The elderly are among the most vulnerable people in our society. They face mobility challenges, problems with balance, and many other illnesses that affect their daily lives. The main goal of physical therapy for the elderly is the maintenance or restoration of functional autonomy in their activities of daily living. Here is a guide on physiotherapy for seniors:
Physiotherapy for the Elderly [Specialized Care]
For the best physiotherapeutic strategy, the physiotherapist takes into account the specific traits that an elderly shows in their aging course. They also consider each senior’s comorbidities. These should be carefully assessed so that the treatment adapted can address their specific challenges.
Our physiotherapists frequently treat the elderly to help install confidence after falls, chronic illnesses, and other issues that affect their balance or mobility. They start this process with an assessment. During the assessment, our therapists will explain the short-term and long-term physio plans so that clients can feel completely confident and empowered with the rehabilitation program.
Different Physiotherapy Settings for The Elderly
Several programs have been established all over the world to provide better social services and health systems for the aged. Most of these initiatives involve physical therapy in areas such as:
- Hospital: For the severely ill in a ward or on specialized elderly care units, or specialized rehabilitation centres.
- Outpatient ambulatory clinics or day assessment and rehabilitation units.
- Health promotion and disability prevention programs
- Regional and local outreach services, usually for specific conditions.
- Community physiotherapy in the patient’s own home.
Vital Skills for Elderly Physiotherapists
Elderly care is complicated. That’s because it comes with several conditions that require specialized knowledge. The old often need special care under neurological, cardiovascular, and musculoskeletal conditions.
For this reason, the skills for therapists specializing in elderly care should include full knowledge of physical therapy practices in these 2 categories:
- Assessment
Our physiotherapists have to assess the impairments that impact your senior’s activities of daily living to curate means through which the patient can recover. We start by establishing the context of the senior’s life. For instance, environmental factors, location, and other issues like social support and medical factors.
These factors can help us facilitate a good physiotherapy plan. In some instances, such factors can be barriers but the only way to overcome them is to analyze them carefully. This way, we can propose the right care support and physiotherapy interventions.
- Treatment
The nature of physical therapy means that treatment will focus on the nature of the patient’s conditions. Appropriate treatment plans are formulated with key care techniques. For an acute sprain, for instance, our treatment takes into account a lot of the past pre-injury status and medical history.
In other cases, the treatment process might initially include elevation, compression, ice, and rest. Regardless of the situation at hand, our intervention processes usually include a reassessment of the patient’s inabilities in mobility such as transferring on/off a bed or chair.
Final Words
Physiotherapy for the elderly is unlike any kind of therapy. It is delicate, detailed, complex, and requires a specialized skill. And that’s where we come in. For therapy tailored to the specific needs of the elderly, get in touch with us today. Let’s keep your loved one in safe hands!
