Physical Therapy for Older Adults

A physical therapist’s goal is to help their patients recover from injuries or surgery and improve their functional mobility. But for older adults, some treatments can be ineffective and even hinder the rehabilitation process.

Physical therapy, Speech Therapy, and Occupational Therapy: Learn the different types of geriatric rehabilitation services available, where they occur, and what exercises are used to help improve a senior's functional abilities.

There are three main types of rehabilitative therapy for elderly people: physical therapy, occupational therapy and speech therapy.

When a senior needs extra help recovering from a surgery or hospital stay, choosing the right rehabilitative care ensures your loved one has the best chances of regaining their health and independence.

After being hospitalized seniors are often prescribed a stay at an inpatient rehabilitation facility to help them get back on their feet. While the focus of their stay is rehabilitation, the services provided by a skilled nursing facility are not limited to therapy.

The wrong mobility aid can negatively affect a senior’s stability, cause posture problems and even result in pain. These devices come in all shapes and sizes, so selecting the right one and achieving a proper fit requires a professional’s expertise.

Stroke recovery can be especially daunting for family caregivers and can cause high levels of emotional and physical stress for both the stroke survivor and their caregiver. Use these expert care tips during the recovery and rehabilitation process.

When a senior must go to a skilled nursing facility for rehabilitation after a hospital stay, it’s important for family members to understand this care transition, the new care plan and the rehab facility’s discharge criteria.

Seniors who undergo an intensive rehabilitation following knee or hip replacement surgery may experience a three-fold increase in their mobility.

A hospital stay can seriously affect a senior’s health and independence. Understanding the common issues that occur during care transitions will help you and your loved one know what to expect and ensure the discharge process goes as smoothly as possible.

You've found a surgeon you trust, scheduled the procedure, and figured out which senior rehabilitation center your loved one will be staying in, but are you prepared for what comes after the surgery?

A broken hip, hip injury or hip replacement in the elderly can be very painful and problematic. Both occupational therapy and physical therapy services will likely be necessary to reduce pain, maximize mobility and improve quality of life.

Learn what hip replacement surgery involves and what you can do to aid in hip replacement recovery and rehabilitation.

Learn how PT, speech and language therapy, and occupational therapy can help people living with dementia maintain their functional abilities, independence and quality of life.

Understanding the differences between inpatient senior rehabilitation and outpatient rehab services will help you avoid headaches when trying to find the best rehabilitation center for an elderly loved one.

Arthritis, poor circulation, neuropathy, gout and plantar fasciitis can cause seniors to experience foot pain and discomfort. Experienced caregivers share their tips for managing foot pain, which can improve a senior’s mobility and quality of life.

Muscle cramps in the feet and legs can be very painful and typically become more common with age. Experienced family caregivers share their tips for preventing and relieving cramps and muscle spasms in elderly loved ones.

The AgingCare.com forum is filled with people coming together to share valuable information. We’ve compiled experienced caregivers’ best suggestions for using diet and physical activity to alleviate joint pain and stiffness.

Many surgeries require some type of post-operative care and physical therapy, sometimes even in a specialized rehabilitation facility. The prehabilitation process focuses on helping patients go into surgery in the healthiest possible state to aid in healing and minimize their recovery time. Improvements in diet, exercise, and mental health can make a world of difference in a patient's recovery following a joint replacement, cancer treatment and other intensive procedures.

Charlie doesn't want to go to the doctor anymore and he refuses to do his rehab. When is it time to stop medical intervention and just try to make our loved ones are as happy and comfortable as possible?