Your parents want to age at home. Mobility is one of your main concerns as their house is multiple levels. You might worry about their health after a fall, an illness, or an accident. Can physical therapy help them with their goals? What can you do to help them be successful at spending the rest of their lives in their current home?
Understanding the Different Types of Physical Therapy
In-Home Care Long Island NY – Can Physical Therapy Help With Age at Home Goals?
Most people think of physical therapy as a therapeutic service that’s needed after an illness or injury. It’s designed to help regain full mobility and movement. There are four types of physical therapy and each one can help your parents meet their goal of aging at home.
- Cardiopulmonary (Designed for the heart and lungs)
- Geriatric (Designed for aging bodies)
- Neurological (Designed for the brain and body’s interactions)
- Orthopedic (Designed for bones, joints, ligaments, muscles, and tendons)
If your parent broke a bone during a fall, orthopedic physical therapy may be required to help strengthen the muscles and bones. It may be better to have a geriatric therapist due to the specialized focus on the elderly and pain management for conditions like arthritis.
After a stroke, your mom or dad will need therapy sessions that help restore the signals between the brain and the rest of the body. It helps with movements of the arms and legs, visual skills, and balance. You should ask your mom or dad’s surgeon or doctor for a recommendation.
If your parent didn’t fall or become ill, geriatric physical therapy is best. It doesn’t have to be tied to any particular thing. Your parents may just find that a sedentary lifestyle during most of their adult years has made it hard to get around. A mix of physical therapy to help strengthen bones and muscles and work with a dietitian on a healthier diet may be best.
Arrange the Support They Need at Home
Talk to their doctors about what they need. Physical therapy may not be advised just yet. In-home care may be better. The doctor may suggest that you work with your parents to help them become more active at home.
Support them by joining them on walks. Be supportive and arrange regular outings to nature trails as a family. Make sure exercise programs they undertake are not too strenuous. If there are health issues like high blood pressure or heart disease, the doctor can tell you what activities need to be restricted.
What if their diet needs to change? Hire in-home care aides to cook healthier meals or take them shopping. An in-home care aide can read labels if their vision makes it hard to read the fine print.
In-home care services are easily scheduled. Call our in-home care specialist and talk about your mom and dad. Answer questions and discuss the things they need in order to age at home safely and independently.
