Live Better Longer

In celebration of National Speech-Language-Hearing Month, this episode of Live Better Longer features Kaitlyn Fencik, MA, CCC-SLP, sharing her journey into the world of speech-language pathology. From her origin story and academic path to her passion for working with older adults, Kaitlyn opens up about what drew her to the profession—and what keeps her inspired. She reflects on standout patient moments, her decision to join FOX Rehabilitation, and what sets SLPs apart in interdisciplinary care. Plus, Kaitlyn tackles the Acronym Challenge. Whether you're an SLP, aspiring clinician, or healthcare enthusiast, don’t miss out on this week’s episode—a great way to kick off National Speech-Language-Hearing Month.

We’re wrapping up OT Month with a bang on this final March episode of FOX Rehabilitation's Live Better Longer podcast. Join us as FOX QAPD Clinical Specialist, Brett Herman, MS, OTR/L, BCG, CDP, takes us behind the scenes of AOTA’s 2025 Annual Conference and Expo—from standout presentations to fun booths and memorable moments. Based in Philly, Brett also shares what it was like having the conference so close to home. We dive into his journey into OT, why he chose working with older adults, and how he found his way to FOX Rehabilitation. Plus, he opens up about stepping into leadership, his celebrity moment at a previous AOTA conference, and how he plans to celebrate the remaining days of OT Month. It’s a fun, thoughtful, and inspiring conversation from one of our favorite OT personalities.

On this week’s episode of FOX Rehabilitation’s Live Better Longer podcast, we chat with Amanda Cable, OTD, OTR/L, who talks about working with older adult patients who have dementia. Amanda takes us through her background and explains how she became interested in working with older adult patients. Amanda discusses some OT interventions that have been successful with her patients, how she educates caregivers and family members, and how to come up with individualized goals, since everyone’s journey with dementia is different. We close out the episode by checking in on Amanda’s relocation to Louisiana, which she discussed on a recent episode of The FOX Five.

Continuing our celebration of Occupational Therapy Month, this week we chat with FOX Rehabilitation's Cristina Klymasz, MS, OTR/L, CBIS, RYT, CLT-LANA, MSCS, who talks about incorporating yoga into her occupational therapy sessions. Cristina details how a team morale event at a yoga studio made her realize how much it could benefit her patients. Being the go-getter she is, Cristina got her yoga license—not with dreams of opening her studio—but with the main intent of helping her patients. Cristina admits some patients are skeptical when the concept of yoga is brought up. Still, the results are turning doubters into believers, especially with its numerous benefits, including helping patients with their balance. Cristina also discusses how she will be spending Occupational Therapy Month and what kind of personality generally gravitates to being an OT.

We speak with many clinicians and healthcare professionals on FOX Rehabilitation’s Live Better Longer podcast, but we always love the opportunity to talk with a FOX patient. What’s it like to work with a FOX clinician? How was their experience with FOX? Today, we are lucky enough to chat with Catherine Duff, who has been working with FOX Virtual Care Specialist, Jenny Rothman, PT, DPT, via Telehealth. Though skeptical of doing physical therapy virtually, once it got underway, Catherine became a fan. She was also introduced to remote therapeutic monitoring through the platform, One Step, which digitally tracks a patient’s functional progress. Catherine enjoyed her treatment sessions so much, she reached out to Jenny and said that she would love to spread the word and encourage others to use Telehealth. After we got in contact with Catherine, per her promise, she was game for interviewing on our podcast, which you can listen to right now!

On this week’s episode of FOX Rehabilitation’s Live Better Longer podcast, we welcome FOX’s Morgan Lewis, MOT, ORT/L, to talk about her decision of getting an LSVT BIG certification—which is an intensive program that trains OTs and PTs how to treat people with Parkinson’s disease and other conditions. Morgan wanted to do more for her patients with Parkinson’s and thought taking the LSVT BIG course was a great place to start. Morgan describes the ins and outs of taking the course, the different options available, and the prep work involved. She then explains how to communicate to patients and their families the benefits of performing an LSVT BIG regimen within a plan of care. LSVT’s next Virtual Live BIG Training and Certification Course is happening on May 16-17. To register go to lsvtglobal.com.

This week on FOX Rehabilitation’s Live Better Longer podcast we welcome Executive Director of APTQI (Alliance for Physical Therapy Quality and Innovation) Nikesh Patel, PT, DPT and political lobbyist, Consultant to Liberty Partners Group, and a member of the team representing APTQI, Eric Berger. Nick and Eric discuss a topic that has been particularly damaging to both older adults and our healthcare profession—the continued cuts to Medicare, which have happened over the last five years. Nick and Eric discuss the most crucial ways clinicians, patients, and family members can advocate for themselves, ensuring that older adults receive the care they need and clinicians can provide it. They also talk about their work on the SAFE Act, which, if passed by Congress, would give all Medicare beneficiaries

For the third consecutive year, in honor of International Women’s Day and Women’s History Month, we invite back FOX Rehabilitation's Audra Vellucci, PT, MPT, to take over hosting duties of our Live Better Longer podcast. Audra speaks with fellow FOX colleagues, Whitney Ueltschey, PT, and Kayley Pose, MS, OTR/L, BCG, about being a woman in a leadership position and their biggest wins with older adult patients. Audra also asks Whitney and Kayley what it was like to transition to a new practice after both of their previous companies were acquired by FOX. Both women quickly fell in love with FOX’s culture and became Regional Directors, Whitey in Mississippi and Kayley in Alabama.

On our Season 8 premiere of FOX Rehabilitation’s Live Better Longer podcast, we chatted with FOX’s Danielle Cicala, MS, OTR/L, who talked about transitioning from Pediatrics to Geriatrics. As you will soon discover, Danielle goes into each treatment session with the goal of providing the best occupational therapy possible—regardless of her patient’s age. Her positive personality—which has been on display across FOX’s social media channels—translates to any age, although Danielle does admit she likes working with older adults because of the knowledge and wisdom she receives from them daily. She looks at therapy sessions as a partnership, with both parties walking away with something beneficial.

On the Season 7 finale of FOX Rehabilitation’s Live Better Longer podcast, we revisit one of our favorite stories centered around a favorite FOX cultural pillar—the exchange of abundance. A few years back, our host Jim Shearer’s New York City neighbor, Melody Morrow, received a monthly receipt from her healthcare provider and noticed that someone drew musical notes above her name. Melody thought that was a very nice detail and called her provider to find out who was responsible for this small act of kindness. It turned out to be the accounting clerk, Emily Margolis. Long story short, the envelopes got more and more artistic, Melody and Emily struck up a friendship, and they were even featured on CBS’ “On The Road” with Steve Hartman, as well as having the artwork showcased at a local New York City coffee shop. Jim catches up with Melody to talk about the media attention and positive feedback from the story, and the importance of taking time to do something nice for someone else.