Category: blog

Winter weather is finally upon us, and the changing temperatures can leave many older adults feeling cooped up indoors and make it challenging to keep up with a health and fitness routine. Home Advantage Rehabilitation Solutions is here to ensure you or your loved one can stay healthy and active all winter long! Continue reading to discover some exercises that seniors can enjoy during the winter. 

 

Indoor Exercises for Seniors During Winter

The winter season can be difficult for older adults to maintain their fitness routines. The hustle and bustle of the holidays can be distracting, and shorter days and cold weather can make it challenging to find the motivation to exercise. One of the best ways for seniors to feel healthy, positive, and energized during the cold winter is to engage in physical activity. Home Advantage Rehabilitation Solutions provides customized in-home therapy solutions to help you find innovative ways to stay active. 

 

Here are some indoor exercises that can help you or your loved ones stay active this winter:

 

• Walking – Walking is one of the most effective exercises for people of all ages. Walking is an excellent way for older adults to stay mobile and active. If the weather is too cold outside, try walking around the house or walking around a mall or gym to get some exercise. 
• Household Chores – Housework can offer more benefits than organization. You can turn your daily chores into a great workout and stay active. 
• Strength Training – Strength training is a great way to keep active and mobile over time. You can practice strength training with light hand weights, resistance weights, or bodyweight during the colder months. Our experts will evaluate your condition and fitness levels to determine the best strengthening program for your goals! 
• Balance Exercises – Falls are the most dangerous health hazard for older adults. Improving your balance is a great way to minimize your risk of suffering a fall. Our experts can show you exercises to fortify your balance and improve your overall strength. 

 

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Don’t let the chilly winter weather keep you from achieving your health and fitness goals. At Home Advantage Rehabilitation Solutions, our expert in-home physical therapists can help you find the best indoor exercises to ensure you stay healthy and active all year round! Be sure to contact us today to learn more and request an appointment.

Are you or a loved one looking to receive personalized care in the comfort of your own home? Home Advantage Rehabilitation Solutions is here to help! We offer in-home physical and occupational therapy to patients to ensure they receive a continuum of care throughout their recovery. If you are wondering if you or a loved one could benefit from Home Advantage’s in-home services, continue reading to learn more! 

Who Can Benefit From Home-Based Physical And Occupational Therapy?

Physical and occupational therapy are two different approaches to physical rehabilitation that can be quite helpful to those living with an injury or illness. Physical therapy focuses on improving a patient’s ability to move, whereas occupational therapy aims to improve a patient’s ability to perform the activities of daily living. 

Conditions like Parkinson’s disease can affect your ability to move and perform necessary tasks throughout the day. Sometimes, a patient’s injury or illness may be severe, and limited mobility makes it extremely difficult to leave home to attend treatments. When this is an issue, these patients may still enjoy the benefits of physical or occupational therapy in the comfort of their homes with the help of Home Advantage Rehabilitation Solutions. If you are living with any of the following conditions, you may benefit from home-based rehabilitation:

• Stroke.
• Chronic Pain.
• Multiple Sclerosis.
• Alzheimer’s.
• Parkinson’s. 
• Hip Injuries.

Benefits of In-Home Therapy

Whether you find yourself unsteady on your feet or dealing with a significant health issue, our in-home therapists can help you make the accommodations and lifestyle changes to recover and live safely at home. Here are some of the notable benefits of in-home care:

• One-on-One Attention.
• Convenience.
• Less Stress.
• Fall and Injury Prevention.
• Practical Application.
• Simplified Training.

In-home occupational or physical therapy delivers comprehensive treatment to patients right where they live and perform their daily activities. Our therapists can provide clear and meaningful instructions to help patients recover from their illnesses and achieve lasting independence. 

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The skilled therapists at Home Advantage Rehabilitation Solutions help individuals reach maximum functional and movement ability to improve their quality of life and help them live more independently. To discover more about our in-home therapy services and other home-based care options, be sure to contact us today! 

Fall can be an exciting time of year for anyone who enjoys changing leaves, apple picking, and crisp weather. However, for seniors who prefer exercising outdoors, the fall can be frustrating as the cold weather makes it challenging to stay outside for long periods. It’s essential for older adults to continue exercising throughout the year, so our team at Home Advantage Rehabilitation Solutions would like to share some fall fitness tips for seniors. Continue reading to learn more!

Fall Fitness for Seniors

Staying active all year round is essential for your overall health, especially as a senior. Missing the occasional day of exercise is normal, but several days or weeks of inactivity can knock you out of your routine and undo your health efforts. Therefore, developing a fall workout or activities is essential to maintain your fitness and achieve your goals. Here are some fall fitness tips for seniors to help you stay on track and active:

• Get Outdoors – Fall weather can be unpredictable sometimes, but it’s good to take advantage of lovely days. Getting outside to take a stroll and enjoy the autumn colors or going apple picking with your family are great ways to keep active and enjoy the season. 
• Cardio Exercises – Cardio exercises help burn calories, increase endurance, and lower your blood pressure. Our team at Home Advantage Rehabilitation Solutions can help you develop an aerobic exercise program that suits your needs and lifestyle. Treadmills, stationary bikes, and elliptical machines can help you get a workout indoors and avoid chilly fall weather. 
• Yard Work – You can make the most of your outdoor chores by combining yard work with exercise. Gardening and raking leaves are great ways to beautify your living space and get your blood pumping. 

Making an effort to stay active during the fall season can help you maintain your physical fitness and independence. Our team at Home Advantage Rehabilitation Solutions is here to help you stay on track with your health and promote longevity. 

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Don’t let the fall season set you back and put you on a path to loss of function. Home Advantage Rehabilitation Solutions is here to help you embrace new ways to stay healthy and active year-round. To learn more about fall fitness, be sure to contact us today! 

 

Occupational therapy is an area dedicated to helping individuals lead productive and independent lives by allowing them to develop or recover skills needed to navigate daily tasks. While occupational therapy can benefit patients of all ages, it is quite helpful for seniors who feel unable to manage their day-to-day challenges both mentally and physically. At Home Advantage Rehabilitation Solutions, our team is here to help patients improve vital life functions and enhance their quality of life. Continue reading to discover how an occupational therapist can help senior patients! 

 

How Can An Occupational Therapist Help The Elderly?

Many elderly patients can receive occupational therapy as a way to help them perform the activities of daily living, which can include everything from getting dressed in the morning to bathing. The type of occupational therapy a patient receives will depend largely on their needs. An occupational therapist will collaborate with their patients and their support teams to ensure a comprehensive care program. Here are some of the ways an occupational therapist can help elderly patients:

 

• Overcoming daily challenges – A large part of an occupational therapist’s role is to help their patients overcome the challenges of everyday life. For many elderly patients, routine daily activities like eating or walking can be an exhausting and frustrating task. Occupational therapists work with patients and teach them techniques that make completing tasks like eating, bathing, and dressing much more manageable. Our therapists also help patients improve their strength, basic motor skills, range of motion, and dexterity. 
• Promoting independence – An occupational therapist’s primary goal is to help patients regain the skills needed throughout everyday life to achieve independence. Our occupational therapists will carefully evaluate a patient’s health and need to develop a care plan to help patients achieve and maintain their goals. 
• Preventing falls – Falls are the leading cause of injury and death among elderly patients. Our occupational therapists can identify any potential hazards and employ preventative steps to help elderly patients avoid falls while remaining active. 

 

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At Home Advantage Rehabilitation Solutions, our occupational therapists strive to promote independence and improve our patient’s quality of life. Our therapists provide direct communication and can reinforce techniques and strategies designed to help our senior patients meet their goals and maintain their independence. Contact us today to discover more about our occupational therapy services!

Every summer, it becomes more difficult to stay active and motivated because of the dreadful heat. Activities that you do outdoors may become dangerous in the summer due to the rising temperature, especially if you are a senior citizen. Many seniors lose ideas for exercise because it is too risky to be outside for too long. Staying active will help you retain muscle strength which is extremely important as you get older. Do not lose motivation in the summer; you just need to change the way you exercise and prioritize hydration and staying cool. Our team at Home Advantage Rehabilitation Solutions has wonderful exercise plans for senior citizens. So, if you are tired of typing “in-home physical therapy near me” into google and not finding what you need, contact us today. We would love to help you! 

Types of Activities 

As a senior citizen, you need to be aware of the temperature outside each day. Stay indoors or at least out of the sun during the afternoon. Any activities you take part in should be done in the early morning or evening. Here are a few ideas for you: 

• Morning Walks
• Water Workouts (If you have access to a pool) 
• Very Lightweight Exercises 

These are just a few suggestions that can help you keep a summer routine. Many people type in home physical therapy near me into google in order to find professional help. Ditch that way of doing things and come see us. We have a great team eager to help! 

Heat Warnings 

The temperature can be well under 100 degrees and still cause serious harm. In order to avoid injury from the heat, you need to stay cool and drink plenty of fluids, preferably water. Stay away from caffeinated drinks or alcoholic beverages. 

It is vital that you stay out of the sun and do most of your activities in the morning or evening. Also, have someone with you if you need to go outside. Stop typing in home physical therapy near me into google. Come right to us and utilize our help! 

Home Advantage Rehabilitation Solutions(HARS): In Home Physical Therapy Near Me

Our team is dedicated, professional, and personable when it comes to our jobs. We are passionate when we come to work each morning. If you are looking for in home physical therapy near me then come see us so we can help you get what you need! Visit our website today! We would be excited to serve you! 

 

Having a difficult time communicating can be incredibly frustrating. Speech therapy is a fundamental component of rehabilitation for a variety of conditions associated with aging and developmental disorders. Home Advantage Rehabilitation Solutions offers speech therapy to adults experiencing communication and swallowing disorders to help patients improve their communication skills. Continue reading to discover some beneficial speech therapy exercises for adults. 

Speech Therapy Exercises For Adults 

While most people associate speech therapy with young children, speech therapy for adults can help patients strengthen their communication skills and eliminate specific deficits or challenges. Many adult patients ignore their need to seek support because they believe they are too old for speech therapy. However, speech therapy can be especially helpful after a neurological injury like a stroke. Speech therapy exercises can help improve language disorders like aphasia, which occur when the brain’s language center becomes damaged after an injury. These exercises spark neuroplasticity in the brain, allowing healthy areas of the brain to take over language function. 

Here are some frequently recommended speech exercises for adults. *As always, please consult a Speech Language Pathologist before beginning a any medical routine.

• Tongue Strengthening – You can try tongue strengthening exercises to combat weakness in the tongue. Sticking your tongue out side to side or in and out can increase this muscle. 
• Practice Smiling – This simple exercise can help improve your oral motor skills. Practice smiling in front of a mirror. Smile big, and relax. Repeat this exercise as much as possible. A mirror is essential for this exercise because it provides feedback, fueling the brain. 
• Practice a Kissing Face – After practicing smiles, try puckering your lips to make a kissing face. Repeat this exercise as much as possible, and try slowing down the movement to increase control. 
• Vowel and Consonant Pairing – Try to take a consonant you struggle with and pair it with each vowel. If you have trouble producing an “r” sound, try saying “ra, re, ri, ro, ru” repeatedly. 
• Breathing – Many patients experience difficulty regulating their breathing while speaking after a stroke. This can cause them to take breaths in the middle of sentences, making it difficult to be understood or speak at length. Performing breathing exercises can help you regulate your breathing and relearn how to construct sentences and breathe properly while speaking. 

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Home Advantage Rehabilitation Solutions offers speech therapy programs to fit your needs and adapt to your needs over time. We aim to help you improve your communication skills through targeted speech therapy exercises. Be sure to contact us today to learn more and request an appointment! 

 

Staying active as you age can be challenging, but aquatic exercises for seniors can be a fun way to get moving during the summer. Our team at Home Advantage Rehabilitation Solutions would like to share some of the best pool exercises for seniors, so continue reading to learn more! 

Pool Exercises for Seniors

Whether you or your loved one is looking for pool exercises to get in better shape or lose weight, swimming offers numerous health benefits. Swimming promotes weight loss and burns more calories while developing and improving overall health. As with any exercise program, it’s essential to consult our staff about any limitations before starting a new program. You can begin these pool exercises slowly and gradually increase the duration to get the best results. Here are some of the best pool exercises for seniors: 

1. Flutter Kicks – Hold the side of the pool with your stomach facing up. Let your feet drift up, and extend your legs back as straight as possible. Kick your feet up and down in controlled motions. 
2. Walking – Walking or jogging in the water is an easy exercise for seniors. Start by walking in the shallow end from wall to wall, and increase your pace as you feel. 
3. Marching – Marching can help build muscle strength. Bend your arms at the elbow and make your hands into fists. Raise one leg and then the other, marching in place. Be sure to stand tall with your back straight. 
4. Push-Ups – Put your hands a little more than shoulder-width apart on the pool wall. With your feet firm on the pool floor, lean into the wall and push out with your hands. Perform two to three sets of 10 pushups. 
5. Arm Curls – Stand in a part of the pool where the water comes to your shoulders. Extend both arms straight to the sides, bend your elbows and bring your forearms up to 90 degrees. Hold, then bring the arms back down. This exercise should be slow and controlled. 
6. Arm Raises –  Start in the same area and stance as the curls, but with your arms straight down at your sides. Keep your arm straight, and elbow locked, and raise your arms until they are straight out from your shoulders and resting under the surface. Slowly press the water down as you bring them back to the starting position. 
7. Hamstring Curls – Stand up straight in the pool. With a straight body, bend your leg back at the knee as if trying to kick your buttocks, then bring the leg back down again. Perform ten repetitions and switch to the other side. 
8. Leg Lifts – Hold on to the stair railing or pool wall with your right hand. Keep your feet shoulder-width apart with toes facing forward. Slowly swing the left leg forward, then backward with your knee locked. Perform this lift ten times and switch to the right leg. 
9. Calf Raises – This exercise can stretch and strengthen your legs. Stand with your feet flat on the pool floor with your arms at your sides. Gently raise yourself onto your tip toes, hold this position, and lower back down. Hold onto the edge of the pool if you need help staying balanced. 
10. Chest Flys – Stand with your feet in front of the other and bend your knees. The water should be deep enough so that your shoulders are submerged when you bend your knees. Extend your arms on the sides of your body, and keep your elbows straight. 

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These exercises are an excellent way for seniors to get started with pool workouts. At Home Advantage Rehabilitation Solutions, our team will evaluate your fitness levels and help determine an effective workout routine to help you achieve your health goals. Be sure to contact us today to learn more!

Parkinson’s disease is one of the most prevalent neurodegenerative disorders across the globe. While this disorder is not isolated to a specific gender, Parkinson’s disease is found more frequently in men than women. Since June is Men’s Health Month, our team at Home Advantage Rehabilitation Solutions would like to discuss how men may be more prone to Parkinson’s disease. Continue reading to learn more!

Why Are Men More Prone To Parkinson’s Disease?

Parkinson’s disease is a prevalent and highly progressive neurological disease that involves a small portion of the brain known as the substantia nigra. This area is where you produce most of the dopamine your brain uses. Dopamine transmits messages between the nerves that control muscle movement and those involved in your brain’s reward and pleasure centers. As a person ages, it’s normal for cells in the substantia nigra to die, but this process occurs in most people at a very slow rate. Unfortunately for some, this loss occurs rapidly. This is the start of Parkinson’s disease. When more than 50 percent of the cells are gone, the symptoms of Parkinson’s become visible. Some of the symptoms of Parkinson’s could include:

• Tremors.
• Slow movement.
• Impaired balance.
• Falls.
• Bradykinesia.
• Sleep issues.
• Dyskinesia.

Unfortunately, there is a difference in the rate of Parkinson’s disease between men and women. Women tend to develop Parkinson’s disease two years later than men. Some research also suggests that the explanation for these differences could be more exposure to occupational toxins in men, genetic susceptibility, and a higher rate of minor head trauma. Parkinson’s disease can progress rapidly and quickly rob individuals of their mobility and independence. At Home Advantage Rehabilitation Solutions, we partner with our patients with Parkinson’s to help manage symptoms, maintain their fitness, and help them stay as active as possible.

Therapy for Parkinson’s Disease

Since Parkinson’s disease affects every person differently, our physical therapists will collaborate with you to manage your specific needs as your condition changes. Our therapists will perform a comprehensive evaluation to determine the best treatment plan to help you stay as independent as possible. Our physical therapy programs aim to help you:

• Improve your strength and flexibility.
• Decrease your fall risk.
• Perform necessary daily functions.
• Improve your hand movements.

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Parkinson’s disease can significantly impair your movement and erode your cognitive acuity. At Home Advantage Rehabilitation Solutions, our programs are designed to help ease symptoms for patients and help them maintain as much independence as possible. To learn more about physical therapy for Parkinson’s disease, be sure to contact us today!

A stroke is an often catastrophic event that damages vital connections between your brain and body. Stroke is the leading cause of long-term disability and often results in loss of mobility and other critical daily functions. However, this loss is not necessarily permanent. Since May is National Stroke Awareness Month, the team at Home Advantage Rehabilitation Solutions would like to take this opportunity to discuss how at-home physical therapy, occupational therapy, and speech therapy can help after a stroke. Continue reading to learn more! 

How At-Home Therapy Can Help After A Stroke

After surviving a stroke, many patients have the goal of returning to live independently at home. But even with the help of loved ones and caregivers, recovery can be a challenge. After a stroke, the long-term goal of rehabilitation is to help the patient become as independent as possible and relearn critical skills. At Home Advantage Rehabilitation Solutions, we provide a comprehensive approach to care to help you meet your stroke recovery goals. Our services include:

• Physical Therapy – A stroke can lead to an array of physical problems. Muscle weakness, balance issues, and loss of muscle function are all prevalent problems for stroke survivors. In-home physical therapy can help patients regain coordination, strength, grip strength, and movement control. 
• Occupational Therapy – Patients may need to relearn skills necessary for self-care after a stroke. An occupational therapist can help patients manage personal care and help patients relearn how to perform certain activities like preparing meals, dressing, and cleaning. 
• Speech Therapy – Stroke survivors may encounter difficulties with speech. They might have trouble speaking, understanding what others are saying, and finding words. This is known as aphasia. We offer in-home speech therapy to help patients relearn how to communicate through targeted speech therapy exercises. 

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Recovery after a stroke can be a frustrating endeavor, but our team at Home Advantage Rehabilitation Solutions is here to help. We provide in-home rehabilitation services to help patients restore lost function, increase independence, and improve their overall quality of life. Participating in therapy from the comfort of home has been shown to yield incredible results, so be sure to contact us today to learn more about how we can help!