Crucial Questions To Ask About Inpatient Physical Therapy For Your Parent After A Stroke, Heart Attack Or Serious Injury
If you have ever needed physical therapy after an injury or illness, it is easy to assume that your parent's route to recovery after a stroke or other significant health concern will be similar. However, the truth is that due to the other health problems that many senior citizens are prone to or the medications they may take, physical therapy for older persons often presents with new challenges. Therefore, in order to have a better understanding of the situation and to provide a better result to your parent, it's best to ask the following questions of any facility that may provide them with inpatient physical therapy after a serious health issue has been diagnosed.
Which Other Type Of Therapies Are Available?
It is important to note that the majority of older persons who have experienced a stroke, heart attack or similar calamitous health event require additional recovery assistance than just physical therapy, which is also known as PT. For instance, occupational therapy is often necessary when skill sets and abilities have been compromised, while PT works to restore the necessary strength. Common examples of occupational therapy, or OT, for senior citizens can include re-training a stroke patient to drive and how to compensate for permanent impairments.
Speech therapy is also a common need, especially after a stroke and cognitive therapy can be provided for persons suffering from memory issues, including dementia. In general, a well-rounded facility will have the ability to provide all of the aforementioned services, even if your mom or dad does not need that service at this time.
What Is The Personalized Recovery Plan For Your Parent?
Unfortunately, the health issues that often accompany or follow serious health challenges for seniors can be life-threatening and life-changing. For instance, a stroke victim who does not get adequate and appropriate PT or OT can often walk with a limp for the rest of their lives. The same is true of someone with a broken hip, while similar injuries can reduce a person's ability to get out of bed without assistance. Since bed-bound persons are more prone to new health problems and earlier deaths, it's essential to be sure that your parent receives enough time to recover during their unique stay.
While 100 days of inpatient care is a common number for Medicare and private insurance policies to pay for after seniors experience a serious issue, a plan for your parent's recovery needs to be created to their specific needs. Therefore, you will want to know how many hours out of each day will be devoted to specific therapies. In addition, many patients don't choose to participate as they should to their recovery and responsible facilities should be able to explain how they encourage that participation in stubborn or reluctant residents.
In conclusion, many senior citizens experience life-threatening experiences such as broken hips, heart attack or strokes every year. Since those challenges can complicate existing health challenges and result in a reduced quality of life, adequate and timely physical therapy is essential. Therefore, it is a good idea to ask the above questions of any long-term care facility that they might temporarily reside at while accessing that assistance.