Achieving a work-life balance is a concept involving choices and priorities related to the professional (career, work, education) versus the personal (family, friends, recreation) aspects of daily life. These choices may be routine and impact only the short-term, or they may be more significant and life-changing. Read more
As social media continues to dominate our daily lives, it’s more important than ever to consider your online presence when searching for and earning a job. According to Jobvite, a top online recruiting platform, up to 92% of Recruiters and Hiring Managers are using social media during the hiring process. And companies are not just using LinkedIn; up to 55% of Recruiters say they also use Facebook or other social sources to evaluate candidates. With that in mind, here are some tips and ideas for making sure your social profiles help rather than hinder your job search. Read more
May, also known as Healthy Vision Month, offers people living in the U.S. the perfect opportunity to prevent and address some of the most common eye problems by scheduling an eye exam. Taking good care of our eyesight should be a number-one priority at any age, because healthy vision can contribute a great deal to a safer, more active and more fulfilling lifestyle. Working in partnership with the National Eye Institute, the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) encourages millions of Americans to improve their eye health and maintain good eyesight by undergoing a comprehensive, dilated-eye exam. Read more
Hot weather is dangerous! As the temperatures increase, older adults are more prone to harmful effects. As we age, it becomes more difficult for our bodies to adjust and react to sudden changes in temperature. Dehydration, heat exhaustion and heat stroke are all a serious concern for the elderly. It is important to know the warning signs and take steps to prevent heat-related illnesses. In fact, about 40% of heat-related fatalities in the U.S. are among people over 65, according to The University of Chicago Medical Center.
Apart from being one of the most-loved months of spring, May is also known as Better Hearing and Speech Month (BHSM). Every May, BHSM offers both health care providers and the general community the chance to raise awareness about a wide range of communication disorders and support the efforts of the American Speech-Language-Hearing Association (ASHA) in enhancing access to life-altering treatment and speech therapy options. Read more
Considered a month of rebirth and renewal, like the other months of spring, May is also known as Arthritis Awareness Month. This month offers Americans the opportunity to become familiar with the most effective arthritis prevention and control strategies, and make a difference in the lives of people of all ages, who have already been diagnosed with this disease. At this point, according to the numbers provided by Arthritis Foundation, this prominent health concern affects the lives of more than 50 million U.S.-based individuals, and constitutes the leading cause of disability nationwide. These numbers are alarming, considering that they suggest the fact that 1 in every 5 American adults suffer from arthritis. The same disease impacts the wellbeing and development of 300,000 children and their families.
Understanding the Life-Changing Effects of Arthritis
The Arthritis Foundation is giving people the chance to gain an important advantage in the battle with arthritis and its life-changing effects by offering them access to its resources, tools and advanced scientific research, meant to help arthritis patients improve their level of comfort and their quality of life. Aside from being the number one cause of disability in the U.S., arthritis is an important negative factor that stops people from pursuing academic and employment opportunities matching their goals, aspirations and qualifications.
According to the statistics made public by The Arthritis Foundation, working-age people with ages ranging from 18 to 64 who are diagnosed with arthritis are less likely to get the job that they have applied for than those whose lives are not disrupted by this disease. Moreover, arthritis also impacts the wellbeing, productivity, health and financial security of one third of all working-age individuals who work full time or part time, taking into consideration that arthritis and other health concerns that can be linked to this disease are associated with 1 million hospitalizations on an annual basis, leading to expenses estimated at $156 billion per year in medical costs and lost wages.
Exploring the Most Effective Treatment Options for Arthritis
Unlimited access to information can help patients and their families employ the most efficient arthritis prevention and control strategies. Physical therapy and positive lifestyle changes play an important part in this equation, proving that the best treatment for arthritis doesn’t have to come from a medicine bottle. Any specialist in physical therapy can affirm the fact that exercise is the healthiest and most effective method to relieve stiff joints and the discomfort caused by arthritis.
Even though most people who are in pain prefer to stay in bed and avoid any type of movements, exercising is the best way to improve joint health and mobility. Strength-training, stretching exercises and aerobics are incredibly helpful, and can be personalized to meet the specific needs, age, medical history and physical condition of each patient to deliver the most remarkable results.
Physical therapy is a key component of treatment in individuals diagnosed with arthritis. Regular workouts, therapy modalities that can reduce inflammation and decrease pain (such as Ultrasound and Electrical Stimulation (E-Stim), in addition to doctor-approved exercises that are safe to perform, and adequate physical therapy, can boost flexibility and mobility and help patients maintain an ideal weight. At the same time, these two essential elements can prevent further complications associated with arthritis and a sedentary lifestyle, such as obesity and diabetes.
For instance, a comprehensive wellness program like MoveWell can engage older clients in adequate fitness measures. This whole person wellness program is suitable for those who want to maintain an active lifestyle and minimize the effects of debilitating conditions, such as arthritis. MoveWell is based on Core Four – a sum of the four principles of physical wellness – Strength, Endurance, Balance and Flexibility. Unlike other similar wellness programs, MoveWell is both exciting, beneficial to one’s health, and socially engaging. Clients enrolled in this program have discovered a new method to preserve their independence, strengthen their bodies and prevent limitations associated with aging or debilitating health conditions by improving their lung and heart health, building muscle and stronger bones.
MoveWell is only one of the beneficial programs developed by HTS to improve the lives of the aging population. Healthcare Therapy Services, Inc. offers a wide array of wellness services and onsite contract physical, occupational and speech therapy specially designed to match the specific needs of senior living communities. These services are created to promote safety and independence, and to give seniors a chance to improve their quality of life.
Getting Involved
A senior living community, CCRC/Life Plan Community, assisted living and even long term care can address the special non-medical and medical needs of patients with arthritis by offering them access to information, medication and physical therapy adapted to their age and medical history.
At the same time, it’s safe to say that anyone can help improve the lives of people whose mobility, flexibility, state of health, finances, and every other aspect of their existence has been dramatically changed by arthritis. People can support this case by becoming an Arthritis Foundation Advocate, or sign up to attend one of the events organized by The Arthritis Foundation to help raise money for further scientific research and a cure for the disabling condition that stops nearly 53 million Americans from reaching their full potential.
By accepting the Become a Champion of Yes Challenge, everyday people get the opportunity to make their voice heard, and share their story with millions of people who are also struggling to explore new methods to get relief from arthritis. During Arthritis Awareness Month, individuals diagnosed with arthritis are encouraged to inform and educate others by speaking openly about the hopes, accomplishments, obstacles and challenges that they have experienced during their fight with arthritis. Those who want to support the efforts of the Arthritis Foundation can make a donation to support the progress towards a cure and enhance access to resources and tools developed and implemented to improve lives.
Thinking of Working in Post Acute Rehabilitation? Here’s Everything You Need to Know
If you’re geared towards the post acute care field of work, then you have a world of opportunities available at your fingertips. It’s a bright and promising career that has been proven to have stronger growth and faster hire rates than many other fields of industry. An overwhelming majority of the graduates in this field report that they obtain their first preferred choice of job within 3 months of their graduation. In this current economy, those numbers are almost unheard of.
Post acute rehabilitation is all about becoming redundant, as odd as that may sound. The job of a post acute care worker is to be no longer needed as you move the patient from a severe injury, illness, or surgery to being back on their feet at home. This job could take a few days or several months, depending on the level of care needed. If you’re considering a position in this field, here are the relevant facts you need to know about this noble and worthwhile profession.
Post Acute Care Covers all Major Therapy
In the role of transitional care, your job is to move someone to being fully functional after a serious life event hampers their ability to do so. It’s not about just regaining motor skills. A fully licensed and certified post acute rehab worker concentrates on the patient’s entire wellness from mind, body, and soul. This covers all three of the major fields of physical therapy, occupational therapy and speech therapy.
Physical Therapy – You might perceive all post acute care workers as specializing in this field because a lot of the work done revolves around getting the patient back up to full mobility. Physical therapy is all about getting the patient back to an independent state after their illness or injury has compromised their movements. The care worker focuses on providing their patient with the exercises and treatments that they need to get back to normal movement. They work to help regain the patient’s strength, flexibility, balance, and most of all, confidence.
Occupational Therapy – After working through an injury or surgery, some occupational therapy might be needed to get the patient back to performing their normal daily duties with independence. The care worker would provide this therapy so that the patient can dress themselves, bathe, prepare meals, and perform light house duties. This goes beyond physical therapy where mobility is the key. Occupational therapy works on the finely-tuned motor movements to perform specialized tasks. In some fooball match predictions cases, an injury leaves a patient without the ability to do a task, so a post acute care worker teaches compensation techniques and ways to alter the environment around them.
Speech Therapy – Post acute care occasionally gets into speech therapy. Stroke victims are often in need of speech therapy after a severe stroke limits their communication. Many disorders can lead to a loss of speech and a post acute care worker must evaluate and treat the conditions that each disorder displays.
Post Acute Care Can Be in Any Location
Rehabilitation serves the patient, not the provider. This is the reason that many post acute care workers are providing their services in a variety of locations. This could be in the hospital after a serious injury or surgery, in a skilled nursing facility (SNF), a long term acute care center (LTAC), or even in the home.
Hospital – For patients that need care straight after a debilitating illness, a hospital care worker is convenient and immediate. Care can begin right after the treatment is concluded. It’s worth noting that although care begins in the hospital, rarely does the full treatment of post acute care be given there.
Skilled Nursing Facility – A typical SNF is attached to a hospital to continue the treatment on a longer-term basis. The care providers in a skilled nursing facility treat a variety of hospital-related medical conditions. They provide a round-the-clock care that meets all needs, not just post acute rehab.
Long-term Acute Care – A LTAC is a center for those required a post acute care that extends for at least 30 days. If the treatment needed will be ongoing and intense, it’s a good place to consider as they focus on only post acute care for long term patients. There is no accommodation for short-term patients however.
Home – For many Post acute rehabilitation workers, this is the ideal venue. In a field that focuses on the patient’s entire wellness, the home is the safest and most reliable place to achieve long-term success. It keeps the patient comfortable and improves their response to treatment and rehabilitation. It also allows the care giver to deal with the patient in the environment they need to adapt to. If there are stairs in the home, the care provider provides physical therapy to use the stairs. If they have high cupboards, the therapy is about reaching up to the cupboards. Working within in the home provides the patient with the incentive to get better sooner.
For the potential post acute care worker, this field has a verity of choices and environments. If you seek to offer a particular type of therapy such as occupational therapy, your choice of post acute care can be as an independent worker in a home or as a staff member in a long-term acute center. If you want to work with a team of therapists all focuses on providing wellness in a skilled nursing facility, you can choose a field of speech therapy or physical therapy. Working in post acute care, your job is to be more than just a nurse or a therapist, but a mentor for the depressed, a coach for the uninspired, and a friend for the lonely.
If you’re considering a role in this field, contact the team at HTS Therapy, the specialists in contract therapy across all fields. They can help advise you in the role you seek to find.
Healthcare Therapy Services, Inc.
1500 American Way, Suite 110
Greenwood, IN 46143
Toll Free: (800) 486-4449
Fax: (317) 886-5025
E-mail: info@htstherapy.com
Compliance Hotline
HTS Company ID number: 7816516030
Call 1-855-662-SAFE (1-855-662-7233)
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