Make The Most From Your Dr. To Avoid Nursing Homes.

Video Transcript

To avoid going to a nursing home, go to your doctor on a regular basis and keep up with the medications. In fact, make sure that you get in the habit of every time you go to the doctor, write down questions before you get into the doctor’s office and just make that a systematic habit.

Yes, I know how much that sounds like common sense, but it’s amazing the number of times, including myself, that we don’t do those things. We don’t systematically make that habit. So, when you go to the doctor, especially if you want to avoid going to a nursing home, have those questions written down in advance, ahead of time. That way, you know what to ask in the moment because usually, we do forget, no matter who we are. Once we get in front of the doctor, we get going on with other things, and they’re moving fast, checking this and checking that, it can be very easy to forget, “Oh, I should have asked this. I should have asked now,” or “I had that symptom,” or whatever it might be.

So, write down the questions in advance as they come up, and then you’ll have everything you need when you go to the doctor. Making sure that the medications are correct, making sure that you don’t have too many medications, or side effects with certain medications, or little symptoms that are creeping up that you don’t know if they’re a problem or not, all these things need to be brought up.

Because you don’t know when that one little symptom is going to be a big deal, or if that medication interaction that’s causing a little bit of a symptom is going to become a big deal or not. A lot of people end up in the hospital and end up in a nursing home simply for these simple reasons, because the medications and the medical management is not addressed the way it should be.

Speaking of medical management, just making sure that your blood numbers are where they need to be, your vitals are where they need to be, your blood pressure, heart rate – making sure that your medications are keeping your vitals where they need to be. Making sure that your blood pressure is not getting too low, but also that it’s not getting too high. These things need to be checked regularly to avoid going to a nursing home.

And if you’re getting to that level of medical complexity, so to speak, then checking these vitals on a regular basis can make a big impact on preventing yourself from going to a nursing home. It’s these little things that make the difference that we do on a consistent basis.

In fact, it’s also a good idea to just basically check your blood pressure on a regular basis, daily or even multiple times throughout the day, to make sure that the type of coverage that you’re getting with your medication – if you are on medication – is what it needs to be. Because, if you’re getting to that point where you’re thinking about or worrying about going to a nursing home, then it’s important to check these things on a regular basis.

So, investing in a blood pressure cuff can be very beneficial, especially one of the automated ones that are simple to use. I recommend the ones that go up on the arms, not the ones that go on the forearm, and getting a pulse oximeter, the device that goes on your finger to measure oxygen and heart rate, that can also be very beneficial as well. To make sure your heart rate and your oxygen is where it needs to be, it’s very simple to buy these things nowadays, especially on Amazon.

You don’t have to have connections to a medical supply company to get this type of stuff anymore, you don’t even have to walk to the drugstore. You can have Amazon deliver it for you, or wherever you want to buy all this stuff online. These things can easily be delivered to your doorstep. So all you have to do is just take action and get it done.

Get it in there and start monitoring your vitals on a regular basis. So, monitoring your vitals and going to the doctor on a regular basis, ask those questions about your medications, about your medical situation, and make sure that all your bases are covered. It’s a great way to prevent yourself from going to the hospital and avoid going to a nursing home.

References

Being proactive on the medical side is one of the best things you can do if you don’t want to end up in a nursing home.

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Matt Langford

Physical Therapist

Hi there! I'm Dr. Matt Langford. I have been working as a physical therapist in DFW for three years. My wife, our golden doodle named Birdie, and I love to spend our time going on different adventures whether it be hiking the Trinity trail or traveling to new places. I also love playing golf, pickleball, and serving at our local church in Fort Worth. My goals in life include learning more about the field of physical therapy so I can provide better care to individuals, pursuing my faith in a way that helps others know about Christ, and making as many memories as I can.

Kasondra Woodruff

Client Liaison

Kasondra is a mother and a pet lover, she loves spending time outdoors with her children and furry friends. With years of experience in client relations, her passion is ensuring that every client is heard and taken care of. As our Client Liaison, Kasondra takes pride in building strong relationships with our clients, ensuring that their needs are met and that they feel comfortable and confident throughout their time with us.

Jason Livas

Physical Therapy

Jason joined the Optimove team November 2023. He earned a Bachelor of Science in Exercise Science from the University of Texas at Arlington in 2012 followed by an Associate of Applied Science in Physical Therapy from Navarro College in 2019.
Jason’s clinical interests include neuromuscular training for healthy aging and longevity of the older adult, orthopedic rehabilitation and strength and conditioning. Jason also maintains certifications as a Certified Strength and Conditioning Specialist (CSCS) and trigger point dry needling (Cert DN).
Outside of work, Jason enjoys cooking, reading, strength training and spending time with his beautiful wife and kids.

Connie Thomason

Occupational Therapist

Connie holds a Master of Occupational Therapy from Texas Woman’s University (1997) and boasts over 26 years of experience as an Occupational Therapist. Her expertise lies primarily in neurological rehabilitation within a hospital-based outpatient setting. Throughout her career, Connie has worked across various healthcare settings including Acute, SubAcute, Skilled Nursing, and In-Patient Rehab.
Her specialization in Vestibular Rehabilitation since 2005 has equipped her to effectively treat a wide array of conditions, including BPPV, Vestibular Migraine, Meniere’s Disease, acute and chronic hypofunction, Acoustic Neuroma, PPPD, balance disorders, central vestibular disorders, concussion, and Superior Canal Dehiscence.
Connie holds numerous certifications, including the 360 Neuro Health Certificate of Competency in Vestibular Rehab, Emory University Vestibular Rehabilitation Competency-Based Course, 360 Neuro Health V2FIT for concussion, Lee Silverman Voice Therapy (LSVT) BIG for Parkinson’s patients, Neuro Developmental Treatment (NDT) for stroke patients, and NASM Corrective Exercise certification. She is also certified in the Montreal Cognitive Assessment (MoCA).
Active in professional communities, Connie is a member of the American Occupational Therapy Association and the Vestibular Disorders Association.
Outside of her professional endeavors, Connie enjoys spending time with her husband of 30 years, along with their two rescued bulldogs. Her hobbies include riding motorcycles, traveling, running, painting, and reading extensively about health, wellness, and vestibular research.

Andy Altmoyer

Operations Manager

Andy grew up as part of a military family, living all over the country and abroad. He is so glad to have finally landed back in Texas. He earned a bachelor’s degree in Secondary Social Studies Education, minoring in Vocal Music and Theater from West Liberty University in West Virginia. Since then he has used his outgoing nature, education background, and organizational skills in healthcare management and operations. When he isn’t working he enjoys spending time with his family and dogs, reading Marvel comics, and cooking.
During Andy’s first venture into healthcare, while living in Ohio, he worked for a practice focused on Orthopedics where he spent time managing their Physical Therapy front desk across multiple locations as well as being a group fitness instructor for seniors, folks with special needs, and those who have had total join replacements. It’s here that he realized his deep love of helping people navigate the healthcare system and connecting them with those can meet their mobility needs.
Sad to leave that company after over 7 years, Andy and his family moved to Dallas where Andy spent 3 years as Operations Manager for a large Neurology practice. He continued helping people connect with top tier healthcare providers, navigating the pandemic, and moving the practice’s location in stride. It was during this time that Andy met Dr. Guild. The Optimove Team became a favored referral source for some of the physicians on staff and Andy got to work with their team closely as they coordinated care for the patients.
This collaboration led to Andy joining the Optimove Team in August of 2021. Andy has a unique blend of experiences not only professionally but personally as well. He has been able to assist so many people reach the correct providers to have their needs met and provides valuable insight to the workings of the healthcare system at large and how to make it work better for our clients. This also comes from helping his mother navigate worker’s compensation and disability as well as assisting his family setting up his grandparents with memory care, assisted living, physical therapy, and other services. Andy has often been quoted as saying, “I may not be the one laying the healing hands but connecting folks to the right people who can help them makes me feel like I’m a part of something great and makes me feel good.”
Andy would like to be a part of your journey towards independence and wellness. He loves getting to know our clients and being one of their biggest cheerleaders throughout their journeys. Give him a call and take the first steps to achieving your goals.

Peter Langlois

Physical Therapy

Peter keeps our clients laughing, and the whole Optimove Team as well. Hand-picked by Jeffrey from their previous rehabilitation work, when he is not being “The Joint Whisperer” and making the seemingly impossible happen, Peter is MacGyvering up some gadget for our clients to help them move better.
Peter is originally from Rhode Island. He received his bachelor’s degree from the University of Rhode Island where his first career was as a ship captain, where he travelled the world and experienced many different cultures. Peter later developed a passion for physical therapy from his running career as a long distance runner doing marathons and ultramarathons. This led him to switch careers as he wanted to learn more about injury prevention and rehab. Peter has worked in various facilities over the last 8 years as a therapist throughout the metroplex including skilled nursing, outpatient orthopedics, and home health. He now enjoys working with our clients on various movement disorders, gait mechanics and balance issues. In his spare time Peter enjoys chopping wood and going for long trail runs with his family.

Jeffrey R. Guild, PT, DPT, (Former CSCS)

Owner, Therapist

When Dr. Jeffrey Guild is not working as business owner and clinician, he is dedicating time to his wife and children. His other hobbies include working out (Mainly in the weight room), music (Listening, playing, & researching), history, science, and studying business and successful people.
Jeffrey is originally from Bettendorf, Iowa and went to The University of Iowa and graduated with a bachelor’s degree in Health Promotion (Minors in Integrative Physiology & Psychology). He also worked as a Strength & Conditioning intern with The University of Iowa for 3 years and volunteered in cardiac rehabilitation at The University of Iowa Hospitals & Clinics. Upon arriving to Texas, he interned at the Cooper Aerobics Center.
Jeffrey’s first career was as a strength & conditioning professional and personal trainer. Even in the fitness industry he specialized in working with people who were older and with physical limitations. His particular emphasis as a personal trainer was identifying basic movement problems to prevent injuries BEFORE the training started, which gave him a greater understanding about human movement and was a natural segway towards Physical Therapy.
Jeffrey graduated with a Doctorate Degree in Physical Therapy at The University of North Texas Health Science Center in Fort Worth in 2013. He received the Dean’s research Award for the Allied Health Department and got published in multiple journals. After physical therapy school he started his career by receiving mentoring for over a year working in a vestibular/neurological specialty outpatient practice. Since then he has worked in a number of areas of physical therapy including inpatient rehabilitation, acute care, skilled nursing, memory care, and even pediatrics. In 2018 he started his own practice with the name “Optimove” with the emphasis on a combination of “optimal movement” and “optimism.”