National Rehabilitation Awareness week occurs each year during September. Many people have heard of rehab, but have no idea about the true scope of these services. Healthcare practitioners that provide rehabilitation can assist individuals in many areas of their lives, including the needs of our senior citizens, and they do so with the utmost respect and compassion. Read on to learn about the importance of rehab and the wide scope of this amazing field:
Why do seniors seek rehabilitation services?
Many seniors require rehabilitation after falls to help heal broken hips, for example. Those with arthritis may attend rehabilitation to work the parts of their bodies that are most troublesome, like the hands and feet. Some seniors may learn how to use a walker to assist in foot and leg pain, while those with hand arthritis may do art therapy to maintain dexterity in their fingers and wrists. Older people who are in memory care may attend weekly rehabilitation to help with speech therapy and provide them with tools to better address their dementia.
What is rehabilitation?
When many people hear the term rehab they think it involves either physical therapy or helping someone stay off drugs and alcohol. In reality, rehabilitation is a wide field that encompasses many other aspects. In fact, this type of healthcare covers cognition and mobility, as well as assisting people after illness, surgery or injury. Rehab is any healthcare assistance that helps people to function at their best. Some people who need rehabilitation return to their previous mobility and cognitive functioning, like those who have knee surgery and need some physical therapy to get moving again. Other individuals go through therapy, like occupational therapy, to help deal with chronic degenerative pain, but may never return to their prior level of functioning.
How can caregivers get involved?
If you have a senior loved one living with you that may benefit from rehabilitation, consider talking with his or her doctor. Physicians can offer contact information for rehabilitation services through practitioners they trust and that work through the senior’s insurance plan. Individuals who reside in senior living communities typically have access to a plethora of rehabilitation resources. Talk with the staff to learn about rehabilitative classes like painting, chair aerobics and even walking groups. Many communities also offer transportation to appointments which can be helpful for individuals who don’t drive or require mobility assistance. Some communities even have in-house rehabilitation services, like visiting therapists or tools to help senior residents who need to do physical therapy exercises at home.
How can you celebrate National Rehabilitation Week?
Take advantage of this recognition week by talking with your senior loved one about potential rehabilitation offerings that he or she may benefit from. It won’t hurt for the senior to try attending a few sessions to see if he or she feels better mentally or physically and wants to continue going. It’s a great idea to run this plan by the senior’s doctor to learn what options are best to try and where to seek rehabilitative services.
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