November 2018
So many exciting changes are going on at the moment. We have strong ties with some fantastic people who are very proactive voices in the community. We are very proud to be able to expand our team and will introduce our newest team member very soon. We have also been lucky enough to have a guest blogger, Anya Jones, who has taken time out to write a little bit about her personal experiences of Neuro Rehabilitation. Please check out her blog post here. We'd love to hear your feedback so please do get in
touch. Facebook, Twitter @neurorehabkent
October 2018
Earlier this year the Chartered Society of Physiotherapy launched a campaign Rehab Matters to highlight the importance of community rehabilitation. Part of the campaign was aimed at improving access to rehabilitation services across the UK, recognising that too often people leave hospital unable to access on-going high-quality services to facilitate their continued recovery.
The campaign included a short film called Rehab Matters (which can be viewed here) and follows the journey of two individuals after they leave hospital and contrasts their experiences and the consequence for them.
Here at NRK we were particularly interested in this campaign as all to often we come across individuals whose progress has stalled due to a lack of on-going skilled input. The CSP was asking the public to support their campaign by watching the film and sharing and engaging with them using #RehabMatters
The film can be viewed at here.
We recognise that the bridge between hospital and home is a very important one to cross which is why we are always willing to engage with our colleagues in the NHS to assist in any way we can. Following their own experience, the relative of a recent client has developed an app which aims to enable access to relevant local services and an easy to use communication platform between client and therapist. As a team we are keen to try it out and explore how it can enhance the rehabilitation process. The app is available via the app store by following the link at www.strokeactive.com
September 2018
Following a very busy Summer, the team are currently focusing on the way forwards in terms of expanding the range of services we provide. We are exploring various options including small group sessions and further improving the way we support self management in people with long term conditions. Elissa has been liaising with a team who have developed an new app for people post stroke. Stroke Active aims to provide a platform linking individuals to therapy services and other resources in their locality as well as providing an easy to use communication tool between them and their therapist to support their rehabilitation. The app was launched last week and can be viewed here www.strokeactive.com
July 2018
Jane & Elissa will be attending a course locally “Use of Yoga in Neuro physio therapy”. Jane has practised yoga for several years and already implements many yoga techniques into her therapy sessions. The Springbank clinic offers small group classes. Please follow this link to find out more about yoga at Springbank.
June 2018
Elissa has signed up for some a specialist training that we anticipate will be beneficial to many of our patients. PD Warrior is designed to aid those who have been diagnosed with Parkinson’s disease. According to their website "Learning outcomes include how to move well, believe in yourself and live better with Parkinson’s.” We look forward to being able to implement this later this year.
Springbank Clinic continues to offer us a great space for 1-1 treatments, classes or drop by with any queries in relation to your neurological problems and we will see if we can help.
May 2018
We have been trialling a fabulous new invention by Lise Pape called Walk With Path. She has designed new intelligent shoes and insoles to help people with freezing and mobility problems. It was started to aid her father who has Parkinson’s. The device fits onto any shoe and aids the walker by providing a visual cue to step onto. We are lucky enough to have a set for trial so please get in touch if you’d like to find out more and see how it can work for you. See here for more information about the product.
April 2018
We have started to introduce some new exercise classes with small numbers attending aimed at helping with maintenance and strengthen programmes for those with specific neurological conditions. The Neuro hub at The Springbank Clinic provides a great gym space to do these exercises. If you are keen to find out more about how these classes could benefit you or friends or family, then please get in touch. Here is a link to the CSP website article highlighting the benefits of exercise after a stroke.
Jane has been continuing to lecture at local venues educating all age groups about how we can stay healthy and independent. The most recent event at Foxbridge House was about preventing falls where we received very good feedback from a very participative audience. There are more talks planned soon so if you are interested in coming to or hosting an event please get in touch
We have continued to develop our close links with a very determined and ambitious young stroke survivor from Tunbridge Wells Lisa Beaumont. She has set up a new group for Different Strokes in West Kent.
March 2018
This month we focused our attention on delivering a one day workshop to twenty-five healthcare professionals from all over the country. The event took place on the 14th March at Somerset House London and was entitled Falls Prevention-focus in Neurological Conditions
We were very kindly supported by Neil Bidemann from the Community Therapists Network and Lise Pape from Walk with Path, so our thanks go to them.
The day included us presenting both evidence based information as well as drawing on our own experience over the years on the topic of falls. The audience were very interactive and the discussion of case studies lively, helping to pull everyone's ideas together.
We hope to continue this sharing of ideas in the future by setting up a Facebook group to allow ongoing communication between the attendees.
There are lots of plans for the coming months including supporting Lisa Beaumont with the setting up of a new group for younger stroke survivors through "Different Strokes" in West Kent, helping to organise a trip with a client to climb Ben Nevis, setting up small exercise classes for our clients, and developing more rehabilitation packages with All About Home Care. Zoe and Elissa both attended a study day about an approach to exercise for people with Parkinson’s disease which has given us some ideas.
February 2018
Walk with Path are an innovative new business we have just started working with. They have developed a walking device originally designed to help those with Parkinsonism. The Path Finder, goes over the top of your shoe using clever rubber soles. There are lasers on the front of the shoe that act as a visual cue to facilitate taking a step. We are are currently trialling the device with some of our patients with a variety of conditions. Here is a link to the website where there are videos demonstrating the Path Finder.
January 2018
Elissa & Jane were invited by Wealden Heights Care home in Sevenoaks to participate in a shared event. On 5th January they presented a talk on Falls Prevention to a mixed group of local residents. Everyone who came along said that they found the presentation both enjoyable and valuable. You can download the presentation side show here.
