Core Clinical Programs

Aegis Therapies has developed a comprehensive Balance Management program to provide the skills and environment necessary to help residents avoid falls, while also reducing their fear of falling. By equipping seniors with these skills before an accident occurs, Aegis Therapies can reduce the risk of a serious or debilitating fall and help residents gain confidence and a greater sense of independence.

This approach provides critical insight into less obvious conditions that may impact the patient's safety. Factors such as nutritional decline, a new medication, or a change in health or vision can increase an older adult's risk of falling. Early identification of factors or changes that impact balance, functionality and safety help to guide therapists in the selection of appropriate balance retraining activities.

Aegis Therapies developed the Complex Disease Management program to enhance the clinician's ability to assess, plan treatment and provide interventions for patients with multiple, complex diseases, whose fragile medical state further complicates their functional deficits. The program objectives are:

• Identify subtle declines in patients with multiple, complex diseases.
• Develop effective treatment interventions.
• Utilize a variety of therapeutic strategies that reduce functional deficits caused by the medical conditions.
• Establish effective functional maintenance plans that minimize the risk for decline

Our Dementia Management program, based on Allen Cognitive Levels, focuses on what a resident can do, the person's abilities-what he or she can do rather than what he or she is unable to do. By focusing on the patient's strengths, a therapist can develop a program that capitalizes on those strengths and allows the patient to function at his or her best ability.

Another unique feature of the Allen Cognitive Levels is their predictive value. Once a patient's cognitive level is identified, the therapist can use that information to predict the functional tasks that the patient should be able to perform.

Aegis Therapies' Dementia Management program can be used to address a broad range of issues that occur with the dementia population, such as:

• Behavior problems
• Poor food intake
• Lack of participation in activities of daily living (ADLs)
• Recreational activities
• Physical or chemical restraints
• Continence problems
• Falls
• Decreased socialization

Aegis Therapies' comprehensive Pain Management program is designed to help therapists and other healthcare professionals assist patients in all settings who are affected by pain. Therapists are trained to identify different pain types and what causes them.

An accurate understanding of the etiology of pain and the pharmacological principles of pain management are essential to the management of each patient's pain. Aegis offers the following treatment options:

Traditional Rehabilitative Techniques

• Exercise
• Massage
• Manual therapy

Therapeutic modalities

• Electrical stimulation
• Diathermy
• Ultrasound
• Holt/cold packs
• Infrared light

Complimentary Alternatives 

• Pilates
• Tai chi
• Yoga

At Aegis Therapies, we have an extensive Continence Management program. Our program starts with the patient's personal health care team performing a comprehensive assessment to determine the issues contributing to bladder control problems.

We review diet, fluid intake and current medications. We also observe the patient's ability to walk, turn, sit and stand to understand how these may affect the patient's specific bladder control problem. Simple strengthening exercises for the hip, abdomen and pelvic floor muscles are taught to help strengthen bladder support and decrease urinary incontinence.

Alternatively, a patient may be treated with mild, comfortable electrical pulses to the trunk and legs to help re-educate the bladder muscles. While continence management can be a struggle for anyone, a professional health evaluation and recommended treatments from the Aegis Therapies team can help patients start regaining control immediately.