Healthcare for seniors can be challenging. As time goes by, their capabilities might decrease, and their level of care may increase.
Sure, outpatient clinics and nursing centres may help to address these accommodations. But many are also turning to a more convenient and efficient option: home therapy for seniors looking to recover at their own comfort.
Home therapy refers to rehabilitative services that take place in the comfort of their homes. As opposed to a clinic or a centre, the therapist travels to the patient to extend their services and support them in their recovery.
Similar to a session in the clinic, the in-home therapist provides services to:
● Find out your rehabilitative needs through an assessment. This may include some functional tasks as well to determine the severity of your condition
● Design a personalised recovery plan set to your condition and recovery goal
● Recommend modifications that may help you around the home
● Work with your family members or caregivers to manage issues or challenges that may impede your recovery
● In many cases, treatments may involve active exercise or equipment that may be provided during sessions
Home therapy can be just as effective as clinical visits. In fact, a 2016 study found that 44% of long-term care recipients opted for home therapy services, illustrating the growing popularity of convenient healthcare.
There are three main types of home therapy services that seniors can engage in. This includes:
This type of rehabilitation focuses on treating people to develop, maintain or recover their capacity to manage daily living activities. For example, people who need assistance eating, bathing or walking can benefit greatly from an occupational therapist. Aside from treatment, they may suggest alternative methods to perform the task, or assist with strategies on improving the patient’s environment.
Recommended for: People requiring assistance to regain independence with daily living at home and return to work
For seniors who suffer from debilitating conditions such as stroke, speech therapy can be incredibly helpful. Aside from increasing functional communication, speech therapists also work with their patients to retrain oral muscle strength. This helps with drinking and swallowing as well.
Recommended for: People with speech disorders, troubles understanding language, and problems with eating & drinking
Physical therapy focuses on developing mobility and increasing physical capacity. It also helps with improving stability and strength, improving function in all stages of life, and encouraging independence. Through the use of exercises and therapy aids, physiotherapists empower seniors to improve their balance and safety, restore their activity levels, and slow down the functional effects of aging.
Recommended for: People with all types of activity-limiting conditions or recovering from surgery and acute / chronic injuries
Benefits of Home Therapy for Seniors
Many people have found that engaging an in-home therapist can prove to be advantageous. Here are some of the key benefits of engaging home therapy for older patients.
Therapists in busy outpatient clinics may sometimes be overseeing a few cases at the same time. Seniors who opt for in-home therapy get to enjoy more attentive one-on-one care services.
The best part is that it is just as effective, if not more, than clinical treatments. A study found that home-based rehab programs proved to be as effective as care provided in clinics. In fact, some found that in-home plans were more intensive and focused due to the level of personalised care.
This would probably be one of the biggest advantages of home therapy. Besides having to take time off from work, commuting to and from appointments can be a hassle. For seniors with mobility issues, it can also be an additional source of stress. In such cases, home therapy can prove to be the more prudent service.
It is widely agreed that a healing environment is necessary for optimal patient recovery. Seniors may struggle with the clinical environments that tend to be noisy, harsh and confusing. An in-home service can make the process a lot less stressful for them, as they focus more on their own recovery.
Having therapy in the home environment also allows seniors to learn rehabilitation exercises using common household items. This further promotes accessibility and compliance to a home exercise programme.
Rehabilitation isn’t a one-and-done deal—it requires consistency. An in-home therapist will be able to assess and ensure that your environment is more sustainable and risk-free for long-term care and safety.
They would also be able to translate the rehabilitation routine according to the home environment. This makes it more practical and safer for older folks to follow through.
Home therapy can also invite family members and caregivers to lend their support in the recovery process. Those working from home may also find it easier to be part of the care process and stay in the loop with new developments. The additional presence and participation of their loved ones could also be useful in keeping seniors motivated towards improvement.
For elderly patients experiencing limited mobility or chronic medical issues, in-home therapy services may be the best solution. Effective, accessible and functional, it simplifies the recovery process in a familiar environment. At the same time, patients are encouraged towards a higher quality of life by making use of their known environment to be more independent.
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Mr Shirouz Elango
Health Content Coordinator at Rehab & Beyond
All information is accurate at the time of publishing.