I am hoping to find a trained person to come into my mother's home on a regular basis and guide her thru an exercised routine right for her...including some aerobic exercise, strength training, and balance and flexibility. She is willing to exercise but lacks the motivation to go to a gym or senior exercise program at the senior center and she lacks the motivation to exercise on her own. The ideal is for someone to show up every other day and help her thru a routine right for her. How do I find such a person?
We've used a therapy company we discovered at a local senior health expo, after discussing with them what our goals were and what Dad wanted from therapy. We were pleased with their therapy but I wasn't satisfied with their intransigent attitude toward representations originally made at the health expo.
You can make a list of your goals for your mother, call different local companies, and ask what types of exercises they would give to achieve them. Some therapists use a very standard variety with little variation and the routines get boring.
Remember that Medicare has a limit on in-home PT - either $1800 or $1900 worth, although I'm not certain about the exact amount. Sometimes physicians will certify that a patient needs continued therapy and Medicare will pay for it.
But I wouldn't go to a gym. From what I've seen in this area, they're oriented toward younger people who really want to push themselves. I've never felt comfortable in the few I've been in.
The physical therapy facilities (different ball game entirely) offer better therapy and have other patients who are physician referred. The atmosphere is much different.
It's just occurred to me also that some physicians have PT in their offices. The facilities and machines are typically limited, but it is a more private setting than a physical therapy facility. Our orthopaedic doctor and a rehab specialist both have in-office PT. I had that for a rotator cuff tear and it was excellent. Generally there was one other patient there but otherwise it was private. But I did have to go to the office for PT.
Hope you find a good therapist that your mother likes.
It's occurred to me that if your mother was willing to try PT at a physical therapy facility that she would have the benefit of heat and cold therapy as well, which would help any aches and pains she might develop.
were trying to get the cost out of medicine so rehab therapists are beginning to visit in home as opposed to condensed courses in hospital..