In-home care is a great way for seniors to continue living their lives safely and comfortably in the comfort of their own homes, however, at home physical therapy for seniors can make in-home care even better, improving seniors’ quality of life and emotional well-being.
A home care agency in Philadelphia can provide one-on-one care and tailored treatment plans to promote independence and rehabilitation for seniors while working with physical therapists to improve a senior’s mobility and quality of life.
Introduction to Physical Therapy
Physical therapy is a combination of exercises, stretches, and treatments aimed at mobility improvement, pain management, and promoting functional independence. Sometimes, physical therapy is recommended by a doctor after an injury or surgery to improve recovery outcomes while long-term physical therapy is an ongoing treatment plan aimed at chronic condition management, such as osteoporosis, improving overall mobility, and enhancing quality of life.
Benefits and Goals
Physical therapy’s main goal is to help a person restore or improve their ability to move and function so they can complete their daily living tasks and goals. Some of the benefits gained from physical therapy include:
- Improved Mobility – physical therapy can help individuals regain or maintain their ability to move and do things.
- Reduced Pain – exercises and physical therapy techniques can improve joint mobility and reduce pain.
- Increased Strength and Endurance – strength exercises help promote muscle strengthening, while cardiovascular exercises can improve a person’s endurance, making daily tasks easier to accomplish.
- Improved Balance and Coordination – physical therapy can improve balance and coordination, helping with injury and fall prevention.
- Enhanced Quality of Life – by improving function, mobility, and pain management, an individual can improve their quality of life including their cognitive health through stress reduction.
- Rehabilitation from Surgery – post-surgical recovery can be assisted through physical therapy by helping individuals regain their strength, mobility, and balance.
Role of Physical Therapists
Physical therapists play an important role in a patient’s recovery, whether it be through in home physical therapy or at their office. Physical therapists assess their patients’ condition such as their range of motion, paint tolerance, and strength, to design a personalized rehabilitation plan. The physical therapist then works with the patient on functional exercises, stretches, and manual therapy to improve their condition.
A physical therapist also works to empower a patient through motivation while ensuring patient comfort and exercise adherence including helping a senior find appropriate activities for elderly people. Physical therapists also often collaborate with other health professionals to improve a person’s overall condition.
Creating a Safe Environment
The home environment may not seem like the best place for physical therapy; however, in-home physical therapy can be great for many people. First, home safety assessments will need to be conducted to determine the best place to conduct physical therapy and if there needs to be any home modifications that need to be made to create a safe environment. Once modifications are made and adaptive equipment installed, the home should be a safe environment for physical therapy.
Exercises and Treatments
A physical therapist will be able to help you with home exercise programs and treatments. Some of the most common exercises and treatments include:
- Strength Training – this can be accomplished through the use of weights, resistance bands, or body weights and can increase strength and improve mental health care for older adults.
- Range of Motion Exercises – these exercises are designed to improve flexibility and movement in the joints and includes stretches.
- Gait Training – these exercises focus on walking patterns and stability, often through the use of walkers or braces.
- Balance Training – balance exercises are aimed at improving balance and body awareness often done while standing on one leg.
- Manual Therapy – this is when a physical therapist uses their hands to mobilize joints, tissue, and muscles to improve range of motion.
Finding the Right Therapist
Finding the right therapist is important and you want to focus on their credentials, education, experience, and specialization as to how it pertains to your need such as one that deals with neurological disorders. You will also want to be sure to find one that has in-home therapy experience and who will provide personalized care. You may also want to consider family involvement in picking a therapist who accepts Medicare coverage or insurance coverage for physical therapy at home cost-effectiveness.
Caregiver Involvement
Caregiver support can be an essential aspect of in-home physical therapy. Caregivers can monitor progress and give information to the therapist. Additionally, they participate in therapy sessions, motivating the patient during the session and learn techniques from the therapist to assist in the patient’s recovery.
Furthermore, home therapy services may recommend additional exercise, and caregivers can assist with exercise adherence. This is one of the benefits of living with elderly parents if you are a caregiver.
Overcoming Challenges
As we age, doing our daily tasks can become more difficult. Physical therapy at home with the assistance of a caregiver can help seniors overcome challenges.
Whether it be appearing for telehealth appointments or assisting with home health services such as physical therapy, a caregiver can provide benefits over self-managed care so aging in place is easier.
Improve Quality of Life for Seniors—Start Home-Based Therapy Now!
New Beginnings Home Care provides exceptional senior care services and are happy to work with you or your family for private physical therapy at home.
Having an in-home caregiver and a physical therapist can substantially improve a senior’s quality of life and help them do things that maybe they thought they couldn’t anymore. Contact New Beginnings today to find out more.