Welcome to the HomeStretch Journal.

Stories and Strategies for Aging Well

How Personalized Home Physical Therapy Supports Independence and Faster Recovery
Fall Prevention, Strength & Mobility Melissa Gunstone Fall Prevention, Strength & Mobility Melissa Gunstone

How Personalized Home Physical Therapy Supports Independence and Faster Recovery

In-home senior rehabilitation brings physical therapy and kinesiology right into the living room. By training in familiar spaces, seniors can rebuild strength, improve balance, lower fall risk, and recover more confidently after illness or surgery without the stress of clinic travel or missed sessions.

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How to Create a Post-Operative Fitness Plan for Seniors: Safe Exercises and Recovery Strategies
Strength & Mobility, Post-Surgery Recovery Melissa Gunstone Strength & Mobility, Post-Surgery Recovery Melissa Gunstone

How to Create a Post-Operative Fitness Plan for Seniors: Safe Exercises and Recovery Strategies

Recovering from surgery doesn’t have to mean losing strength or independence. This guide shows seniors and caregivers how to build a safe, stepwise post-operative fitness plan, with clear exercises, timelines for hip, knee, and cardiac surgeries, and practical caregiver tips to prevent falls and restore confidence at home.

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Understanding Fall Risk Assessments for Seniors: Tools, Causes, and Practical Prevention
Fall Prevention, Strength & Mobility Melissa Gunstone Fall Prevention, Strength & Mobility Melissa Gunstone

Understanding Fall Risk Assessments for Seniors: Tools, Causes, and Practical Prevention

Understanding fall risk is the first step to preventing injuries and protecting independence. This guide breaks down the most reliable fall risk assessment tools like the Timed Up-and-Go, Chair Stand Test, and home safety checks and explains how they help identify hidden risks before a fall happens.

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Why Seniors Falling in Toronto, Need Better Prevention Programs
Fall Prevention, Strength & Mobility Melissa Gunstone Fall Prevention, Strength & Mobility Melissa Gunstone

Why Seniors Falling in Toronto, Need Better Prevention Programs

This past spring, I began a weekly chair-exercise class for seniors at a retirement home in the heart of the Niagara Region — in St. Catharines. My aim was simple: bring safe, effective, in-home personal training for seniors right into a comfortable space, build strength and balance, and reduce fall risk — all while fostering social connection and fun.

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Chair Exercises for Fall Prevention: A HomeStretch Pilot Program in St. Catharines
Fall Prevention, Strength & Mobility Melissa Gunstone Fall Prevention, Strength & Mobility Melissa Gunstone

Chair Exercises for Fall Prevention: A HomeStretch Pilot Program in St. Catharines

This past spring, I began a weekly chair-exercise class for seniors at a retirement home in the heart of the Niagara Region — in St. Catharines. My aim was simple: bring safe, effective, in-home personal training for seniors right into a comfortable space, build strength and balance, and reduce fall risk — all while fostering social connection and fun.

Read More