Register now for this half hour LUNCH AND LEARN webinar on what is considered good posture for optimal spinal health with Physiotherapist Russell.
Registration Link: https://us06web.zoom.us/webinar/register/WN_VsOR1FanRTanSkUpfUL-jw
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Category Archives: Multi Disciplinary Team
29
Feb
Feb
In the world of healthcare, the power of massage therapy goes far beyond relaxation for older clients.
At our core, we believe in the transformative impact of massage on quality of life, promoting independence and providing care tailored to each individual.
In 2022, over 4 million Australians were living with chronic pain and the prevalence increases as we age, 80% are aged care residents. With an ever rapidly growing aged population, this number is increasing at a rapid rate each year.
Chronic pain is any pain that persists for more than 3 months.
The four most common sources of chronic pain include:
- Lower back – can be debilitating and restrict activity
- Cancer Pain – a common issue for individuals with advanced cancer.
- Arthritis Pain – often manifests as joint stiffness or swelling.
- Headaches – including migraines, cluster headaches, and tension headaches, are among the most prevalent chronic headaches.
The sensation of pain is the result of a series of messages that swiftly travel through the nervous system. Pain sensors activate in a specific area when experiencing an injury. These sensors transmit an electrical signal that progresses from one nerve to another until it reaches your brain. Your brain interprets the signal and sends a message to you, yelling, IT HURTS!
Our mission is to enhance the well-being of each person regardless of health status. By focusing on individualized care and empowering our clients to take control of their health and happiness, we aim to create a space where everyone feels valued and supported on their journey towards better quality of life. Our team is dedicated to providing the highest standard of care.
How does massage help sufferers of chronic pain?
- Massage therapy for chronic pain decreases pain, tension, stress, enhances relaxation and improves range of motion.
- Massage therapy is a non-invasive method used to manage chronic pain. While it’s not a cure for chronic diseases, when combined with physical activity and a treatment plan, massage can effectively reduce pain, alleviate stress, and positively impact the lives of individuals dealing with chronic pain over extended periods.
- During a massage session, the temperature of muscles rises as blood circulation increases. This rise in muscle temperature enhances the flexibility and elasticity of tissues, allowing muscles to relax and stretch.
Experiencing the holistic benefits of massage therapy and discover the positive impact it can have on your overall well-being. Embrace the power of personalized care, independence, and quality of life as we work together to help you achieve your health goals. Your journey to wellness starts here.
Get in touch if you think you or the person you care for would benefit from massage
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Simply click on the image below for our referral form.
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Community, Multi Disciplinary Team, Occupational Therapy
FALLS PREVENTION: falls don’t ‘just happen’ to older people
28
Nov
Nov
Falls don’t ‘just happen’ and become more common and consequential as we age.
Falls are Australia’s number one cause of injury hospitalisation and injury related death representing 43% of injury hospitalisation and 42% of injury deaths1.
In Australia, 30% of adults aged 65 and over will experience at least one fall a year. This age group were more likely to be hospitalised or die from a fall compared with other life-stages. This data is informed by our older Australians that present to hospital with an injurious fall.
Unfortunately, the other ‘falls, slips and trips’ that happen at home are not always reported due to
- Fear of reporting
- Fear of losing independence
- Fear of institutional care
- Lack of confidence
Most hospitalised falls occur in the home and it’s up to the individual – their family and supports to assist. The good news is fall CAN be PREVENTED.
Empower Multidisciplinary Team can help with
- Improving confidence
- Participation in balance and mobility exercises
- Falls prevention assessment and interventions
- Gait, balance and functional training
- Strength and Balance Exercise
- Multifactorial interventions
- Home safety assessment & modifications
- Foot health
- Medication reviews
- Continence
- Dizziness and vertigo
Physiotherapists help with – Keeping Active, Strong and Independent2
- Aerobic Physical Activity
- Muscle Strengthening
- Functional balance and strength training
- Replacing sedentary time with more physical activity
OTs help with – Living safely and independently at home and in the community
- Comprehensive clinical assessment
- Hazard assessment
- Hazard removal
- Adaptive equipment
- Task modification
- Education
- Shared decision making
- Awareness raising
How we can help?
The FROP (Falls Risk for Older People) is a useful resource flow chart to guide what we can do to prevent falls.
Get in touch if you think you or the person you care for would benefit from a Falls assessment or assistance.
RESOURCES
- Australian Institute of Health and Welfare (AIHW)- Falls in older Australians aged 65 and over 2019-2020. Link: https://www.aihw.gov.au/reports/injury/falls
- World Health Organisation WHO: Guidelines on Physical Activity and sedentary behaviour (2020). EXECUTIVE SUMMARY – WHO Guidelines on Physical Activity and Sedentary Behaviour – NCBI Bookshelf (nih.gov)
- NSW Ministry of Health – CEC website (Clinical Excellence Commission) https://www.cec.health.nsw.gov.au/__data/assets/pdf_file/0005/286700/CEC-Fall-Prevention-Flow-Chart-for-Community-Care-July-2015.pdf
- Falls Prevention Resources: NSW Government, Clinical Excellence Commission Fall prevention – Clinical Excellence Commission (nsw.gov.au)
Get Started With Our Home Care & NDIS Services
Simply click on the image below for our referral form.
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…How our Allied Health clinicians can help with Parkinson’s Disease
Announcements, Multi Disciplinary Team, Recruitment
Join our team and use your caring SUPERPOWERS for good.
25
Sep
Sep
Use your super skills to achieve the best possible outcomes for the people you care for.
Visit our Careers Page for more information
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In Home Care, Multi Disciplinary Team, Occupational Therapy
Join our Managing Chronic Pain Webinar – 28 February 2024
05
Sep
Sep
Register now for this half hour LUNCH AND LEARN session with our Massage Therapist Tarsh, she has extensive experience with pain management.
Registration Link: https://us06web.zoom.us/webinar/register/WN_VsOR1FanRTanSkUpfUL-jw
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30
May
May
Connecting people with Multiple Sclerosis (MS) to the services they need
There are effective and proven ways to manage the symptoms of Multiple Sclerosis, alongside pharmacological advances in the clinical management of the disease. Allied Health clinicians and nurses play an important role in helping people living with MS achieve their goals and live the best life possible at all stages of their journey.
Improving nutrition
- Eating a balanced and nutrient filled diet can reduce disability and depression in people with MS.
- Improving fibre intake can help to manage constipation, which is a common symptom of MS.
- Including herbs and spices in recipes is a way of increasing the tastiness of food, which can be reduced.
- Eating the right foods, prepared in the correct ways is an effective way to reduce fatigue.
- Maintaining high quality nutrient intake when managing swallowing difficulties is an important aspect of eating in more advanced stages of MS.
Who can help?
Dietitians for all diet, nutrient and food related programs
Speech Pathologists for swallowing difficulties
Nurses for general medical and health assessments and management.
Keeping fit and active
- Moving and exercise is a mainstay of MS management.
- Early, individualised exercise therapy improves mobility and balance.
- In the later stages of MS, exercise can reduce muscle spasticity and conserve function.
- Understanding how best and how much to exercise is vital for fatigue management.
Who can help?
Physiotherapists work with people at all stages to create exercise programs that address the unique needs of their clients.
Allied Health assistants support with safe and effective exercise.
Osteopaths work to help clients move their bodies and reduce pain.
Podiatrists prescribe and fit shoes to improve ankle and foot stability.
Maintaining Independence
- Work and self-care can become difficult over time but people with MS can use technology and techniques to maintain independence for as long as possible.
- From modified cutlery to electric wheelchairs, the right equipment can be a pathway to continued participation.
- Home modifications and adaptions are key to ensuring safe mobility and access for people with MS.
- Assistive devices can make life easier and safer for clients and their care givers.
Who can Help?
Occupational therapists for all home modifications and assistive technology
Physiotherapists for mobility equipment
Managing medications and continence
- There is ongoing research into therapeutic and pharmacological management of Multiple Sclerosis, with significant advances being made as researchers learn more about the disease.
- Medical management includes a regime of medications, taken regularly with side-effects well monitored.
- Incontinence is a symptom of MS that most people face and can be well managed at home independently or with help if needed.
Who can help?
Nurses can help with medication management alongside the management of any other health concerns.
Nurses can also provide continence care and catheter care for people who need it.
By connecting to the healthcare professionals that best suit their needs, people with MS can maintain the best quality of life possible. Empower multidisciplinary teams work together to link clients to the clinicians they need. Click here for more information on World MS Day.
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Living life to the full after Ostomy surgery
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Announcements, Multi Disciplinary Team
How our Allied Health clinicians can help with Parkinson’s Disease
11
Apr
Apr
Comprehensive, personalised care for people living with Parkinson’s disease can improve mobility, independence, and provide real quality of life.
Parkinson’s disease is a chronic and progressive neurological disorder affecting *150,000 Australians with 38 more diagnosed every day. 20% of sufferers are under 50 years old and 10% are diagnosed before the age of 40.
Parkinson’s disease can cause a wide range of symptoms, including tremors, stiffness, slow movement, and balance problems. While there is currently no cure, Allied Health clinicians can assist in managing symptoms and improving quality of life for people living with the condition.
These clinicians, along with Nurses, include Physiotherapists, Occupational Therapists, Dietitians, Osteopaths, Podiatrists, and Speech Pathologists.
Physiotherapists
Work with people living with Parkinson’s disease to improve their mobility, balance, and strength. Physiotherapy can help to reduce stiffness and increase flexibility, which can help people with Parkinson’s disease to move more easily. They can also provide education on proper posture, gait, and balance, which can help to prevent falls.
Occupational Therapists
Can help people to continue to work, care for themselves and carry out activities of daily living by providing strategies for managing activities such as dressing, grooming, modified work arrangements and cooking. They can also provide advice on home modifications and assistive devices that can make daily activities easier.
Dietitians
Ensure that people who live with Parkinson’s disease are meeting their nutritional needs. Parkinson’s disease can affect a person’s ability to swallow, which can make it difficult to eat and drink. A dietitian can provide advice on the best foods to eat and the best ways to prepare them. They provide guidance on maintaining healthy weight and managing other health conditions that may be associated with Parkinson’s disease.
Osteopaths
Holistically approach the management of Parkinson’s disease and the musculoskeletal system to relieve pain and stiffness in the joints and muscles. They can provide manual therapies such as massage and stretching, which can help to improve flexibility and reduce pain. Osteopaths can also provide advice on exercise and lifestyle changes that can help to manage symptoms of Parkinson’s disease.
Podiatrists
Work address problems with feet such as calluses, corns, and toenail problems that can be difficult to reach when movement is affected. They can also provide advice on proper footwear that can help to improve balance and prevent falls.
Speech Pathologists
Speech pathologists help people with Parkinson’s who struggle with communication to speak clearly, loudly, and with intent. Therapy aims to improve word-finding abilities, can help manage cognitive functioning, comprehension issues, memory, and following directions. Speech Pathologists also play a vital role in managing swallowing difficulties that can cause complications for people living with Parkinson’s.
Nurses
Play a crucial role in supporting people living with Parkinson’s disease. They can help by educating patients and their families about the disease and its management, providing guidance on medication schedules and side effects, and offering strategies for managing daily activities. Nurses can also monitor symptoms, assess changes in condition, and provide emotional support.
Working collaboratively, Allied Health clinicians can deliver comprehensive, personalised care for people living with Parkinson’s disease that can improve mobility, independence, and real quality of life.
*https://shakeitup.org.au/understanding-parkinsons/#:~:text=Parkinson’s%20is%20the%20second%20most,before%20the%20age%20of%2040.
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