Welcome to the HomeStretch Journal.

Stories and Strategies for Aging Well

Post-Operative Rehabilitation in Vancouver: What to Expect and How to Recover Safely
In-Home Personal Training, Post-Surgery Recovery Melissa Gunstone In-Home Personal Training, Post-Surgery Recovery Melissa Gunstone

Post-Operative Rehabilitation in Vancouver: What to Expect and How to Recover Safely

Recovering after surgery can be overwhelming for older adults especially in Vancouver, where rehab waitlists are long and support often ends too soon. This guide explains what safe post-operative recovery should look like, how mobility changes week-to-week, and why in-home Kinesiologist care helps seniors regain strength, confidence, and independence faster.

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In-Home Personal Training for Thunder Bay Seniors: What to Know Before Starting
Strength & Mobility, In-Home Personal Training Melissa Gunstone Strength & Mobility, In-Home Personal Training Melissa Gunstone

In-Home Personal Training for Thunder Bay Seniors: What to Know Before Starting

In-home personal training is transforming how seniors across Ontario stay strong, steady, and independent. With customized programs led by Registered Kinesiologists, older adults can safely build strength, improve balance, and prevent falls all from the comfort of home. Discover why more seniors are choosing this safer, more effective approach to lifelong mobility.

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 Simple At-Home Balance Exercises for Seniors to Improve Stability and Reduce Fall Risk
Fall Prevention, Strength & Mobility Melissa Gunstone Fall Prevention, Strength & Mobility Melissa Gunstone

Simple At-Home Balance Exercises for Seniors to Improve Stability and Reduce Fall Risk

Simple at-home balance exercises can dramatically reduce fall risk for seniors. In this guide, Registered Kinesiologist Melissa shares safe, easy movements you can do in your living room to improve strength, stability, and confidence plus upcoming Brain & Balance workshops in Hamilton and St. Catharines.

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Why In-Home Personal Training Is the Safest and Most Effective Fitness Option for Seniors
Strength & Mobility, In-Home Personal Training Melissa Gunstone Strength & Mobility, In-Home Personal Training Melissa Gunstone

Why In-Home Personal Training Is the Safest and Most Effective Fitness Option for Seniors

In-home personal training is transforming how seniors across Ontario stay strong, steady, and independent. With customized programs led by Registered Kinesiologists, older adults can safely build strength, improve balance, and prevent falls all from the comfort of home. Discover why more seniors are choosing this safer, more effective approach to lifelong mobility.

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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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