“Use it or lose it” is a well-known expression when it comes to mobility and ageing. Maintaining our mobility and function as we age in place supports our physical and mental wellbeing. If your movement maintenance could do with a little improvement and support, then a physiotherapist might just be what the doctor ordered.
Physiotherapy is an allied health profession that can help you get the most out of life. They help you recover from an injury, reduce pain and stiffness, increase mobility, and help prevent further injury. They listen to your needs to create a tailored treatment specific to your condition, age, and abilities either in a clinical setting, aged care setting or via in-home health care. Physiotherapists, my aged care providers, and in-home care services often work as part of a team to plan and manage treatment for a specific condition or to support daily function and movement.
Physios are great at listening to your needs and helping you understand the best way to get moving again after a significant life event like a stroke, injury, or fall. These sorts of events impact our lives in many more ways than just at the site of the problem. An injury can leave us unable to get out socially and interact with loved ones in the same way, or attend regular events including church services, or sports clubs. Day to day activities we enjoy that support our mental health like gardening, walking, or even crafting can be impacted, as well as our basic functional needs such as dressing and showering. As well as help from Home Care Assistance, involving a physio in our recovery not only helps to improve our physical selves but can bring back our confidence. This can help create a more positive frame of mind, getting us involved in the activities we love sooner and for longer.
However, physiotherapy is not all about treatment following an acute event. Amazingly in Australia, life expectancy currently sits at an average of 82.8 years1 and, as we age, we are all aware that various parts of our body tend not to work as well as they once did. However, this doesn’t mean we can’t still lead healthy and active lives. Involving a physio in your in-home care plan or overall aged care plan is a fantastic way to support general body mobility, maintain strength, suppleness and keep you living independently at home for longer. A physiotherapist can advise on a range of treatment modalities to prevent deterioration, restore function and activity levels, keeping you happier and moving freely, whilst ageing in place.
Though your physio can’t be with you every day, your in-home care worker can. In-home health care and aged care services work together with your physio to keep your home physio program on track by being your accountability partner. They are great motivators but can also offer physical support to enable you to gradually increase your activity levels and work through planned exercises given by the physio. If attending groups is a better way for you to maintain your mobility, physio’s also run exercise groups such as clinical Pilates, tailored to seniors. In-home care services can keep you on track with your attendance providing transportation to your classes, ensuring you never miss a session.
Not all physiotherapists specialise in aged care or care in the home. So, finding the right physio for you and your needs is also something your in-home health care or aged care service can help with. At Home Care Assistance, we have a great team of physiotherapists we work closely with who provide both in-home health care services as well as local group sessions that we can help you attend. Our specially trained in-home care teams can provide an initial assessment of your movement and mobility needs and help you find the right physio to work alongside to keep you enjoying the level of activity that is right for you and your overall wellbeing. Additionally, the Australian Physiotherapy Association has a suburb-based search function on their website to help you ‘find a physio’ near you, and you can filter by area of specialty – choose ‘gerontology’ for a physio that specialises in support for seniors. Another great resource is the My Aged Care Service Finder which lists the My Aged Care providers of physiotherapy services.
Partnering up with a physiotherapist sooner rather than later is a great way to help prevent many of the debilitating effects of ageing. Whether its lawn bowls, dancing, gardening, or even playing with the grandkids, an aged care physio can help you keep up with the activities you never want to have to give up. Ageing in place doesn’t have to mean “slowing down” when you have an aged care physiotherapist and great in-home health care. Get in touch with Home Care Assistance today and chat through your needs to be your best physical self and get the most out of every day.
Resources:
[1] https://www.aihw.gov.au/reports/life-expectancy-death/deaths-in-australia/contents/life-expectancy
