 Paulette came to know HouseFit after attending one of our community talks. There she learned about managing Parkinson’s symptoms and the services that we offer. Paulette decided that her husband, who has Parkinson’s disease, would greatly benefit from physical therapy. Now he works with Tonya and has regular one-on-one therapy sessions. “She understands his cognitive abilities and works with him well.” Paulette says, “Even though he’s non-verbal, Tonya does a great job reading his expressions and understanding him.”
Paulette notes that her husband benefits greatly from Physical Therapy. “It’s what keeps him moving and active. It also makes my job as a caregiver easier.” Tonya has given the couple several ideas on how to implement some exercises at home. This way, even after their sessions, Paulette and her husband can continue with strengthening and cognitive exercises. One exercise that they incorporated at home is boxing. Paulette purchased boxing equipment after noticing her husband both enjoys and benefits from the exercise. Before coming to HouseFit, the couple sought out physical therapy at two other facilities. Paulette said that none of them compare to HouseFit. We are happy to say that their needs were met by our wonderful physical therapists. Paulette has taken action towards her own health as well. As she watched her husband progress after his own physical therapy sessions, she decided to enroll in physical therapy for herself. With our Physical Therapist Erica, they both worked to address Paulette's knee pain. After her sessions, she noticed it was easier going up and down stairs as well as kneeling. Paulette would highly recommend HouseFit to anyone. She enjoys our facility and the variety of equipment we can implement to help a vast range of issues. In fact she has recommended our services. “I told my husband’s neurologists about HouseFit and they expressed that they would refer patients.”
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 Tom has a busy schedule. He uses his piano skills to regularly play music for nursing homes and nursing facilities. But around this schedule, Tom likes to take care of his health and stay fit and active. He does this through HouseFit’s group classes! To accommodate his schedule and minimize his commute he takes our classes virtually.
He first was introduced to HouseFit by a Church colleague where he was told about our fitness classes for seniors. “I thought, well I should give this a try,” Tom said. When he’s participating in class he enjoys that each instructor has a unique approach and uses a variety of moves. It helps keep every class different and engaging. He comments, “The whole thing is nicely done and easy to follow.” He describes our Physical Therapists leading the class as superb. As his schedule got busier, he found it most convenient to take the classes virtually or follow video recordings sent to him. He explains, “I love to be there online with the instructor and waving to the camera and saying hello.” He has recommended our classes to others because of the convenient online option and engaging classes. He enjoys the ability and freedom to take care of his fitness at times that are best for him. And with the virtual recordings, he appreciated the ability to take his classes later in the day or online. Tom is happy with the ability to take care of his wellness on his own schedule so he can stay busy.  I have taken HouseFit’s Tai Chi for Arthritis & Balance. I do not like exercising, but I like this class because I'm able to do it in my own way. I struggled with being able to do aerobic exercises. Tai Chi uses slower movements, but I've already found that it's benefiting me greatly. I've already seen improvement in some muscle tone that I had lost due to some surgeries. I'm able to go up steps now with both legs, instead of one-legged.
They take our limitations individually. I might be in a group class, but they know that if I can't do something - it's okay and they work around it and give me an alternative way of doing it. I love it here at HouseFit because I feel like they understand the needs of people our age. I like the fact they are Doctors of Physical Therapy. I think that's super important as we get older because of our limitations.  I am 78 and have struggled with neuropathy for 15 years. I have difficulty with my balance. I have been to other physical therapists, podiatrists, and chiropractors for relief. I have never gotten any and have never felt like the professional I was seeing really understood my difficulties. That all changed when I went to HouseFit. They immediately took an interest in me and my issues. They did not have a canned regimen and were patient with my progress. They are a practice that specializes in balance problems and other issues plaguing older adults and that's the truth. I won't go back to anyone else.
I feel more confident when walking inside the hockey rink and going up in the stands while watching my son's game. I'm able to spend time outside working in my rose garden, walking on uneven ground and not getting so tired. I'm more encouraged than I ever have been before. No matter what my problems as I age I feel comfortable using them as my treatment team. I am so grateful for them, their skills, their patience, their commitment to older adults and their caring for me.  Married couple, Doris and George have been with us for several years. Both have received physical therapy and joined in on our group classes. George has worked with our team to minimize his Parkinson’s symptoms. He heard about HouseFit through a friend and once he tried treatment here, he enjoyed it very much. “They really care for seniors,” He described. “Staff is very kind, sweet, and patient. I would recommend [HouseFit] to anyone.”
He received treatment from our Physical Therapist, Tonya. He described her as excellent to work with. George was impressed by the knowledge that Tonya had on Parkinson’s Disease and felt understood. He recalls a time when she showed that she knew treatments for Parkinson’s Disease outside of Physical therapy, such as the different medications taken to help manage symptoms Doris came to know HouseFit after seeing one of our advertisements in The Call. She looked further into our services and was intrigued by the variety that we offer. An avid exerciser, she wanted to build her strength and stay active. Her and her husband George worked with two of our Physical Therapists. George said, “They don’t come better than Tonya, she was just a joy to work with.” Doris said that the personalities of the Physical Therapists is what made them stand out, “They were both very personable and professional.” After receiving Physical Therapy, They decided to maintain their progress and take our exercise classes. Doris explains her motivation, “it’s important to do. We were keeping up with what needs to be done. It keeps you moving, which is a good thing.” She has recommended HouseFit to friends seeking out similar services. She highlights the importance of wellness to them. “You have to do the best thing for your body,” She tells them. George said he felt better after every visit. During his time at HouseFit, he has made several recommendations to friends. “Everyone I made recommendations to has liked HouseFit,” George notes that the care and patience that staff has is the reason why he can’t recommend HouseFit enough. He said, “They don’t rush you. They‘ll show you how to do everything. If you don’t know how to do something, [staff] will not just tell you what to do but do it with you.” Doris highlights HouseFit's friendly environment as one of the main reasons she recommends us and keeps coming back. “The staff here is great,” She said, “Everybody seems to care and makes you feel comfortable.” Doris and George plan to continue going to HouseFit for services well into their future.  I have Parkinson's. It was affecting my balance and that made it difficult to participate in simple, everyday activities outside of the house, like going out to eat or going to the grandkids' soccer games or sporting activities. I first became aware of HouseFit through the St. Louis APDA website which included a listing for an exercise class at HouseFit for people with Parkinson's. After a fall down some stairs, 5 broken ribs, a stay in the hospital, and then a stay in rehab, I decided one way to fight PD was with exercise.
I started taking group exercise classes at HouseFit with the 1-week free trial that they offer and decided to join. My movement disorder neurologist recommended some additional physical therapy. I had previously been in PT with another service provider, but the staff, the atmosphere, the focus on older adults, their approach to fitness are some of the reasons I decided to do my PT at HouseFit. My balance has improved. My confidence is up. I'm more active. My wife said that besides my improved balance, she has noticed a definite change for the better in my outlook on life. With the help of a very professional, supporting, and caring staff, my quality of life has increased. They have developed a fitness plan just for me, tracking my progress and providing immediate feedback. They play great music and make fitness fun! My wife and I have been praising the work being done at HouseFit to our family, friends, neighbors, support groups - anyone that we think would benefit from the services offered here.  Dottie is a very active woman, who was running a 5k 3-4 times a month before she fell out of bed and broke her hip last year. After 10 months of therapy at the facility, Dottie was still walking with a walker and was told she should be happy she was alive and walking. The only problem with that is Dottie wanted to race one more time. "We watched as Mom’s balance declined significantly and her confidence in her physical abilities decreased," her daughter Mary told us. "She began to no longer identify as a highly successful athlete.
She was moving towards acceptance of a much more sedentary lifestyle than she had ever before experienced." Then a family friend suggested they get a second opinion. "A discussion with Beth at HouseFit gave us hope that there may very well be more that my mom could achieve physically." Dottie started her therapy sessions with only 5 weeks before her race at the 2019 National Senior Games. The goal was for Dottie to walk on the track without a device and without help, otherwise she would not be able to compete. According to her daughter Mary, she immediately started making progress. "The very directed focus on balance has made a remarkable difference in my mother’s overall physical performance and confidence in her general movement." Dottie and her daughter Mary traveled down to Albuquerque, NM to attend the event. Dottie made such a dramatic improvement in her balance and walking that she was able to complete not only the 50-meter dash, but the 100-meter as well! "Mom's attitude and outlook on life have become more positive as she gains confidence in her abilities. She has renewed hope as she envisions a return to her previous quality of life." Mary has already shared her and her mother's experience with numerous people. She says, "It only makes sense that people who are residents in a senior living community would consult with a geriatric certified specialist regarding their therapy."  Libby is an avid gardener, who wakes up early every morning to tend to her own garden and her neighbor’s garden. She’s stayed active through the work she’s put into her fitness and health. One way she exercises is through our Small Group Training program at HouseFit.
She started attending HouseFit back in 2019. After her husband’s passing had affected her greatly, she combatted grief through wellness. She saw one of our newspaper ads and decided to give our classes a try. While at HouseFit, Libby has overcome many obstacles. She’s recovered from a fractured pelvis and maintained movement in her hand and arm that was lost due to a stroke she experienced several years prior. For the past two years, Libby has been doing amazing at small group training and enjoys the social and engaging environment. She also appreciates the workouts incorporating a mental component along with movements. “I find the cognitive portion challenging but helpful,” She said. She describes the atmosphere as comfortable, lighthearted, and challenging. Through her hard work, she was able to enjoy a trip to Yellowstone National Park. There she completed 7 hikes in 5 days, hiking a total of 10 miles! While bundled up for the weather, she enjoyed incredible scenery. Libby viewed the beautiful Yellowstone canyon, geysers, and waterfalls along the trails. She even saw many bison, elk, and bears! Although it was due to the effort she put into it, Libby credits HouseFit with giving her the ability to enjoy this trip. She joked, “during my trip I thought, thank goodness I did all those squats. Libby is a retired nurse who has worked with elderly patients. This has given her the knowledge of just how important it is to exercise as you age. She stays active to prolong and preserve the quality of life she has so she can spend time with her 4 grandchildren. She has recommended HouseFit for Physical Therapy services to others. She notes our ability to adapt and modify to all skill levels. To her, our company name's a reminder of a major goal many of our clients have. “The big thing is your name,” she explained. “It shows me that you’re trying to help us stay in our homes and stay independent.  After my husband passed a year ago, I knew I needed to make the decision to get more active to be able to maintain my house, work in my yard and stay independent. I had fallen several times and began to have a real fear of falling again. I found that I was intimidated by the gym scene and wanted to find something suited for my age and physical ability. I am a results-oriented person and have noticed my strength and balance improving. I've lost the fear of falling - it's not something I even think about now.
When I first started classes, I needed to sit often, but not anymore. I recently took my granddaughters downtown and we couldn't find a close parking spot so we ended up walking 5 city blocks on cobblestone! I was so pumped I was able to do that! I considered the local rec center for exercise classes, which were economical. However, I felt more comfortable knowing that I would get instruction from qualified Physical Therapists at HouseFit. They know what they are doing and they are able to come around to help you make sure you're doing it right. The therapists are a great source of education and will give you individual attention. It has been money well spent with awesome results and I'm worth it!  My balance was terrible. I was having falls. I couldn't get up from the ground and I was having trouble rising from a chair. I felt that my world was getting smaller around me because I was afraid of falling. I came across an article that Dr. Beth wrote in the "Concord Call" and she captured my feelings exactly. It was like she crawled into my head and knew what I was thinking. My husband and I attended a "Balance 101 " Workshop and then I began Physical Therapy.
I recently had a fall. I was trying to put my pants on while standing up. It took a few minutes to figure it out, but I was able to get up from the floor. That was encouraging. Before, I wouldn't have been able to get up. My husband was home, but I was in the bedroom with the door closed and he was in the basement. Who knows how long I would have laid on the floor before he found me. The ladies at the front desk are so cheerful and welcoming and they have great music that makes you want to shake your booty. I'm sure there are people who feel they can't afford therapy. I don't understand how you can't. It's more affordable than a fall. YOU are important... Take care of yourself! Put yourself first! Don't let your world get smaller because you're afraid of falling. |
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