Physical therapy may be required for an elderly individual who has suffered a stroke, heart attack, has had surgery, broke their hip or other major bone in the body, or for a variety of other reasons. The individual might not require elderly care beyond the scope of physical therapy, but there are things you should consider with regard to physical therapy when it comes to your loved one.
September 8 is World Physical Therapy Day and this aspect of medical care is crucial for millions of people to making a full recovery from a variety of ailments and surgeries.
For the aging individual, physical therapy is often considered crucial after some of the aforementioned health issues or concerns or emergencies. A person who has suffered from a stroke, even if it is a mild one, may require some type of physical therapy to help him or her reuse some muscles in the body.
The individual may have lost the ability to speak and may require speech therapy. They may have trouble gripping a pen with their writing hand. They may struggle to walk for some time. If the doctor has noted that they should make a total or near total recovery, the more they invest in physical therapy, the better it is going to be for them in the long run.
If the patient fell and broke their hip, then physical therapy is going to be vital in helping them regain the strength in their legs that will allow them to walk again. In many cases, a patient who broke their hip after a fall will spend some time in the hospital and then will likely be discharged to a nursing home to continue intense physical therapy there. However, this might only last for a week or two before they are discharged home. At that point, having a physical therapist for several more weeks or even months will be important.
Depending on the patient and his or her condition as well as other factors, they may be required to go to a physical therapist. Some physical therapists will come to their patients’ homes to assist them in a comfortable environment.
No matter why an elderly individual requires physical therapy, it is important that they follow through to the end. If there are concerns about other health issues with regard to the activities or physical strain that they are being put through, they should speak to their primary care physician as soon as possible.
When it comes to elderly care and physical therapy, most physical therapists are well-trained to understand where to draw the line and limit strenuous activities for seniors.
If you or an aging loved one are considering home health care services in Pennsylvania, call the caring staff at Extended Family Care of PA.
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