April is National Occupational Therapy Month! This article is intended to celebrate the OT profession and provide education on the practice.

Growing up with a dad who is physical therapist, I was somewhat exposed to occupational therapy through my visits to the outpatient clinic where he worked. When I began my job with Therapy Center almost 6 years ago, I realized that I really had no clue what this practice was all about. In my childhood mind, I remember the kind OT who allowed me to bounce on her large exercise ball in the gym and the cool wax machine that my sister and I got to stick our hands in to make cool “wax hands”. Fast forward a few decades later, I am in a marketing career where understanding the skills and roles of occupational therapists is of the utmost importance.

The Difference Between an Occupational Therapist and a Physical Therapist

Lauren McCraine, OT

Many people struggle to understand the difference between an occupational therapist and a physical therapist. I sat down with Lauren Lemoine McCraine, an occupational therapist and Mentor with Therapy Center. She has been with Therapy Center for over 12 years and she was very informative regarding the difference between the two professions.

“The best way to describe the difference between occupational therapist and physical therapist is that PTs will teach you to walk to the kitchen, but OTs will teach you what to do once you get there. OTs are considered holistic therapists, in that we not only treat physical ailments, but we also address the social and psychological aspects of one’s life. We wear many hats on any given day from OT to social worker, patient advocate to nurse, friend, or family,” explains Lauren.

Occupational Therapy in the Skilled Nursing (SNF) Setting

Occupational therapy is defined as the therapeutic practice of everyday actions in order to establish, recover, or maintain a person’s typical daily living activities. Occupational therapists help others to improve their basic motor functions and/or compensate for permanent loss of function.

Occupational Therapy interventions for a short-term SNF stay can include:

• Focusing on activities of daily living (IADLs) related to the patient’s discharge environment, such as preparing a meal or managing one’s home or finances
• Training in functional mobility, such as how to prepare a meal while using equipment such as a walker or cane
• Preparing the client and family for community re-entry with activities such as public dining or emergency response management
• Assessing the need for and recommending potential home modifications and safety equipment to reduce
• Exploring adaptations and compensatory strategies in order to return to work

Occupational therapy for long-term-care SNF residents can also include:

• Teaching functional mobility, including using an ambulatory device and/or transfers to different surfaces, such as a bed, chair, toilet, or shower in order to perform self-care and personal tasks; and training in wheelchair mobility and safety appropriate for the resident’s level of cognition and perception
• Remediating or enhancing IADLs, such as ability to use the telephone or the emergency staff call system
• Teaching residents with cognitive and perceptual deficits in compensatory techniques to maximize abilities in areas such as attention span, orientation, sequencing, and/or memory
• Teaching residents with low vision how to maximize their remaining vision and enhance safety through compensatory techniques, environmental modifications, assistive technology, and adaptive equipment

Common Conditions Occupational Therapists Treat

Within her 12+ years of skilled nursing experience, Lauren tells me that the most common conditions she has worked with include strokes, osteoarthritis, Alzheimer’s disease, Parkinson’s disease, fractures, poor vision, COPD, depression, and age related decline. I wanted to know what types of exercises are commonly incorporated into an OT treatment plan, and what purpose these exercises serve. Just like other therapists, an occupational therapist will conduct assessments and evaluations to determine the areas in which a person may need help. But from there, how does an OT treat these conditions if they aren’t all physical? As Lauren explains it, “The thought behind this is that if an OT can discover an activity that is purposeful and meaningful to someone through conversations or evaluations, then there is more commitment to the task, it’s useful and familiar to the patient in regards to returning to prior level of function, and it can help build rapport between the therapist and patient.” A simple task such as folding clothes while standing is something familiar, yet purposeful to the patient and can help to build motor skills, balance, and range of motion, among other things.

Through my time with Therapy Center, my knowledge about occupational therapy has grown tremendously. I’ve learned that therapists in this field can develop a treatment plan out of almost any daily task; whether it be sweeping a room, putting a golf ball, painting, fishing, writing letters, brushing teeth,  and even making coffee, all of these activities are purposeful and meaningful to someone. Occupational therapy truly helps patients, young and old alike, maintain dignity and develop skills that help them live more independently.

Interested in learning more…

To learn more about occupational therapy, visit this link: http://www.aota.org/

Or, if you’re an occupational therapist who is looking to expand your career and learn from the best, please visit our Career Opportunities page.

Article written by Kristi Fredieu, Director of Marketing

April is National Occupational Therapy Month! This article is intended to celebrate the OT profession and provide education on the practice.

Greta graduated with an undergraduate degree from the University of Louisiana Monroe, and a Master’s of Occupational Therapy from LSU-Health Sciences Center in New Orleans.   Shes been employed by the Therapy Center since graduating from OT school in 2010.

“I love our company!  There is such a sense of family with my co-workers and our owners.  We are all a team and our ultimate goal is the same:  to provide quality therapy to our patients, who often feel like family as well.  We all truly care about our patients and want to see them succeed and get better.”

Greta currently serves as the occupational therapist at Lemoine Therapy Services outpatient clinic in Marksville where she treats mostly adult patients with orthopedic injuries.  “I love this area of practice because I have a passion for treating acute injuries.  It gives me the opportunity to flex my anatomy knowledge and stay up-to-date on current treatment options and protocols.  I am also able to experience how my treatment application is able to affect patients’ quality of life and independence with valued occupations.  Working in conjunction with the physical therapy staff (Travis Houser, PT and Peyton Splane, PTA) at Lemoine Therapy has been beneficial to improving my clinical skills as they have a vast knowledge base and we often bounce ideas and treatment approaches off of each other.”

Great also works as a supervising occupational therapist at Valley View Health Care and Colonial Nursing Home, where she works with occupational therapist assistants to provide skilled treatment to the geriatric population.  “I love the skilled nursing setting as well.  I often feel that people don’t always consider the geriatric population as being “appropriate” for therapy, but we find in the nursing home that they tolerate treatment very well and are able to improve their independence and confidence in their performance.  We collaborate with speech therapists, physical therapists, and physical therapist assistants in this setting to provide a well-rounded treatment approach to address all of our patient’s deficit areas.  We also work hand in hand with the nursing home staff to ensure quality, effective treatment to our residents to ultimately impact their quality of life and independence with their valued occupations.”

Greta is from Plaucheville, Louisiana and currently lives there with her husband, Joe, and two sons, Calvin and Silas. 

For more information on our outpatient services in the Marksville area, visit Lemoine Therapy Services webpage here: www.lemoinetherapy.com.

Find out more about the settings Therapy Center offers therapeutic treatments in, visit the our services section at www.therapyctr.com.

As we kick off the month of June, we would like to take a minute and brag about one of our own and an instrumental player in the upcoming Gulf Coast OT conference. The fact is that we work with a world class group of therapists—each of them unique and amazing in their own ways. Thank you all for being a part of our team!

Danielle is an occupational therapist by trade. She also happens to be the president of the Louisiana Occupational Therapy Association. She is the only geriatric certified OT in the state, and one of 2 in the country. She’s a rock star and we’re lucky that for the last 11 years we’ve had her as an integral part of our family.

As the Director of Education, Danielle travels around the state to educate our therapists with in house CEU courses. She designs them specifically to aid our patient’s needs. She orients our new hires and covers for our OTs when they are out. She is constantly researching new codes, and new therapy techniques to share with our team. Just yesterday one of our PTs was saying how thankful she was for Danielle. She said Danielle has a way of motivating and inspiring her to be a better therapist. How many people can go to work every day and say they have a colleague that can do that for them?

Below is a letter written about Danielle that I felt compelled to share:

Good Afternoon,

We reached out to Danielle regarding a patient that was admitted to our partner nursing home under dire circumstances this past year. The resident was severely malnourished and came from questionable if not deplorable circumstances. Upon being admitted to SNF, this 60 year resident was weighing in at a whopping 46 lbs. The new admit had diagnoses of cerebral palsy, mental retardation, among others. As a collaborative team we were stunned, stumped and heartbroken. We had confidence that Danielle could potentially offer us some guidance and treatment options in order to both benefit the patient as well as provide us with emotional support in order to ensure that we maintained a positive outlook for the grim situation we were facing.  Danielle not only came through in a prompt and efficient manner, but showed true compassion, respect and empathy for the patient as well as for us as a therapy team. To sum up the overall consensus that day, we would describe this resident as that of a feral child, with severe sensory deprivation due to years of neglect. Patient was not even able to tolerate the slightest touch, sound, light, smell, etc. Danielle approached this situation from many angles and was able to provide not only OT but PT and ST with specific treatment recommendations.

 

We are happy to report that because of her knowledge and dedication to both her profession and supporting other therapists, our patient was recently discharged from services weighing in at ~65lbs with ability to tolerate not only light, sound, and touch, but also prolonged periods out of her room interacting with other residents with reduced tactile defensiveness. Patient is even able to take showers and assist CNAs with ADLs. The staff here at the nursing home has commended her efforts and progress on multiple occasions. Not only have we grown as therapists but this patient now is facing a much improved quality of life. If not for Danielle’s guidance we would never have been able to accomplish all that we did. Our faith in humanity was restored as well as our faith in ourselves as an integral part in changing a life. Thanks for taking time to read this!!! We love Danielle and are very lucky to have access to such a knowledgeable, caring, compassionate, and hardworking colleague.

Sincerely,

Danielle Kidder PTA; Samantha Coontz SLP; Jennifer Gremillion COTA; Travis Houser DPT; Mark Gremillion OT

What this letter doesn’t disclose is that when Danielle arrived at the facility that day she climbed into bed with this patient. She held the patient, and as the therapy team sat around the bed, through their tears, they began to discuss what steps needed to be taken to change a life.

As our Director of Education she sets out daily to inspire OUR team of therapists. I know that I speak on behalf of all of our teams in saying that her heart, her enthusiasm, and her dedication are unparalleled.

Here is what other teammates had to say about Danielle…

“It’s rare to find a human so graceful, so confident, and so unapologetically comfortable in her own skin who can inadvertently motivate you to be better; and I’m just talking about the impact she has had on me.”

“There is no person on the planet more passionate than Danielle Keyser. That woman can light up a room, make you laugh, make you cry, and make you grateful that there are healthcare professionals out there who truly care for their patients. Simply put, she’s inspiring.”

“The passion and excitement that Danielle exudes on a daily basis is contagious to all of those around her! She has taught me so much about the geriatric population. Her integrity on ensuring that they get the absolute BEST care during some of the most precious and vulnerable years of their life is what inspires me the most. We are lucky to be able to work side by side with such a skilled and compassionate human being.”

“Life isn’t just about living. It’s about loving the life we live. OT will help make that happen. I’m thankful for, humbled by, and more in love with my profession every day—with every patient.”  -Danielle Keyser

Register for the Occupational Therapy Gulf Coast Educational Symposium today!

Learn more about occupational therapy interventions on the OT section of our blog.

Read more about Danielle on the leadership section of our website.

Watch a video bio of Danielle at www.greatseminarsonline.com/faculty/keyser/

Article Written by Kayla Stansbury, Recruiter for Therapy Center.

June is a time of year where the flowers are starting to bloom and many of us are spending time outdoors enjoying time outdoors with family, friends, and doing the things we love – our hobbies. For many of us, gardening is an integral part of our day in the spring and summer months. According to the national gardening association, 35% of all households in America are growing food at home or in a community garden.

Benefits of Gardening

An article published by CNN  points out that gardening is beneficial to our mental health and brain health, serving as stress relief. As a form of low-impact exercise, gardening also has many physical benefits. Digging, planting, weeding all require strength and stretching. The biggest advantage of gardening as a form of exercise is that it’s something that most people enjoy and would likely continue to do.

Gardening Tips

Just like any physical activity, individuals can be vulnerable to injury during gardening. Proper exercise, stretching and strengthening can help prevent injuries while doing the things we love.

In talking with Margaret Rozas, our resident physical therapist at Therapy Center of Carencro, she suggests ways we can protect areas such as our shoulders, back, neck and knees. Margaret recommends the following tips:

• Get on your hands and knees to pull weeds and do not bend from your waist. This will ease lower back strain.
• When using a wheelbarrow, bend your knees and be sure to use your legs when lifting.
• If you are transplanting potted flowers, use a table or a truck tailgate.
• Use a rolling garden stool  to have great mobility to garden while seated.

In addition to our tips, the American Physical therapy Association has these suggestions.

• Warm up before you garden. A 10 minute brisk walk and stretches for the spine and limbs are good ways to warm up.
• Change positions frequently to avoid stiffness or cramping.
• Be aware of how your body feels as you work in your garden. If a part of your body starts to ache, take a break, stretch that body part in the opposite direction it was in, or switch to a different gardening activity. For example, if you’ve been leaning forward for more than a few minutes, and your back starts to ache, slowly stand up, and gently lean backwards a few times.
• If kneeling on both knees causes discomfort in your back, try kneeling on one and keep the other foot on the ground. Use knee pads or a gardening pad when kneeling.
• If kneeling or leaning down to the ground causes significant pain in your back or knees, consider using elevated planters to do your gardening.
• Use good body mechanics when you pick something up or pull on something, such as a weed. Bend your knees, tighten your abdominals, and keep your back straight as you lift or pull things. Avoid twisting your spine or knees when moving things to the side; instead, move your feet or pivot on your toes to turn your full body as one unit.
• Avoid bending your wrist upwards when pulling things or using gardening tools. Instead, keep your wrist straight and use your shoulder muscles to pull and lift.
• End your gardening session with some gentle backward bending of your low back, a short walk and light stretching, similar to stretches done before starting.

We hope you keep these tips in mind the next time you are out in the yard. Don’t forget to also hydrate in the sweltering heat and take breaks as needed to prevent dehydration.

For more helpful tips, follow our blog or subscribe to our e-mail list at the bottom of our home page.

Visit our website for more on our services and locations, and career opportunities.

The role of an occupational therapist is to help patients participate in the things they want and need to do in their everyday lives. Inspiration is an integral part of an OT’s work, as is the passion for serving others. Dedication isn’t something that comes naturally to many people; but when someone has a passion for something, that commitment comes easily.

Catherine Brooks has been dedicated to occupational therapy for over a decade and she would tell you that the impact OT’s have on their patients is why she elected this career. “I chose occupational therapy because I enjoy helping people return to their lives following surgery, injury, or illness—leaving them better from when I found them.”

Introduction to Occupational Therapy

“When I was young, I always knew that I didn’t have the attention span to sit behind a desk.  I first thought about going into the therapy field when I met a new in-law who served in the military and was severely wounded by an explosion.  He ended up losing the lower half of his dominant arm. While undergoing intensive therapy on his path to recovery, he loved occupational therapy. As part of his treatment, he played ping-pong with his non-dominant arm which inevitably abled him to regain function in his everyday life. Ironically enough, my very first home health patient was a WWII veteran—a D-Day survivor. It was incredibly humbling to work with him and to accomplish everything we did so he could function at home with his wife. There’s great joy in teaching people how to recognize their potential then develop the skills and adaptations they need to achieve that potential.”

Occupational Therapy is Rewarding

Catherine worked in the home health setting for ten years before joining the Therapy Center family. She is now the treating occupational therapist in two nursing homes, Bayou Vista Community Care Center and Hessmer Nursing Home. “I was ready for a change and ready to serve more patients in a day. I was also ready to be a part of a team. With home health I would only see my co-workers once a week. I’m really enjoying the team approach and collaboration with other professionals each day. Working in the nursing home setting has allowed me these opportunities. My favorite part of the job is when a patient comes to therapy in the morning unable to accomplish a task for him or herself, but can go to bed that evening either able to handle the task on their own or help their caregiver do so using the skills we practiced early that day. I love making people smile—both patients and caregivers. Having worked for a few other companies, both really large and really small, I really appreciate the structure and support of Therapy Center. I really love being an active and present part of a team with a group of people whose company I enjoy every day.”

Dedication Affects Others

At Therapy Center we pride ourselves on exceptional patient care, and we could not achieve that without recruiting amazing therapists. “I met Catherine when she was my grandmother’s home health OT. What struck me about Catherine was her genuine interest in connecting with her geriatric patients. She shared a Cajun French therapy cheat sheet that she and my grandma made during their time together.” – Rachel Manuel, Director/Mentor/SLP.

With her many years of experience, Catherine also specializes in low vision and vestibular rehabilitation. She even incorporates her own hobbies into her therapeutic practices. “One of her stipulations on taking the position with us was the provision of a piano so she could play for the residents. Therapists like Catherine, who go above and beyond to connect with their patients, are few and far between. I’m honored to have her compassionate, genuine spirit on our team.” – Rachel Manuel.

If you are interested in a therapy career with Therapy Center, keep up with our job openings via our Team Text program.. 

Learn more about the job outlook for occupational therapists by reading this article.

Did you know that every 40 seconds, a person in America has a stroke?  More importantly, for every person that dies from stroke, more than 5 times as many will survive, often times with physical damage and changes.  Many factors contributing to strokes, such as family history, age, and gender are uncontrollable, but key factors such as diet and physical activity are things that we can do to decrease our risks of being impacted.

A Healthy Diet

 

A healthy diet can help you reduce the risk of chronic diseases, improve your overall health, and help you reach or maintain a healthy weight. Eating healthy includes making informed decisions about food choices and balancing your calories. The latest guidelines from Dietary Recommendations for Americans 2010 include the following:

• Eat more foods from plants, such as vegetables and beans, whole grains, and nuts.
• Eat more seafood in place of red meat, poultry, and eggs.
• Limit the intake of sodium, solid fats, added sugars, and refined grains.
• Reduce calories you eat and drink and increase calorie you burn through physical activity.

Excess weight puts a strain on the entire circulatory system. It can also make people more likely to have high cholesterol, high blood pressure and diabetes, all of which can increase stroke risk.

Get Your Body Moving

A recent study showed that people who exercise five or more times per week have a reduced stroke risk. The latest recommendations from the CDC on Physical Activity Guidelines for adults include the following:

• Moderate Activity. 150 minutes of moderate-intensity activity per week (brisk walking, water aerobics, bicycling) and 2 or more days a week of weight training exercises.
• Vigorous Activity. Or 75 minutes of vigorous-intensity activity per week (jogging, running, swimming laps) and 2 or more days a week of weight training exercises.
• Break it up. If you can’t fit a 30-minute activity in one time, break it up into 10-minute segments. Remember that all physical activity counts.
• Make physical activity fun. Walk or bike with a friend, take a dance class, and try different times of the day.

Regular physical activity will improve your overall health and fitness, and reduce your risk for chronic diseases.

How Can Therapy Help After Stroke

About 80% of people who have had a stroke experience weakness on one side of their bodies. For those of us who have a family history or have loved ones that have been impacted by a stroke, it is important to know how therapy can help. Therapy Center offers speech, occupational, and physical therapy services in a variety of settings including home health, skilled nursing, and outpatient rehabilitation.

• Physical therapist—focuses on moving, reducing pain, restoring function, and preventing disability.
• Occupational therapist—focuses on helping stroke survivors relearn the skills needed to perform everyday activities, regain and use fine motor skills, and modify their environments to compensate for lost function.
• Speech-language pathologist—helps patients when they are unable to produce sounds correctly or fluently, or has problems with their voice or when they have trouble understanding others, or sharing thoughts, ideas, and feelings.

Being knowledgeable about the options and care for yourself or loved ones is important in the recovery process. As the leading cause of long-term disability in the United States, stroke is relevant in each of our lives. Educating ourselves on prevention and lifestyle changes is a great place to start when looking to reduce the statistics and impact.

For more tips and facts on stroke, visit our resources page and infographic.

Therapy Center offers speech therapy in a variety of settings. Visit our website for more information on our services and areas we operate.

Our philosophy is to treat each patient who is on the road to recovery as though they are family. Therapy Center prides itself on getting patients back to the lives they love which is why our success stories are the best part of what we do!

Walking 3 miles a day, making her own grocery shopping trips and volunteering to play the piano weekly at Jeff Davis Living Center (JDLC) were all ways Ms. Carolyn Delahoussaye lived a very independent and active lifestyle. After years of being untroubled and carefree, she was starting to notice consistent aches and pains in her left knee indicating that her injection shots were no longer helping. Ms. Carolyn and her physician decided it was time to have knee replacement surgery on August 7, 2009. Following her surgery, Ms. Carolyn made her first visit to JDLC as a resident. Upon completion of 20 days of post-joint replacement rehab, which included physical and occupational therapy with the Therapy Center team at JDLC, she began to regain her strength and independence. Once she was discharged, she continued outpatient therapy at the Therapy Center clinic in Jennings until she made a full recovery.

“I was finally able to walk every step to the top of the Sulphur football stadium again… pain free.”

Second Journey to Recovery

Seven years later, Ms. Delahoussaye began to feel the same aches and pains, but in her right knee. This time, it was affecting her long-time joy and hobby of piano playing. Not only did the pain reach an unbearable point, but her knee would pop every time she sat down at the piano. It was then that she knew it was time to schedule another knee replacement surgery. On May 24, 2016, she was admitted for the second time into JDLC for a short-term rehab stay. After 18 days of physical and occupational therapy rehab, Ms. Carolyn was already on track to making her second full recovery.

“I honestly don’t know how people recover without proper therapy. I live by myself and I want to continue to be able to care for myself as long as I can.”

Carolyn chose JDLC because of her personal observations of the care that was provided in the facility. After playing the piano there for many years and visiting her mother who was a resident, she knew that was the only place she wanted to be treated after surgery. Only 2 months post-surgery, she can already tell she is on track to feeling better than before.

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

With school approaching, many of us are looking at what supplies are needed, who will be teaching our child this year, and preparing for the return of homework and tests. What we may not be thinking about is the importance of back safety and screening.

Backpacks

With more than 20% of Americans affected by back injury, the American Physical Therapy Association (APTA) has offered advice for parents to consider on how to properly wear a backpack and avoid injury. Tips include:

• Wear both straps. Slinging a backpack over one shoulder causes a person to lean to one side to compensate for the uneven weight, curving the spine. Overtime, this can cause back pain, stained shoulders, neck, and possible functional scoliosis.

• Avoid overloading the backpack. When backpacks are too heavy, we tend to lean forward to compensate for the extra weight. This posture can affect the natural curve of the spine and cause a rounding of the shoulders. A good rule of thumb stated by APTA is to carry “no more than 15-20% of one’s weight.”

• The type of backpack matters. When shopping for school supplies, know that the type of backpack can make a difference on a child’s posture. Key items to consider include backpacks with wide straps, having two straps as opposed to one across the body, and the weight of the backpack (canvas is lighter than leather).

Scoliosis

Another important part of back safety is proper screening, especially for young adolescences, prone to scoliosis. We suggest that your child be screened as they reach the ages of 10-13 years.

What is Scoliosis?

It is a disease of the spine that often appears in adolescence & causes a sideways curvature in the spine in the shape of an “S” or “C”. It can be caused by muscle disorders, but in 80% of the cases, it can be attributed a growth spurt.

How Can a Physical Therapist Help?
The variety of treatment options for scoliosis includes physical therapy, bracing, and surgery. Determining the best course of treatment is based on the type and severity of the scoliosis, the patient’s age, and the guidelines established by the Scoliosis Research Society.

Physical therapists can provide care during any of the phases of scoliosis treatment, including bracing or post-surgery. They will evaluate and assess the posture and movement patterns of the whole body, noting any limitations caused by changes in the spine, and address other symptoms, such as pain and muscle imbalances.

Your physical therapist will work with you and your child to develop an individualized plan tailored to the type and severity of the scoliosis as well as patient goals. Your physician will continue to closely monitor progress throughout the course of rehabilitation.

Physical therapy treatments may include:

• Range-of-Motion Exercises. Your physical therapist will design a gentle range of motion treatment program to prevent limitations or to increase the body’s range of motion, if movement limitations are present.
• Strength Training. Your physical therapist will design a treatment program to strengthen any muscles surrounding the spine or in other parts of the body that have been weakened by the change in the spine’s position, such as the hips, shoulders, or even the head and feet.
• Manual Therapy. Physical therapists are trained to gently restore motion to joints and muscle tissue that may have become restricted due to scoliosis. They may use their hands to help guide and retrain movement patterns.
• Modalities. Several additional treatments, such as ice, heat, electrical stimulation or ultrasound may aid in achieving physical therapy goals. Your physical therapist will choose the most appropriate modalities for your particular case.
• Functional Training. Physical therapists are trained to be experts in assessing movement patterns, providing education on proper movement patterns, and retraining the body for optimal movement.
• Education. Your physical therapist will provide information about scoliosis and the effects on the body and movement.

At Therapy Center, we believe that proper posture and safety starting at a young age can help prevent future injury – we hope you join us in our effort.

If you are an adult with back pain or if your child has recently been diagnosed with scoliosis, contact one of our clinics today to schedule your assessment to learn about treatment options.  You can also view our suggested exercises for ways to strengthen your core and relieve aches and pains.

For more information and tips, visit our resources page on our website and follow our blog.

Additional resources for this article were found on APTA’s MoveForwardPt.com.

On Saturday, August 6th, Therapy Center in Carencro partnered with the Carencro Farmers Market and Cajun Flea Market for the grand opening of our new clinic.

Along with tours of the new clinic space, Carencro Catholic cheerleaders joined us to provide face painting. Balloon artist Rick Hessler, along with Kona Ice of Carencro, The Little Free Library, and the Reading Center of Carencro, also provided entertainment and fun for the kids. Randy James Latiolais and Skye Isaac performed live music throughout the morning as families and members of the community came by to meet our therapists and Carencro team as we make this exciting transition.

We would like to extend a big thank you to everyone who came out to join us on this special day.

Therapy Center Clinic in Carencro

Our newly built 2,500 square foot outpatient clinic hosts a large gym and private patient rooms.  Our highly skilled therapists will also begin providing occupational and speech therapy services out of this location.  With these new services and brand new space, we look forward to caring for those in the community who are looking for an improvement in their daily lives.

For more information on our Carencro clinic services, therapists or clinic hours, contact us today at 337-896-6686.

For more information on our outpatient clinics, follow the outpatient services information on our blog.

Recently, Hessmer Nursing Home underwent a complete renovation of their 5-star facility, and with it came a brand new therapy gym.  The gym is a little over 1,500 square feet complete with a washer and dryer, full kitchen, bathroom, and two showers.

“The kitchen and showers are definitely a highlight in the new gym,” says Natalie Drouin, Speech Languauge Pathologist.

“All of the new amenities are great for my work with the patients.  In occupational therapy we work on activities of daily living, so it’s wonderful to be able to work on taking a shower, cooking a meal, and doing laundry with our residents,” explains Catherine Brooks, Occupational Therapist.

The therapy staff are inspired by the way that the residents love participating in therapy with all of the functional amenities like ironing, washing dishes, making coffee and cooking.

“Along with doing these functional activities, we also work with the residents to make the monthly and weekly calendar, decorate the gym according to the seasons, and even plant flowers in the facility’s new garden,” says Roshelle Scallan, Physical Therapy Assistant.

Hessmer Nursing Home was originally built in 1963 with seventy-two beds.  Currently the nursing home has ninety-two beds, consisting of sixty private rooms and sixteen semi-private rooms.  It has expanded from 20,000 square feet to 50,000 square feet.

To learn more about the services we provide and our partnership with nursing homes, visit our website.

I know we have all been there… The words, “I’ll do better tomorrow” are uttered as we take a step back in our healthy goals for the year. With the start of a new year, many of us want to improve two things…1) how we use our time and 2) how we feel. Well, 2017 is officially here and Therapy Center would like to help you achieve your goals by providing monthly tips in promoting a healthy lifestyle. Focusing on a few activities a month can help shape your approach to healthy eating, fitness, and sleep habits. Good health isn’t just about healthy eating and exercise though— it also includes having positive mental health, a healthy self-image, and an all-around healthy lifestyle. This month, we will focus on three basic tips:

1. Drink more water. Most of us actually don’t drink enough water every day and it’s essential to our body’s health — Did you know over 60% of our body is made up of water? Water is needed to carry out functions, such as removing waste and transporting nutrients and oxygen throughout our body. A Health.com study completed among overweight/obese people showed that water drinkers lost 4.5 more pounds more than the comparison group.
2. Get enough sleep. When we don’t rest well, we typically compensate by eating more (usually it’s junk food, carbs, or caffeine). Get enough rest and you will make better snacking decisions throughout the day.
3. Take time for you. I know it is easier said than done, but it’s important to take at least 5 minutes a day for yourself. Having this time will improve our outlook, help to maintain relationships with others, and keep us from feeling overworked and exhausted.

Well, that is it. Let’s focus on these three items in your daily activity for the month. Next month, we will look to build on it with a few exercise tips and habits.

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Ms. Patsy Goudeaux came to Bayou Vista Community Care Center in 2014, and for two years she was bed bound and isolated in her room.  She refused therapy and refused to get out and socialize with other residents in the facility due to embarrassment of her limitations.  Although Ms. Patsy resisted, the Therapy Center team of therapists would not give up.

“It took a team effort between us and therapy to get her up and out of bed.  I kept telling her, there is life outside of these four walls,” says Candy Johnson, Director of Nursing at Bayou Vista.

After taking some time to develop a relationship with Ms. Patsy, our therapists finally succeeded in getting her out of bed.  The occupational therapist and certified occupational therapy assistant would make frequent visits to Ms. Patsy’s room, working with her to build up her strength and eventually got her moving outside of those four walls.

“It is therapy that did it.  If it wouldn’t be for them, I would still be in bed, unable walk.  I knew that I needed to get up, and I knew I needed therapy.  One day I decided to just do it,” says Ms. Patsy.

Ms. Patsy had the most difficulty with endurance because she was in bed for so long and would tire out easily.  When therapy started working with her to sit up and strengthen her core, and then transferring to a wheelchair, they knew that they needed to get her out of the room to maximize potential.

“Once I saw that she was making progress in her room, I told Ms. Patsy that she would have to get dressed and come to the therapy room to continue therapy.  After our discussion, she decided that she would get up, get dressed, and go down to the therapy room that next Monday.  Sure enough Monday rolled around and there she was!  She hasn’t missed since and is doing amazing,” says Candy, COTA.

“I can walk again and I feel less tired.  I love to drink coffee, and now I can sit up and drink my coffee.”

“She was one of the people I had major involvement with since I first started with Therapy Center.  Everyone that knew Ms. Patsy before when she was bed bound is shocked to see her roaming the halls now.  They all compliment her, which gives me a compliment.  It is such a great feeling knowing I helped make such an impact on her life,” says Candy, COTA.

“Therapy did me so much good.  I like to go and meet with friends, which is something that I really didn’t care to do before.  Now I care to see them, and I want to get out.  Therapy helped me a lot,” explains Ms. Patsy.

For more stories like this, visit the success story section of our blog on www.therapyctr.com.

Therapy Center is grateful to be able to work with several nursing home facilities that are certified in a program called Music and Memory. The purpose of the program is simple and effective. According to the Music and Memory program, they “train care professionals how to set up personalized music playlists, delivered on iPods and other digital devices, for those in their care. These musical favorites tap deep memories not lost to dementia and can bring participants back to life, enabling them to feel like themselves again, to converse, socialize, and stay present.”

To learn a little bit more about this remarkable concept, we visited with our therapy team at Courtyard Manor Nursing Home in Lafayette to see how they utilize the program to benefit patients who have cognitive and behavioral challenges, as well as some who use music as motivation to come to therapy.

Using Music to Unlock the Mind

Courtyard Manor is a certified Music and Memory facility. As part of the grant program, Courtyard was awarded 15 iPods, headphones, and an iTunes gift card to load the players with music. Dawn Miller, Administrator for Courtyard Manor, says, “The beautiful thing about Music and Memory is watching the patients who are on our behavioral unit literally come alive. I can see their eyes light up as the music plays through their headphones.”

Not only are these devices used during general nursing home activities, but our therapists also actively use music playlists to work with residents. Patients who are affected by cognitive or behavioral issues, as well as those who need encouragement and motivation to attend their therapy sessions, all benefit from the use of music.

Come along with us and get to know some of the patients who benefit from this program.

Laura

Before the Music: Laura has behavioral issues and is visually impaired. She struggles with judgment, reasoning, and impulsivity. Our therapists work often with her to address safety awareness because of her deficits.

Now: Once our therapists introduced country and western music to Laura, she became much more subdued during therapy. Some days she prefers to listen to the rosary.

While listening to the music, Laura is more socially appropriate and willing to listen to instructions given to her by our therapy team. She is able to work on several deficits using the clothes line in order to address standing balance and dynamic reaching in physical therapy; fine motor and visual perception in occupational therapy; cognitive reasoning, safety awareness and matching in speech therapy.

Mary Jane

Before the Music: Mary Jane moved to Courtyard Manor with her sister. She was living alone and experienced several falls; Mary Jane also suffers with depression. Soon after her last fall, Mary Jane decided she needs to be in a safer environment.

Now: Mary Jane is motivated to come to therapy because the music calms her and makes her more socially appropriate. She is able to clear her mind while listening to the music of her choice. This allows her to complete her therapy exercises in a timely manner. Music also helps Mary Jane effectively accomplish activities of daily living, such as folding laundry.

Joann

Before the Music: Joann had a prior stroke and came to therapy to improve her walking and rising from a seated position, among other deficits.

Now: Joann’s goals are much the same as her sister’s. She is motivated to come to therapy because she is able to enjoy her favorite country music. Because of the music, Joann takes instruction from the therapists more readily and is more socially appropriate. Our speech therapist uses worksheets as a tool, which requires Joann to read, comprehend ,and complete instructions in a timely manner. These exercises improve her cognition, memory, and reasoning skills.

“Music helps all of our patients in choice-making and achieving functional independence. Many of our behavioral patients have trouble negotiating potential hazards in their surroundings, and they struggle with reasoning. Music helps to calm them and improves focus on the task at hand,” explains Dona Dietlein, Speech Therapist.

We Are Inspired to Give Back

Several of our partner nursing homes are certified Music and Memory facilities. Our therapy teams have expressed interest in earning additional iPods due to the demand from therapy patients and residents. Therapy Center wants to help in this cause but not just for our Music and Memory facilities. We feel that all of our nursing home partners can benefit from this simple, yet highly effective concept.

In celebration of 15 years as partner in rehabilitation, Therapy Center is hosting a Giving Back project we call Mind on the Melody. Much like the Music and Memory program we discussed above, we are collecting new and used iPods, headphones and iTunes gift cards to provide to our 30+ partner nursing homes throughout the state. Some of the iPods will be given to homes who already have the Music and Memory program and who need more gear, and others will be given to our therapy teams who plan to utilize the same technique with patients in therapy.

The purpose of this project is to improve the quality of life of nursing home residents who have cognitive and physical challenges by providing them with music during therapy. Collection of these items start on February 20^th and will end on March 31^st.  All donations will stay local.

If you are interested in making a donation of a new/used iPod, iTunes gift card or headphones (no ear buds please), you can drop them off to one of the drop sites below:

Therapy Center – Carencro: 204 E. St. Peter Street, Carencro, LA

Therapy Center – Jennings: 2002 Johnson St. Ste 100, Jennings, LA

Therapy Center – Corporate Office: 1 Hospital Drive, Suite 200, Jennings, LA

Lemoine Therapy Services: 554 W. Tunica Dr. Marksville, LA

For a list of nursing homes in your area that are also collecting, please email us at marketing@therapyctr.com. Donations made to the nursing homes can be dropped off at the therapy department.

Click here for the Mind on the Melody Flyer

Please visit our website www.therapyctr.com and Facebook page to find out ways to get involved and support our nursing home partners.

In Louisiana, we all know what season it is… no, not winter or spring… but MARDI GRAS. According to www.mardigrasneworleans.com , the origin of Mardi Gras “can be traced to medieval Europe, passing through Rome and Venice in the 17th and 18th centuries to the French House of the Bourbons. On March 2, 1699, French-Canadian explorer Jean Baptiste Le Moyne Sieur de Bienville arrived at a plot of ground 60 miles directly south of New Orleans, and named it “Pointe du Mardi Gras” when his men realized it was the eve of the festive holiday. Bienville also established “Fort Louis de la Louisiane” (which is now Mobile) in 1702. In 1703, the tiny settlement of Fort Louis de la Mobile celebrated America’s very first Mardi Gras.”

Today, many of us celebrate with our families and friends by attending parades, Mardi Gras balls, and making traditional king cakes. While it is certainly a time of celebration deeply rooted in Louisiana traditions, Therapy Center would like to share a few tips on how to be safe while partaking in Mardi Gras parades and traditions.

Proper throwing techniques – Many individuals ride on floats during Mardi Gras throwing beads, candy, cups, and other items. “It is important to note proper throwing techniques to avoid injury and muscle soreness,” states Jake Duhon, Director of Sports Medicine and Jennings Outpatient Clinic Manager. The image below can be used as a guide when throwing items to the crowds along the parade route.

Proper catching techniques – For those of us along the parade route being showered with goodies, we have shared techniques for picking up items to avoid back injury. According to spine-health.com, “A back muscle strain or ligament strain is one of the most common causes of acute lower back pain. Lifting a heavy object, twisting, or a sudden movement can cause muscles or ligaments stretch or develop microscopic tears”. Below is a good guide when bending to lift objects to prevent injury.

Care for your voice– While participating in Mardi Gras, many individuals scream and yell to catch the attention of those throwing beads. Common phrases include, “Over here” and “Throw me something mister”. Therapy Center speech therapist, Lauren Carter, suggests to preserve vocal cords you should do the following:

• Only yell as the float approaches
• Take frequent sips of water to refresh your vocal cords
• Never shrill or use tones that are out of your normal octave

Proper running technique– For those participating in Courir de Mardi Gras (commonly known as “the run”), Therapy Center physical therapists recommend watching your stride, keeping elbows close, and of course – stretching prior to physical activity. Click here for additional helpful resources on running techniques.

We hope you all have a safe and fun-filled Mardi Gras week!! For more information about Therapy Center and the services provided, visit our website.

When Mrs. Gertrude Naquin came to Maison Teche Nursing Center, she had been discharged from Lafayette General following three months in ICU after open heart surgery and being diagnosed with pneumonia. She entered the facility recovering from a tracheotomy and PEG tube, unable to move, walk, and talk. Mrs. Gertrude, along with her family, had a goal of her returning home so therapy was where her journey started.

Ms. Gertrude began physical, occupational, and speech therapy but did not make dramatic improvements at first. She was placed on a functional maintenance program for daily walking while the therapy team would assess her progress to see when she would be ready to dive back in to more intense treatments. Although it took time for her body to become strong enough to begin more rigorous therapy interventions, Mrs. Gertrude’s persistent mindset became her greatest asset.

To this day, her optimistic outlook is her best advice for others at the beginning of a rehab journey, she says, “Always try your hardest and whatever you do, do not give up.”

The therapy journey

As Mrs. Gertrude progressed with endurance, she was able to participate in functional activities for physical therapy, such as transfer training, stair training, and dynamic standing tasks. Mrs. Gertrude’s physical therapist, Karleigh, recalls her making it very clear from the beginning that her personal goal was to dance again. The therapists made sure to incorporate dance into her treatment sessions by working on weight shifting, side stepping, and turning.

Her journey with occupational therapy started with addressing the tasks of basic activities of daily living, such as upper and lower body dressing, grooming, toileting and fine motor skills. With progression, she was able to participate in higher level tasks such as light housekeeping chores, which included washing dishes and folding clothes, in order to return home at a safe level.

Mrs. Gertrude participated in skilled speech therapy services to address swallowing, as she was initially on a PEG tube. Her final goal was to be able to upgrade to a regular diet. She also worked on safety in the home, both short and long term memory, direction following, and listening/comprehension skills to improve her ability to function upon returning home.

Karleigh says, “Mrs. Gertrude was a pleasure to work with and made therapy fun. She loved participating in any activities that involved cooking or baking, which used her cognitive abilities to improve her sequencing skills. It was obvious how much she was loved as she was voted Mardi Gras Queen! Mrs. Gertrude is a true testament to the statement “hard work pays off.”

In the beginning, the odds were against Mrs. Gertrude due to a complicated medical history that left her in a very fragile state emotionally, physically, and cognitively. With involved family support, self determination, a caring nursing staff, and strong therapists, Mrs. Gertrude knew that the team around her had the same goal as her own: to get her independent enough to return home to live alone.

Not every therapy episode of care follows a straight, smooth path. Sometimes, there are curves, twists, and road blocks that interfere with the projected finish line. But as a therapist in the skilled nursing facility setting, it is imperative to be flexible and modify the patient’s plan of care to allow for success. This was the case with Ms. Gertrude.  She was able to graduate once from our therapy program upon completing her short term goals. Whenever she was more medically stable and able to handle more rigorous therapy interventions, Ms. Gertrude re-entered therapy to work on higher level tasks and was able to graduate a second time–this time, she was able to return home to her family and to her other love-dancing!

For more stories like this, visit the success story section of our blog!

Looking to make a difference in the geriatric population, learn how you can join our team by reviewing our current job openings.

Monsignor John Timmermans has been a long-standing member of the Avoyelles parish community for many years.  He officiated over Sacred Heart Catholic Church in Moreauville, Louisiana until recently when he fell and broke his hip.  After his stay at Christus St. Frances Cabrini Hospital, Monsignor Timmermans decided to receive therapy at Riviere De Soleil Community Care Center until he became well enough to return home.

The journey home

When Monsignor Timmermans first came to therapy, he required total assistance. He was in a severe amount of pain and unable to bear any weight in his legs, resulting in falls. Therapy was rough at first, and Monsignor went through bouts of feeling defeated.

“He told us from day one to just push him to do whatever we needed from him, and he would end up giving in if it was a bad day.  We completed standing tasks, some car transfers, practiced activities of daily living, and addressed safety to prevent further falls.  He started to enjoy exercising, walking and doing standing tasks,” says Caitlin, Physical Therapist.

It was important to Monsignor to be able to stand for long periods of time during mass, and he wanted to have the ability to kneel and stand while he officiated service.  Our therapists focused on standing tasks mostly since this was the most important goal for him.

“The Therapy Center at Riviere de Soleil was a great help to me as it has been to many others, I am sure!  Just to put up with a cranky old man demands special care!  I’m going to miss the therapy staff and will leave them in my memory for the rest of my life.  Deep down in my heart I’ll love this staff for the wonderful help they give to those who need it.  God bless them abundantly and many happy and helpful days ahead,” says Monsignor John Timmermans.

“I always enjoy treating a strong rehab candidate who is willing to work hard and return home.  Monsignor Timmermans worked hard and always made us laugh with his witty sense of humor.  There were times we’d have to encourage him, but he put trust in us to get him back home,” says Alexandra, Certified Occupational Therapy Assistant.

By the time Monsignor Timmermans left, even with a wound on his foot, he was able to walk with a walker, transfer himself and complete his activities of daily living with slight modifications.

For more stories like this one, visit the Success Story section of the Therapy Center blog.

In December of 2016, Ms. Yvonne Murray was found unresponsive in her home due to a drop in blood sugar. After a stay at the Rehabilitation Hospital of Jennings, she was admitted to Jeff Davis Living Center  for ongoing speech, occupational, and physical therapy. Her goal was to return home, so Yvonne’s family chose for her to receive rehabilitation services at Jeff Davis Living Center.

“When I first met Ms. Yvonne, she needed lots of cueing and required a significant amount of time to process simple tasks,” stated Audie, speech therapist. Audie continued to work with Ms. Yvonne on home management tasks, including medication and money management.

Within a month, Therapy Center’s team of therapists saw significant improvement in her outlook and progression. “Ms. Yvonne was not motivated at first, but after seeing that she could accomplish tasks given, she became encouraged and advanced quickly. Her endurance on the exercise bike went from less than a minute to now more than fifteen minutes. ” explained Rebecca, Certified Occupational Therapy Assistant.

“During her treatments, Ms. Yvonne demonstrated significant progress in therapy by tripling her distance with walking,” remarked Sadie, PTA.

Upon completion of her therapy program, Yvonne is able to walk again and easily accomplish daily activities. “Therapy was hard at first,” stated Yvonne. “I am going to miss everyone up here, especially my therapy team. I love them all…They were always there when I needed something and encouraged me.”

Ms. Yvonne has since returned home from Jeff Davis Living Center and is back to her life, cooking and enjoying time with her family.

For more stories like this, visit the success story section of our blog!

Looking to make a difference in the geriatric population, learn how you can join our team by reviewing our current job openings.

Mr. Bobby Morgan is from Plain Dealing, Louisiana and was admitted to Whispering Pines Community Care Center for physical and occupational therapy after suffering a left hip fracture and bipolar hip replacement. He began his journey with our therapy team in December and was discharged home in early March, after 12 weeks of intense physical and occupational therapy.

When asked what it was like for him when he first starting therapy he responded, “Very frustrating! I was very sick. But it was nice to know people cared about me enough to help me through this bad situation,” Bobby Morgan.

When Mr. Morgan came to Whispering Pines he required assistance for all activities of daily living and transfers and could only stand for short periods of time. He was very weak and had poor endurance.

“As we began to work on hip strengthening, walking further distances, transfers, and daily activities, his confidence in his ability improved steadily. Not only did Mr. Bobby work his job at Piggly Wiggly, he and his wife also have a home business where they raise chickens and breed Yorkies. This level of physical activity at home and work required intensive therapy intervention,” says Lisa, physical therapist.

He is now back at home with his wife and will be returning to his job at the Piggly Wiggly grocery store where he has worked for over 30 years.

“Therapy changed my whole life. It made me appreciate things and people more than I ever have before,” says Mr. Morgan.

“Mr. Bobby welcomed the challenge in therapy.  When we get a motivated patient like Mr. Bobby the sky is the limit. We are so happy for him to be able to return to home and work. His happiness and success is why we come to work every day,” says Lisa.

His advice for others just starting therapy is, “Do everything you can. Do your best. Don’t complain.”

To find out more about our therapy services in the nursing home, visit the our services tab at www.therapyctr.com.

Read more success stories on our blog!

In celebration of 15 years as partner in rehabilitation, Therapy Center is recognizing our team members, patients, and business partners who have grown with us. Please take some time to watch what one of our team members has to say about her experience as a Therapy Center employee.

In 2002, four therapists came together with a mission to provide superior therapy services with dedication and compassion unsurpassed by anyone in the industry. Since that time, Therapy Center has become a leading provider of comprehensive therapy services, offered in a broad range of settings including four outpatient clinics, over thirty skilled nursing facilities, inpatient rehab, home health, hospitals and sports medicine at the high school level.

What I love most about working for the Therapy Center is that we are owned by therapists…We bring top quality to our patients.

No matter what setting you are in, the talent is amazing. It’s very humbling for anybody, at any level. And so it’s wonderful to be a part of this world. You always continue to learn.

The philosophy of Therapy Center is making sure to hire only the most caring, compassionate, and skilled therapists; making education a priority for our staff, patients, and their families; communicating with all treating disciplines to ensure appropriate care is given at all times; and designing individualized treatment programs for each patient to ensure that patient goals are addressed and maximum functional independence is achieved.

We invite you to celebrate 15 years with us! Stay tuned to the 15 Year section of our blog to see how we are celebrating and Giving Back to the communities we serve.

To learn more about the founders of Therapy Center, please visit Our Leadership page at www.therapyctr.com.

Mr. Carroll Alford came to Carrington Place of Springhill for physical, occupational and speech therapy after undergoing coronary artery bypass graft surgery as well as valve replacement in his heart. He began his journey with Therapy Center on March 7, 2017 and was discharged back to home on March 17, 2017 after two weeks of intense therapy.

“Mr. Alford had a lifelong love of all things sports. He especially loved anything LSU and college basketball. He had a goal to be home before the college basketball championship tournament March Madness.  He also had a great deal of responsibility at home. Due to a family member’s medical issues he was the main caretaker of the home and needed to get as strong as possible in order to return home and resume his role as primary caretaker,” says Lisa D., physical therapist at Carrington Place.

Initially upon arrival to Carrington Place, Mr. Alford required assistance with all activities of daily living such as bathing, dressing and ambulation. He was only able to stand for short periods of time. He had poor endurance and was limited by surgery precautions. By discharge Mr. Alford was independent with all mobility and most activities of daily of living. Mr. Alford continued with outpatient physical therapy and is doing very well at home with improved endurance and increased activity tolerance.

 Mr. Alford is now home with his wife and has returned to his duties at home as the primary caretaker. When asked why he was so successful with therapy he responded, “Therapy has helped me get my strength back!  I now can ride the stationary bike for 30 minutes.”  

Well done Mr. Carroll Alford. Our therapy team at wishes you continued health and happiness!

For more stories like Mr. Carroll’s, visit the success stories section of our blog at www.therapyctr.com.