In-Home Therapy for the Elderly in Connecticut

When people experience an injury, a doctor might prescribe a form of physical therapy. Physical therapy improves recovery from an illness. It helps them return to functioning before the accident or surgery. For elderly people, even minor injuries or illnesses can result in the need for therapy. Traditionally, physical, occupational, and speech therapy happen at a therapist’s office. Or, they might take place in a hospital or a nursing home. But, another option is home therapy. This can help elderly people regain physical, occupational, and speech functions. So, if you are considering in-home therapy for your loved one, consider these facts.
If your loved one has a short-term injury, home therapy with family or a private therapist might work. Also consider that there are three main types of therapy that your loved one can receive at home.

Physical Therapy

Physical therapy promotes a healthy lifestyle by speeding injury recovery. The goal of physical therapy is to help someone regain function in an injured body part due to issues such as:

• Loss of balance.
• Joint pain.
• Hip replacement surgery.
• Knee replacement surgery.
• A stroke or heart attack.
• Difficulty walking.
• Any type of surgery.
• A fall.
• Decline in bodily function.
• Pain in back.

Occupational Therapy

This type of therapy is like physical therapy in that it deals with physical ailments. Occupational therapy’s main focus is helping an injured individual return to performing everyday tasks. In addition, this form of therapy seeks to help these people regain their independence. This is achieved by promoting their physical, social, and psychological wellbeing.
A physician should recommend occupational therapy for your loved one. Also, a therapist will customize a therapy plan based on your loved one’s needs. The therapist will help them get back to performing everyday tasks on their own. Such tasks include:

• Cooking.
• Cleaning.
• Getting dressed.
• Bathing.
• Driving.
• Relieving pain in joints.

Occupational therapy is helpful to do in the home. It shows the individual how to perform tasks in their own home, instead of at a therapist’s office. This can make the therapy applicable to the individual’s everyday life.

Speech Therapy

Elderly people sometimes face speech difficulties. These can result from strokes, heart attacks, and other medical issues. Speech therapy helps people improve speaking, breathing, and ability to swallow food. If your loved one has these problems, sessions with a speech therapist can improve the issues.

Why In-Home Therapy?

One benefit of in-home therapy is that a therapist can come to your loved one. If you have a busy schedule, it might be hard to bring your loved one to regular appointments. If this is the case, in-home therapy might be the best way to manage therapy. When a therapist is coming to your loved one, there is no excuse for them to skip sessions. Also, in-home therapy allows therapy without the help of expensive machines. This means that your loved one will learn to do the therapy on their own.

Therapy and Abuse

Your loved one might find that they are uncomfortable with the therapy. Oftentimes, physical therapy can be painful because it involves strengthening muscles. Communicate with your loved one and differentiate normal therapy pain from abuse.
If you want to hire a therapist to work with your loved one at home, make sure the therapist is qualified. Also, it will help if the therapist has experience working with elderly people. Be sure to communicate with your loved one about how the therapy is going.