Submitted by Heritage Health, Chillicothe
Daydreams of warm weather and summer planning encourage us through the frigid, dismal days of winter. Despite its nasty reputation, winter is the perfect time for seniors to knock out surgeries and receive rehabilitative therapy. Procedures that used to require months to heal can now take weeks thanks to improved surgery methods and comprehensive therapy programs.
As with most areas in life, it is better to do therapy right the first time, to fully heal, rather than readmit to a hospital later. Choose a premier senior therapy care provider to put the spring back in your step and take part in beloved warm weather activities.
One characteristic of premier senior therapy providers is comprehensive care. Comprehensive senior care considers the bigger picture of senior health and addresses variables affecting true healing. To make sure they get back on their feet in time for spring, seniors should seek skilled nursing providers that offer an array of therapies — physical, occupational, speech, and cardiac rehabilitative therapy to name a few. This option offers seniors thorough, targeted therapy treatment from multiple disciplines by one interdisciplinary team that works together so patients recover more effectively. By choosing a comprehensive senior therapy care provider, seniors put themselves on the fast track to full recovery and the activities they enjoy most.
Another mark of premier senior therapy care is precise coaching. Leading orthopedic therapy programs demonstrate the power of blending science with compassion. Effective physical therapy programs aim to build strength, develop balance, and improve flexibility all while seniors hear a steady stream of support and encouragement. Licensed therapists use cutting-edge technology to measure variables and assess each patient’s progress in live time; this real-time feedback refines each patient’s personalized program, leading to quicker results. Seniors recovering from a hip replacement or pelvic fracture not only learn to walk again and build their strength, but occupational therapists boost seniors’ confidence with strategies and exercises to do at home on their own. An in-home assessment by therapy professionals can help identify areas of safety and improvement within the home that will allow seniors to return home and live independently again.
Receiving a personalized and tailored therapy program is another important component seniors should consider when seeking therapy services. Every patient has different strengths, weaknesses, and goals in mind. For some it may be regaining the ability to walk 18 holes on the golf course, for someone else to be able to return to dancing. Therapy programs should be designed to ensure each patient builds strength, endurance, and the confidence necessary to help them return to their active lifestyle.
Interdisciplinary care is another factor to consider. A premier therapy program works in conjunction with the nursing staff, pharmaceutical team, dietary department, and other areas to provide holistic care for the patient. This group of professionals working in tandem means seniors receive the medical care, medication oversight, and nutrition support they need while receiving therapy.
As spring draws near, and with it the promise of returning to your favorite activities, consider a rehabilitative therapy program to help get you ready. Don’t spend your days sitting on the sidelines — take the initiative to learn about what a high-caliber therapy program can offer you.
If you would like to learn more about short-term therapy options in your community, please contact Missy Herridge, Community Relations Coordinator for Heritage Health in Chillicothe. Missy can be reached at 309-274-2194 or mherridge@heritageofcare.com. To find other homes in the Heritage family, please visit our website at www.HeritageOfCare.com.