Just like our bodies benefit from regular activity, our brains benefit from opportunities to think, remember, problem-solve, communicate, and connect.

Try this quick brain challenge: Can you name 10…

• Vegetables

• Clothing items

• Items you’d find in a kitchen

• Items you use to get ready for the day

Now make it a little more challenging and try to name 10 things in 30 seconds!

Activities like these can be part of speech therapy, where our speech-language pathologists use individualized activities to work on skills such as word-retrieval, memory, attention, problem-solving, and reasoning.

Cognitive stimulation isn't about being “perfect”—it's about keeping the brain engaged, building confidence, and continuing to use the skills that help us stay connected and participate in the things that matter most.

A diagnosis of Alzheimer’s changes many things—but it never takes away the importance of connection.

A familiar song.

A favorite story.

A smile from someone you love.

A cup of coffee together.

A simple conversation.

A walk outside.

Sometimes the most meaningful moments aren't about remembering everything. They're about feeling safe, valued, heard, and connected in the moment. 

At Active Therapy, we believe every person has a story worth knowing and abilities worth supporting.

Connection matters. 

Dignity matters. 

Every moment matters.

To learn more about Alzheimer’s disease, visit the Alzheimer’s Association at: https://www.alz.org/

If someone with dementia tells you they're getting ready for work – even though they retired years ago… Do you correct them? Or do you ask, “What did you do for work?”

If they think they're waiting for their parents to pick them up… Do you remind them that their parents have passed away? Or do you sit with them and say, “Tell me about your parents.”

Sometimes, the most helpful response isn't correcting the facts, but rather stepping into their reality for a moment.

For someone living with dementia, the emotions behind a memory can feel very real – even when the details are no longer accurate. Meeting them where they are can reduce frustration, encourage conversation, and create an opportunity for meaningful interaction.

This doesn't mean agreeing with everything. It means choosing compassion over correction and connection over confrontation – remembering that connection doesn’t always require being in the same reality. Sometimes, the most meaningful way to connect is to meet them in theirs.

Health Tip: Don't Wait Until You're Thirsty

Did you know that older adults may have a reduced sense of thirst, which can make it easier to become dehydrated without realizing it?

Why does hydration matter? Water plays an important role in nearly every function of the body. Staying hydrated helps support circulation, digestion, temperature regulation, joint health, energy levels, and normal brain function.

Dehydration can contribute to:

• Fatigue & weakness

• Dizziness or lightheadedness

• Headaches

• Confusion or changes in alertness

For older adults, dizziness, weakness, or confusion can also increase the risk of falls and affect everyday activities.

A few simple ways to stay hydrated:

• Keep a water bottle or cup within reach throughout the day. Drink fluids regularly rather than waiting until you're thirsty.

• Have a glass of water with meals and snacks.

• Choose water-rich foods (e.g., watermelon, berries, oranges, soups).

• Make hydration part of your daily routine

An important reminder: Some medical conditions and medications can affect how much fluid a person should drink. If you have been given specific fluid restrictions or have questions about your hydration needs, talk with your healthcare provider.

A walker, wheelchair, shower chair, grab bar, or other piece of durable medical equipment (DME) can help support safety, independence, and participation in everyday activities.

But choosing the right equipment involves more than simply selecting what looks appropriate. The best solution depends on the individual’s unique needs, abilities, goals, and environment.

A walker may be too tall.

A wheelchair may not provide the right support.

A shower chair may not fit safely in the space.

That’s where therapy can help! 🙌🏼

PTs and OTs skillfully assess strength, balance, mobility, cognition, functional abilities, daily routines, and environment to determine what equipment may best meet an individual’s needs. Therapists can also assist with fit and positioning, provide education and training, and collaborate with residents, families, and the care team to promote safe and effective use.

At Active Therapy, we’re proud to help residents and care partners navigate DME needs as part of a comprehensive approach to therapy and functional independence.

Could you or your loved one benefit from a DME assessment? Contact us to learn more!

It’s Important to Address Changes in Your Hearing

Hearing changes are common as we age, but they can affect much more than our ability to hear a conversation.

Difficulty hearing may make it more difficult to:

• Communicate with others

• Participate in social activities

• Follow conversations or instructions

• Hear important sounds like alarms or doorbells

A few ways to support your hearing:

• Schedule regular hearing checks

• Reduce background noise when having conversations

• Face the person you're speaking with

• Use hearing devices as recommended

• Let your healthcare provider know about changes in your hearing

Early evaluation can help identify the cause and determine what support may be appropriate. Staying connected is an important part of healthy aging—don't let changes in hearing keep you from the conversations and activities you enjoy!

August is National Wellness Month! 

There are many things we can do to help us feel our best, such as:

🏋️ Participating in an exercise or fitness class

🧠 Challenging your brain with a puzzle or game

🥗 Eating nourishing meals

💧 Staying hydrated

💤 Getting adequate sleep

😊 Spending time with friends and family

💭 Reflecting on meaningful memories & experiences

👋🏼 Meeting a new resident or neighbor

💪🏼 Participating in therapy to maintain strength, mobility, and independence

Think of one thing you're already doing well for your health and wellness, and one thing you'd like to focus on more in the weeks ahead. Small changes today can help support a healthier, more active tomorrow!

November is Diabetes Awareness Month – one of the top health concerns worldwide with 1.2M Americans diagnosed each year, 11.6% of Americans living with diabetes in 2023, and 97.6M American adults living with prediabetes.

Physical therapists and occupational therapists play a large role in helping people with diabetes. PT’s can reduce sensitivity to diabetic nerve pain, assist in the development of a safe and effective exercise program to lower blood sugar levels, help protect painful areas, check for appropriate footwear, and discuss potential support equipment. OT’s can address diabetic self-management and monitoring skills, lifestyle changes, strategies to help compensate for sensory loss, maintain diabetic medication tracking and organization, and recommend assistive devices as needed.

Check out the American Diabetes Association to learn more about diabetes and how to support those with it.

Did you know occupational therapists play a role in helping poor vision? OTs can help through:

— teaching visual training exercises, such as eye tracking, scanning techniques, and focusing exercises

— environmental modifications, such as increased lighting, improving contrasting colors, decluttering, and adding tactile markers to help identify objects

— educating on how to use low-vision devices, such as magnifiers, large print materials, and specialized lighting

— helping people adapt and manage their visual impairments during daily tasks

 And more!

By identifying potential hazards and providing guidance on navigating through the environment safely, OTs can largely improve the safety and independence of those with visual impairments. 

Could you or your loved one benefit from an occupational therapy low vision evaluation? To learn more, contact us!

Have you noticed yourself or a loved one starting to:

• Rock forward several times before standing?

• Push harder from the armrests to get up?

• Take longer to turn and sit down?

• Need help getting positioned comfortably in a chair?

• Struggle to reposition in bed?

• Lean more to one side or have difficulty maintaining an upright posture?

These may seem like small changes—but they can tell us a lot about how an individual is moving.

Transfers, repositioning, and postural adjustments require a combination of strength, balance, coordination, mobility, and motor control. When these tasks become more difficult, it may be a sign that an individual’s functional mobility is changing.

Physical therapy (PT) can help identify what is making these everyday movements more difficult and develop strategies to address those challenges.

Because sometimes, it’s not the big things we notice first - It’s the little changes in how someone moves through their day.

Be Active. Live Active. Stay Active.

Progress doesn't always happen in giant leaps. Sometimes it's taking a few more steps than yesterday, remembering a loved one's name, preparing a meal independently, or enjoying a conversation with greater confidence.

At Active Therapy, we celebrate every milestone because we know those small victories add up to meaningful independence and a better quality of life. Whether it's physical, occupational, or speech therapy, our team is committed to helping every individual reach their personal goals - all from the comfort and convenience of their own home.

For some Monday motivation, think of one small goal you’re working toward this week and remember that every step counts, and we are cheering you on. 

Falls can result in unwanted outcomes, including injury, loss of independence, and a decreased ability to do the things that are most important to you or a loved one. Research shows that physical therapy works to prevent falls in older adults.

Contact Active Therapy for more information on how our team of physical therapists and physical therapist assistants can help.

Falls are the leading cause of injury for all ages in the United States. Occupational therapists (OTs) and physical therapists (PTs) can help prevent falls through assessing risk factors, modifying the environment, improving strength, flexibility, and gait, and educating on fall prevention. Speech therapists (STs) can assist in preventing falls through assessing cognitive function, developing memory aids, and addressing safety strategies and sequences.

National Council on Aging - 6 Steps to Prevent a Fall: 1) find a good balance and exercise program; 2) talk to your healthcare provider; 3) regularly review your medications with your doctor or pharmacist; 4) get your vision and hearing checked annually and update your eyeglasses; 5) keep your home safe; 6) talk to your family members. Learn more by visiting The National Council on Aging (NCOA) at https://www.ncoa.org.

#FallPreventionAwareness

September is World Alzheimer’s Month - a global opportunity to raise awareness, support those affected, and challenge the stigma around Alzheimer’s disease and other dementia.

Whether it be joining the Alzheimer's Association, fundraising for the cause, sharing information, or talking to a loved one about dementia - there are many ways that YOU can make a difference!

Learn more, join the fight, and spread Alzheimer's awareness by visiting https://www.alz.org/ or other Alzheimer’s foundations.

February is American Heart Month ♥️ – a time when all people are encouraged to focus on their cardiovascular health and raise awareness about the risks of heart disease and the importance of identifying and managing heart-related health conditions. 

Regular physical activities like walking, bicycling, or attending fitness classes are a healthy habit to help reduce the risk for heart disease and heart-related complications. 

Visit our “Services” page for information on Active Therapy hosted exercise classes offered at many of the facilities we partner with to join a fun and educational exercise group!

Today (and everyday), we recognize and honor the selflessness and dedication of caregivers and the vital role they play in the lives of others. Today, we encourage you to show appreciation for caregivers and their critical contributions to families, our communities, and healthcare system. You can show appreciation through listening, offering help, saying thank you, writing a note, and encouraging self-care. THANK YOU, CAREGIVERS! ♥️

❌ MYTH: “I’m too old to get stronger.” 

✅ FACT: Your body can respond to exercise and strengthening at any age, and staying active is an important part of healthy aging!

It's normal for our bodies to change as we age, but that doesn't mean we should stop moving. Regular, appropriate physical activity can help support strength, balance, flexibility, endurance, and overall function.

Physical therapy can help identify where strength may be limiting you and create a personalized plan to work toward your goals—whether that's walking farther, feeling steadier, or simply making everyday activities a little easier.

The goal isn't to do everything you did years ago—it's to keep doing as much as you can today. 

What's one activity you'd love to feel stronger or more confident doing?

When discussing brain injury awareness, falls are a crucial topic as they are considered the leading cause of traumatic brain injuries - particularly among older adults. Our team of PTs and OTs play a key role in fall prevention and are specialists in conducting comprehensive fall prevention assessments and education on fall prevention strategies.

Occupational therapists can assess the home environment, identify potential hazards, and recommend safety equipment, modifications, and techniques while also teaching you or your loved one how to properly use them – overall helping to reduce falls and maintain independence during daily activities. Physical therapists can create individualized exercise programs to help improve balance, strength, and flexibility.

Contact us if you believe you or your loved one would benefit from a comprehensive fall prevention assessment.

May is Stroke Awareness Month. Knowing how to recognize stroke warning signs and acting quickly can help save a life and reduce the risk of long-term disability. The faster a stroke is treated, the more likely the person is to recover. Visit the American Stroke Association at https://www.stroke.org/en/ to learn more.

National Rehabilitation Awareness Week AND National Assisted Living Week—two important opportunities to celebrate the people and teams who make a difference every day.

Rehabilitation is about more than improving strength, mobility, and other areas of function. It is about helping individuals maintain independence, participate in daily life, and continue doing the things that are meaningful to them.

Assisted living is about more than providing a place to live. It is about creating a supportive community where residents can feel valued, connected, and empowered to live as independently and actively as possible.

At Active Therapy, we are proud to work alongside residents, families, caregivers, nurses, and facility teams to support those goals. This week, we celebrate the progress, partnerships, dedication, and people that make this work so meaningful.

Sometimes, it’s taking a few extra minutes to sit and listen.

Sometimes, it’s offering a helping hand when someone is having a difficult day.

Sometimes, it’s a smile, a compliment, or simply letting someone know they’re not alone.

We may never know how much a small act of kindness means to someone else. But those little moments of connection can make someone feel valued, supported, and cared for.

At Active Therapy, we’re grateful to be part of communities where caring for others goes beyond therapy sessions. Sometimes, making a difference is simply about showing up, lending a hand, and helping someone have a better day.

Let’s do something nice—just because we can.

October is Happy National Physical Therapy Month! This month, we’d like to acknowledge some of the many ways our team of physical therapists help improve function, encourage activity, and prevent injuries — empowering older adults to maintain independence and a high quality of life.

A resident returns to their assisted living community after a hospital stay. They’re back in familiar surroundings—but something has changed. Getting out of bed takes more effort. Walking to the dining room feels harder. Everyday routines require more assistance than before.

Coming back to the same place doesn’t always mean returning to the same level of function.

Research highlights how significantly hospitalization can affect independence in older adults. One study found that 50% of adults aged 85–89 experienced a decline in their ability to perform daily activities by the time they were discharged from the hospital.

Together, PT and OT can identify changes in functional abilities post-hospitalization and develop individualized treatment plans to help residents work toward their prior level of function—or establish new, meaningful goals when recovery takes a different path.

At Active Therapy, we recognize that returning to a familiar environment is only one part of the transition. Helping residents regain function, rebuild confidence, and reconnect with their daily routines matters, too. 

If you or a loved one has recently returned from the hospital, consider checking with your healthcare provider to see if therapy could help support recovery and a safe return to daily routines.

Loss of independence in activities of daily living in older adults hospitalized with medical illnesses: increased vulnerability with age - PubMed

Did you know occupational therapy (OT) can play a role in managing urinary incontinence?

Urinary incontinence is common among older adults, but that doesn't mean it should be considered a normal or unavoidable part of aging.

OTs can help individuals address the functional challenges associated with incontinence by looking at how bladder symptoms affect everyday routines and activities.

Through individualized assessment and intervention, OT may help with:

Toileting routines: Establishing consistent bathroom schedules and strategies to improve toileting habits.

Clothing management: Addressing clothing fasteners, positioning, and other barriers that make getting to the bathroom more difficult.

Bathroom accessibility: Identifying environmental modifications and adaptive equipment that make toileting safer and more manageable.

Functional mobility: Improving the ability to transfer on and off the toilet and navigate to the bathroom.

Bladder management strategies: Providing education on habits, routines, and techniques that may help improve bladder control.

Urinary incontinence can affect an individual's confidence, independence, and ability to comfortably participate in everyday activities. At Active Therapy, our OTs look beyond the symptoms to address these challenges through individualized care and practical solutions that promote improved function, greater independence, and overall quality of life.