some doodles have become therapy dogs.

During the holiday season our therapy team at The Columns Community Care Center wanted to do something a little different and special for our residents. We all decided that it would be a fun, new experience to incorporate a pup into our therapy and introduce Truffle to all the residents. Little did we know that Truffle would bring smiles, laughter, excitement, and conversation to everyone at the Columns. Truffle fit in so well with all the residents and the therapy team. Truffle’s personality is very calm and obedient so incorporating therapy was not difficult at all for speech therapy, occupational therapy and physical therapy. Truffle let residents pet her, walk with her on a leash and even played fetch with residents. It truly made the residents overjoyed! Multiple residents told stories about their dogs at home or even stories about the pups they had when they were children. Truffle would sit right by a resident and lean in as if she were listening too.

Truffle not only was incorporated into therapy treatments within our gym but she visited residents in their rooms as well. Residents would call Truffle’s name and she would jump up and lay right next to a resident so the resident could pet and cuddle her. The residents described Truffle as: chill, calm, laid back, loving, soft, cuddly and smart. Overall the therapy team could not have asked for a better, more creative way to add something extra special to our daily treatment. Truffle was the “talk of the Columns”.
Since the holiday season Truffle has visited a few more times and every time we get the same positive responses from residents and staff; “we love her,” “she brings so much happiness and excitement to the facility!”

Because of all the positive feedback we received from residents and staff I have enrolled Truffle in 18 weeks of classes where she will learn: basic commands, problem solving skills and behavior training. Once she completes beginner, intermediate and advanced training courses, Truffle and I together will take the Canine Good Citizen Test. The Canine Good citizen test consists of nine parameters including accepting a friendly stranger, sitting politely for petting, appearance and grooming, walking on a loose leash, walking through a crowd, sit and down on command/staying in place, coming when called, reaction to another dog and reactions to distractions. Once she passes the CGC then I will get trained through the Delta Society Pet Partners to become Truffle’s “handler”. A handler is fully responsible for the care of the dog, reading the body language of the animal, demonstrating positive interactions with the animal and redirecting the animal with a confident manner and at all times be an advocate for the safety and well-being of their animal. I hope that this is just the beginning for Truffle and I, as a trained human-pet therapy team, making memories, inspiring others and promoting health and happiness to all.

For more stories about how our therapists incorporate different activities into therapy, click on the blog tab on our home page.

Authored by Brittany Lemoine, Marketing Liaison.

After experiencing serious complications from back surgery that resulted in a decline in her strength and cognitive abilities, Jessie Hardesty became a resident at Lakeview Manor Nursing Home in order to receive skilled care. This is where her journey back home began…

“I came close to dying…I came close to losing my mind. But I didn’t want that and so I prayed and prayed and God said ‘fight with all your might,’ ” says Jessie.

When Jessie arrived to Lakeview Manor, she was evaluated by our therapy team where it was determined she would need physical, occupational and speech therapy in order for her to return to the life she had before. Starting off in a wheelchair, our physical therapist worked with her to regain her strength and also addressed her instability with her walking patterns. Ms. Jessie expressed the need to be able to take over her finances again once she returned home so our speech therapist worked with her on signing her name and writing checks. Finally, occupational therapy addressed her ability to complete self-care tasks and daily chores. Upon completion of her therapy program, Ms. Jessie returned home.

“This department gave me the strength to fight with everything inside of me,” explains Jessie.  Watch her full return to home story below!

Visit our website to learn more about Therapy Center’s nursing home rehabilitation services offered through our partner skilled nursing facilities. Watch more success stories on our blog!

April marks the recognized celebration of National Occupational Therapy Month. You may wonder, “what is occupational therapy exactly?” According to the American Occupational Therapy Association (AOTA), occupational therapy is the only profession that helps people across the lifespan to do the things they want and need to do through the therapeutic use of daily activities (occupations). Occupational therapy practitioners enable people of all ages to live life to its fullest by helping them promote health and prevent—or live better with—injury, illness, or disability.

Visit our website for services we offer at the Therapy Center and our career opportunities page for openings in your area!

During National Occupational Therapy Month, we would like to bring attention to the role of occupational therapists in various settings and tips for managing conditions associated with occupational therapy treatment. With a growing population of individuals needing treatment in their homes, this week, we would like to focus on occupational therapy in a home health setting.

Some individuals have the potential to regain skills affected by their conditions, while others may need strategies to prevent further loss of abilities. Regardless of specific diagnosis or condition, occupational therapy practitioners offer strategies to manage daily activities while reducing the risk of injury or further decline (Goldberg, 2009; Ryan, 2006).

Occupational therapy practitioners can assist in finding the right fit between patients’ abilities, needed and desired activities, and their home environment so patients can manage safely and productively—at home.

Often times, patients must manage various chronic conditions as large part of their daily activities. Occupational therapy brings expertise to help patients translate “doctor’s orders” to manageable daily habits and routines (Bondoc & Siebert, 2010). Occupational therapy can strengthen outcomes related to:

Medication management: Occupational therapy addresses strategies to enhance medication adherence and integrate medication management into patients’ daily routines.

They also can assist with daily management of conditions such as:

• Diabetes: Occupational therapy addresses the many aspects of diabetes management that must become daily routines: blood sugar monitoring, hygiene and foot care, meal planning and preparation, healthy coping strategies, and physical activity. Occupational therapy practitioners can also train patients with diabetes to use compensatory strategies for vision, sensory, or motor loss that may interfere with their daily activities..
• Heart failure: Occupational therapy addresses strategies to conserve energy and reduce the demands of activities, while integrating appropriate physical activity and self-monitoring. Occupational therapy practitioners can assist patients to master new activities—daily weights, modified diets—and incorporate these activities into regular routines.
• Chronic obstructive pulmonary disease: Occupational therapy addresses strategies to conserve energy, reduce the demands of activities, and self-monitor to avoid exacerbations. Occupational therapy practitioners can assist patients to incorporate pacing, planning, and stress management into daily activities.
• Cognitive and behavioral health conditions: Occupational therapy addresses daily routines, medication adherence, self-management, and stress management strategies. With a core knowledge base in psychosocial issues, occupational therapists can also address behavioral health conditions and train caregivers to provide appropriate cues and support to patients with cognitive limitations to optimize performance and reduce agitation or confusion.

Visit AOTA for more tips such as remaining in your home as you age. For more information on Therapy Center’s home health program, visit our website or contact us at 337-824-4545.

Story written by Jeanne L. LeBeouf, Speech Therapist in honor of Abbey and in celebration of National Pet Day on April 11th.

As many of you know from the article written on Abbey in 2011, Abbey was rescued at the age of 10 from the Acadia Parish Animal Shelter and has been our family pet, as well as a “therapy” dog for the past 5 years. Although she had heart worms and couldn’t be a “certified” therapy dog, you wouldn’t have known any differently. She listened and obeyed my every command and had the most gentle disposition.  I was told many times, “I’ve never seen a dog that well behaved.”   She was my first dog, my only dog, and my shadow.  She would jump in the front passenger seat every day on her ride to work at Gueydan Memorial Guest Home where she spent most of her days giving the residents who lived there reasons to smile, laugh, and love her.  Abbey spent many hours of her day following me throughout the nursing home, to and from the patients’ rooms, and even attended the staff meetings with me.

As Abbey aged, she eventually lost her hearing and would sleep most of the day in the therapy room corner on her bed, which was strategically placed for all of the residents to see her as they attended therapy.  Over time, Abbey’s sight declined and she displayed some cognitive changes causing her to wander off and become “lost” in her very familiar environment, as well as withdraw socially from things she used to enjoy.  Abbey’s therapeutic effect became less hands-on as the residents took comfort in just watching her sleep, knowing she would be in her corner.  Eventually, I could see in her eyes that the burden of getting in and out of the car (even with me lifting her up and helping her out), walking to and from the nursing home entrance, and even going outside to relieve herself, had become too much for her.  As much as she wanted to be by my side, she physically couldn’t keep up.  She didn’t give up in the end, when she couldn’t give of herself anymore. As much as it pained her, she kept trying.  But I could see it, when she would look at me as if to say, “Please just let me be.  Just pet me, love me, and let me be.”  This look day in and day out, along with the loss of her senses and ability to get around, led me to the advice of her doctor, which was to let her go.

Abbey had 5 “bonus” years of life upon being rescued, and those years were full! Full of more love than any pet I have ever known.  The pain is eased when I look back at the memories of my loyal and devoted friend, who brought so much joy to every single life she touched.  After learning of her passing, many have shared their memories of Abbey with me and how she has impacted their lives – even people who I had no idea even knew her!   She taught me patience and showed unconditional love.  She wasn’t just my dog, or just our family dog, a piece of her belonged to everyone who knew her and loved her. Abbey’s spirit lives on inside the walls of Gueydan Memorial, with her own memorial photos displayed in patients’ rooms and with a special hand-painted portrait of Abbey (completed by Robert Baxter upon request of a resident’s family member) that was framed and hung in the nursing home for all to admire. As you can see, Abbey was more than a dog, or a therapy dog, she was one of us.

I would like to thank the Therapy Center for allowing me to incorporate Abbey into my speech therapy sessions daily.  Her presence allowed rich communication with the elderly and so many other health benefits that pet therapy is capable of!

Our animal friends teach us more than we could have expected, and loved us more than we could have hoped, that’s why we miss them more than we could have imagined.  Maybe I rescued Abbey first, but in reality, she’s the one who rescued me. – Jeanne L. LeBeouf, Speech Therapist

If you enjoyed the story of Abbey, read ‘How a Pup Promotes Happiness and Health to Residents’ to learn more about how our therapists are using pet therapy to engage patients in the nursing home. 

Since most of our jobs involve some sort of computer use, it is essential to have good ergonomic positioning.  Poor positioning can contribute to numerous health concerns, including carpal tunnel syndrome and shoulder, neck and back strain.

Many people may not realize how unfriendly their workspace is to the body. It’s not uncommon to experience repetitive strain injury (RSI) from an improperly set up desk. A number of different factors can cause injuries (yes, even at a desk), and they may not always be obvious—for example, slouching and keeping your shoulders tense can not only cause pinched nerves in your shoulders, but even hurt your wrists. If you haven’t given a lot of thought to the comfort of your workspace, it’s probably time to give it an ergonomic makeover.

Here are the most important things you’ll want to go through and change—both in your office hardware and in what you do when you’re working. (lifehacker.com)

• Select the right office chair. Consider cushion type, arm rests, seat height, back rest height, and lumbar support.
• Adjust placement of your mouse and keyboard
• Use correct placement of your computer monitor placement
• Adjust desk height
• And correct your posture

Our therapy team at Lemoine Therapy can help evaluate any health conditions you might have related to poor workplace ergonomics and make recommendations on proper workplace set up. Visit our website or contact us today at 318-240-7680.

For visual tips on the above recommendation, watch our video on “Best Tips for Workplace Posture”.
Get the full tips by reading “Ergonomically Optimize Your Workspace” on lifehacker.com.

Greta Bordelon, OT

Greta joined the Therapy Center team in 2010 and holds a Masters in Occupational Therapy from the LSU HSC in New Orleans, Louisiana.

Therapy documentation is a priority at the Therapy Center. Not only is it vital for the overall well being of patients, but also in integral for the quality of care patients receive. Documentation can be a challenge for therapists because it requires time and can be the most tedious part of their job. Each patient is unique in terms of their illness or injury and the documentation of treatment must tell a story that represents each decision and method of treatment along the healing journey.

The Therapy Center Difference

Therapy Center is dedicated to training and education for our therapy teams. The goal is to achieve accurate documentation that can be completed efficiently and on-time. In 2009, our Education Department introduced a compliance program that recognizes therapists who excel at abiding by documentation standards that are set forth by Therapy Center.

What we’ve come to see through this program is:

• When we are committed and focus our attention on providing quality patient care and translate that treatment to our documentation, we win and the patients win too!
• The result of this program has meant a stronger Therapy Center dedicated to making a difference!
• We can recognize the importance of quality documentation WITHOUT compromising quality patient care.

2015 Results

It is our pleasure and privilege to congratulate to our team of therapists at Savoy Care Center for being recognized as the top documenters among all nursing home therapists company-wide! Nathan Boudreaux- PTA, Lisa Boudreaux- PT, Kayla Bruce- OT, Ashly Perkins- ST, and Danita Tate- Tech.

Visit the Team Member News section of our blog to view more of our outstanding employees.