They don’t tell you how tough aging can be on your body! Over the years I’ve experienced increased muscle weakness that finally reached a point that made it difficult to reach for items in my pantry or dress myself in the morning. I couldn’t even hold a cane in my left hand because of my joint pain in that arm. I knew I needed to do something about this so I could live a more comfortable and fulfilled life. I visited my doctor and they referred me to Chrissy and her team at The Lodge.

She and her students were patient with me as we worked together on stretches and stabilization exercises to get me back to my old self. After our treatment I was able to use my arm in all directions. The best part though was it was pain-free for the first time in years.

Not being able to drive could make it difficult for someone like me to receive the care they need. But not when you are at The Lodge. Having access to compassionate and knowledgeable therapy teams here at The Lodge improved my life tenfold. My only wish is that I did it sooner.

My advice to anyone living with chronic pain would be, don’t put off the therapy—just do it. You’ll only wish you did it sooner!

Lead Therapist:

Dr. Chistina Befanis, OTD, OTR/L
Occupational Therapy Wellness Program Manager
cbefanis@geercares.org
(860) 824-2660

Dr. Christina Befanis earned her doctorate in Occupational Therapy from Quinnipiac University. Her doctoral capstone focused on health and wellness in retired adults. Currently, Christina is excited to be leading and developing the Wellness Program at Geer Village Senior Community, a prestigious retirement community.

She enjoys blending her clinical expertise, collaborative spirit, holistic perspective, and passion for students, while focusing on wellness, prevention, and preservation of independence.

Treatment Plan:

The goal of Betty’s treatment was to improve muscle strength, range of motion, and joint mobility to reduce pain, as well as regain independence in day-to-day self-care routines.

Betty’s treatment plan consisted of pain management with:

• ultrasound
• soft tissue mobilization
• therapeutic exercises
• stretches
• Kinesio-tape