Horizon Care Services provides home care services and coordinates healthcare services such as physical therapy and occupational therapy for their elderly clients.

Physical Therapy

Physical Therapy (PT) is commonly understood to be necessary when recovering from a sports injury, military combat, or car accident. However an older person will often need physical therapy due to an orthopedic dysfunction or a neurological impairment. Physical therapy is needed when recovering from numerous conditions such as a stroke, a fall, hip surgery, or diabetic amputation.

The goal of physical therapy is to provide a continuum of care for patients as they progress from inpatient to outpatient settings. Physical therapy helps patients transition smoothly through the rehabilitation process. Helping patients and families understand the impairments and the rehabilitation process enhances their ability to maximize potential and return to independent living.

Geriatrics is a rapidly growing specialty area in the physical therapy field, which is often overlooked by the general public. Geriatric PT covers a wide area of health problems experienced by the older adult, whether orthopedic problems, cardiovascular and pulmonary diseases, or neurological disorders. These may include but are not limited to hip and joint replacement, osteoporosis, arthritis, balance disorders, incontinence, Parkinson’s disease, stroke, Alzheimer’s disease, and more.

Geriatric physical therapy helps elderly adults who are affected by such problems develop a specialized program to help restore mobility, reduce pain, increase fitness levels, and more.

Occupational Therapy

Occupational therapy (OT) may be confused with the common understanding of “occupation,” leading one to mistakenly believe it pertains only to a person’s employment related occupation. Occupational therapy is far more encompassing than that. The actual definition of occupational therapy is therapy through activity: the use of regular periods of suitable productive activity as part of the treatment of illness or medical condition.

Occupational therapy uses various educational, vocational, and rehabilitative activities to help individuals achieve independence in all facets of life.

Geriatric occupational therapy focuses on helping elderly people do all of the activities of daily living (ADL) that have become difficult or impossible for them to do because of aging, diseases, disorders, or disabilities. Occupational therapy may also help seniors improve their ability to work, enjoy leisure time, and participate in social activities, depending on their interests and capabilities.

The goal of geriatric occupational therapy is to assist elderly people to fulfill their roles (occupations) in their home and community and to help them improve the way they function. Improved functioning will enhance their dignity and the quality of their lives.

Occupational therapy focuses on ADLs and aims to help elderly people regain enough function to continue living at home or independently as much as possible.

• Basic ADLs (BADLs) include eating, dressing, bathing, grooming, toileting, and transferring (moving between surfaces such as the bed, chair, and bathtub or shower).
• Instrumental ADLs (IADLs) require more complex cognitive function than Basic ADLs. IADLs include preparing a meal, talking on the phone, writing, using a computer, managing finances, properly taking medication, cleaning, doing laundry, and more.

Occupational therapy may also help elderly adults with more complex activities. OT may teach strategies that enable older persons to continue leisure social activities, reducing the risk of isolation and its negative consequences. Occupational therapy may also help an older person continue to learn and to keep the mind active. This may help improve feelings of self-worth as well as promote mental clarity.

Occupational therapy and physical therapy provide valuable strategies and care that improves the quality of life for many seniors.

Horizon Care Services will assist you in finding and coordinating these services when needed.