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Tag Archives: qualityoflife

Get back into movement with Osteopaths and Physiotherapists 

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Reduced mobility can occur at any stage of life and for many reasons. Difficulties with moving around due to injury, chronic disease, or disability can have a profound effect on independence and wellbeing, interfering with work, relationships and community participation.

Seeing an osteopath or physiotherapist can help most people improve their mobility, even when complex health conditions are present.

Here are some of the ways they do it.

Effective Pain Management is often the first step in improving movement. An instinctive response that many people have when experiencing pain, is to keep still. Unfortunately, this often has the effect of increasing pain over time. By performing holistic assessments, osteopaths and physiotherapists seek to find the causes of pain and then intervene to reduce and manage painful symptoms, freeing up movement.

Easing stiffness in joints can allow for increased mobility as range of movement improves. Osteopaths and physiotherapists employ a wide range of techniques and strategies to reduce stiffness, some involving hands on treatment while others are activity based.

Increasing flexibility of soft tissues can assist in correcting postural causes of mobility restrictions.

Improving strength through individualised and function-based exercises that address the underlying causes of immobility.

Balance training to reduce the risk and fear of falling as both can be powerful inhibitors of mobility. Osteopaths and physiotherapists apply their deep understanding of human movement and balance to address the causes of falling and reduce the anxiety that often follows having experienced a fall.

Walking aid recommendations and adjustments to support independent and safe mobility inside the home and in the community.

Referral for services that promote mobility, this may include home adaption, medical care, nutrition management and home care support.

Movement is not only the result of quality clinical treatment, but also a powerful therapeutic tool and osteopaths and physiotherapists can help people unlock the benefits and joy of moving more. It all starts with an assessment and in most cases, the result is improved vitality, independence, and quality of life.

 

About Empower Healthcare

We Change Lives

Changing lives is what we do.

Delivering high quality allied health services is how we do it.

Empower Healthcare was founded in 2016 by two people who were determined to improve the standards of allied health services in residential aged care and knew how to do it. With industry knowledge and an innovative approach, Adam and Matthew set about defining what allied health services can be when quality and person-centred care is placed before all else in healthcare.

The partnership, that merged clinical expertise with business acumen, soon established Empower Healthcare as a leading provider of quality physiotherapy services in residential aged care facilities in Victoria. This success fueled the expansion of our services within residential aged care, home care and NDIS to deliver occupational therapy, physiotherapy, nursing, podiatry, dietetics, osteopathy, massage and speech pathology.

Now offering comprehensive allied health services with more than 180 dedicated and passionate clinicians working in Victoria, Western Australia, New South Wales and Queensland, Empower Healthcare is growing and taking our unique approach with us.

A lot has changed over the years but not our commitment to the highest quality care, delivered by expert clinicians, aimed at improving the independence and quality of life of our clients- helping our clients live their lives the way they want to.

How To Get Clients Started With Our Home Care & NDIS Services

Simply click on the image below for our referral form.

Referral on-boarding now completed online in minutes

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In Profile with Cristina Speranza – Physiotherapist NSW

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We welcome Cristina Speranza to the Empower family. Cristina is our newest graduate physiotherapist in NSW.

 

Tell us a bit about yourself

Hi! My name is Cristina Speranza and I am a new graduate Physiotherapist that has recently joined the Empower NSW team. I completed a Bachelor of Human Science majoring in Human Movement at Macquarie University and a Masters of Physiotherapy at the University of Technology Sydney. During my degree, I discovered that Physiotherapist’s can treat much more than your usual musculoskeletal injuries, in fact we can EMPOWER client’s to achieve their goals and improve their quality of life. I have discovered a deep passion for neurological rehabilitation and in the future I aspire to become a clinical educator and share my knowledge and passion for Physiotherapy with the future generations to come.

 

In your new position at Empower, what will you be looking to achieve in 2021?

Being the first Physiotherapist on the NSW team, I would love to share my current knowledge with future Empower Physiotherapist’s and contribute to expanding the team. I would also love to learn and expand my own Physiotherapy skill set to ensure I am delivering quality care to all clients.

 

What do you love most about your role?

I love when client’s feel a sense of accomplishment and happiness when they have achieved their goals. That is the reason why I wake up every morning and do what I do. I also love being able to connect with client’s and hear their stories and wisdom.

 

What has been your most memorable moment?

The most memorable moment of my Physiotherapy career was when I was managing a paraplegic client and she had been hospitalised for 5 months since her injury. She had not left the hospital in that time and her goal was to complete a car transfer to go for a drive to Coogee beach. The only thing that was stopping her, was her inability to complete a transfer out of her wheelchair. After a lot of motivation, intensive practice and strength training she was able to complete the car transfer and her husband drove her to Coogee beach. After the drive, she was crying of pure happiness and could not stop thanking me for never giving up on her. That was the moment when I realised no matter what condition the client has there is always an alternative solution for them to achieve their goals.

 

What attracted you to Empower?

Being a new graduate Physiotherapist, I initially found it quite overwhelming to start practicing with minimal to no supervision. Empower offered a great new graduate program that has a great balance of support and independence. Another aspect that attracted me to Empower was that it permits me to treat clients in their own homes. This enhances the specificity of treatment options and it makes the therapy more relatable and functional for each client.

 

What piece of advice would you give your new graduate self?

The best piece of advice I would give to myself and any new graduate was a mantra I was told by a UTS lecturer, and it is “Don’t overcomplicate it. Keep it simple stupid.” Also take any opportunity that comes your way because opportunities breed opportunities.

 

Out of the workplace, what are your interests and hobbies?

I love going to the gym and exercising. I enjoy a variety of training styles including strength training, cardiovascular training, Pilates and boxing. More importantly I love food and cooking, especially baking! Being Italian it’s in my genetics. I also love to travel (COVID has been a bit of a buzz kill with that) but I am definitely making the most of traveling around Australia.

 

What’s a fun fact about you many people may not know?

A fun fact is that I was a dancer for 15 years and I used to compete around NSW. I also used to play the piano at a very high level during school. I still know how to play “Empire State of Mind” by Alicia Keys, “End of the Road” by Boys to Men, “Clocks” by Coldplay and a few others.

 

Our Service Guarantee

Our promise: We respond faster. Whether it’s our short waiting lists, same day reporting or simple referral process, you can rest assured that your client is in the best hands.”

We have listened to our clients and they don’t have the time to micro-manage their portfolio. They want to partner with someone that is reliable and dependable with transparent pricing structures.

Adam Gilroy Smith, CEO reveals, “Empower has grown by 100% over the past year based on our service model across Home Care, NDIS and Residential Aged Care. By listening to our clients and the challenges they face, we adapt, stay well positioned and respond fast to deliver exceptional care. The launch of our new service model is another example of Empower Healthcare’s ability to be agile in a rapidly changing environment.”

How To Get Clients Started With Our Services

Simply click on the image below for our referral form.

Referral on-boarding now completed online in minutes

 …

Six signs that your client or resident may need a dietitian

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Malnutrition is often missed in older people.

Appetite and weight tend to decrease slowly as older people who manage their own shopping, food preparation and eating reduce dietary intake without realising it. Family members and carers who see the person regularly may only begin noticing the weight loss after significant physical changes have occurred. While the causes of weight loss are complex, here are a few indicators that someone may need dietary intervention:

  1. Unplanned weight loss in the last 3-6 months
  2.  Falling Body Mass Index (BMI)
  3. Reduced nutritional intake
  4. Low levels of nutrients noted during blood analysis
  5. A history of alcohol misuse
  6. Use of medicines including insulin, chemotherapy, antacids, or diuretics.

Dieticians specialise in improving and optimising nutrition by considering the needs and preferences of the individual. Early, practical intervention can help in maintaining general health, activity levels and independence for older people living in the community and in residential aged care.

About Empower

We Change Lives

Empower Healthcare is a national allied-health service provider and partner with Home Care package providers, NDIS plan managers & Aged Care organisations to deliver life changing allied health services. We offer a full-service platform from physiotherapy, occupational therapy, podiatry, dietetics to osteopathy, massage therapy and most recently, home nursing services and pride ourselves in the delivery of high-quality therapy solutions, value packed services and responsive ethos.

It is a very exciting time with Empower Healthcare building on the success of its Victorian operation and now expanding nationally into NSW & WA. With a growing team of 100+ clinicians, we provide over 1,500 treatments every day and service more than 100 healthcare organisations. Building on this strong foundation, we are well positioned and committed to delivering exceptional care.

Our therapists genuinely care about the people we work with and take the time to build strong relationships that holistically improve social, physical and mental wellbeing to live happier and healthier lives.

 

How To Get Clients Started With Our Home Care & NDIS Services

Simply click on the image below for our referral form.

Referral on-boarding now completed online in minutes

 …

Six ways a dietitian can help your ageing clients

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Malnutrition is a common cause of loss of vitality and poor health outcomes in older people.

Reduced dietary intake of essential nutrients and calories often occurs as a result of a combination of conditions and factors that can make food preparation and eating difficult and unappealing for older adults. Getting to the bottom of why someone may be developing nutrient and calorie deficits and implementing strategies to improve diet and quality of life can take time and expertise.

A dietitian can assist in the management of at-risk older people living in the community and residential aged care settings by:

1. Screening to ascertain the BMI and nutritional intake of people experiencing unwanted weight loss.- Comprehensive assessments to determine the causes of malnutrition.

2. Implementing “Food First” strategies like eating small but frequent, high energy, high protein snacks and meals.

3. Implementing nutrition support for malnourished people who are unable to maintain body weight by food intake alone.

4. Developing practical and appropriate meal plans and schedules to improve daily nutritional intake.

5. Supporting people in the community to access meal and food services that meet their individual tastes, dietary needs, and abilities.

6. Improve the quality of life of ageing clients by increasing the energy they have available to participate in social and community activities.

Diet and food preferences are personal and often sensitive matters, dieticians work with individuals to create the best personalized and enjoyable solutions for people struggling to maintain adequate nutrient intake.

Empower’s dietetic services is available across all of our service channels, residential aged care, home care and NDIS.  Please click on the relevant link below to learn more.

About Empower

We Change Lives

Empower Healthcare is a national allied-health service provider and partner with Home Care package providers, NDIS plan managers & Aged Care organisations to deliver life changing allied health services. We offer a full-service platform from physiotherapy, occupational therapy, podiatry, dietetics to osteopathy, massage therapy and most recently, home nursing services and pride ourselves in the delivery of high-quality therapy solutions, value packed services and responsive ethos.

It is a very exciting time with Empower Healthcare building on the success of its Victorian operation and now expanding nationally into NSW & WA. With a growing team of 100+ clinicians, we provide over 1,500 treatments every day and service more than 100 healthcare organisations. Building on this strong foundation, we are well positioned and committed to delivering exceptional care.

Our therapists genuinely care about the people we work with and take the time to build strong relationships that holistically improve social, physical and mental wellbeing to live happier and healthier lives.

 

How To Get Clients Started With Our Home Care & NDIS Services

Simply click on the image below for our referral form.

Referral on-boarding now completed online in minutes

 …