All Seniors Can Benefit From Occupational Therapy
Seniors who are aging in place are usually looking for things they can do to protect their health, improve their mobility, and ensure that they will be able to continue living at home as they get older. While there are lots of things that seniors can do to stay healthy as they get older, one of the things that all seniors should consider doing is occupational therapy. Occupational therapy is a type of therapy that can be done at home and emphasizes simple movements. But those simple movements have big benefits like:
Improving Mobility
One of the biggest benefits of occupational therapy is that it can help seniors stay mobile. The simple exercises done as part of the occupational therapy program help seniors stay limber, flexible, and able to get around more easily. Seniors will be able to walk, stand up, sit down, get in and out of bed, and move their bodies more easily when they are participating in occupational therapy. Seniors should find an occupational therapist near them to learn more about how to start occupational therapy at home.
Keeping Seniors Independent
To remain independent and live at home where they want to live, seniors need to be able to perform a variety of tasks that can be more difficult for seniors to do when they get older. Things like opening drawers, picking up dishes or glasses, being able to bend down and straighten up, being able to grip the laundry basket, or turning the knob on the door are all small movements that most people don’t think about. But those movements are ones that seniors will need to be able to perform if they are going to stay alone in their own homes as they age.
Helping Seniors Retain Cognitive Skills
All seniors should be worrying about their cognitive skills, not just seniors with Alzheimer’s. Although it is more important for seniors with Alzheimer’s to get occupational therapy to help maintain their cognitive skills it’s important for seniors without an Alzheimer’s diagnosis too. Being able to do those things will help seniors hang on to their independence and stay in their own homes as they get older. The longer seniors can retain their cognitive skills the happier they will be.
Preventing Falls
Occupational therapy can help prevent falls by seniors. Occupational therapy doesn’t stop falls completely, but it can lower the risk of your senior loved one falling and being hurt at home. When seniors have occupational therapy that encourages them to walk and use their muscles, they are more likely to stay mobile and have better balance. This can help your senior avoid falls at home. Your senior parent won’t be shuffling down the hallway increasing the chances that they will slip and fall. Instead, they will be picking their feet up to take proper steps. And instead of being unable to walk down the hall if they wake up in the middle of the night, they will be strong enough to get out of bed and walk safely down the hall.
If you or an aging loved one are considering hiring Occupational Therapy in Warren County, VA, please contact the caring staff at LivinRite Home Care. Serving Northern Virginia, The Valley, and Surrounding Communities – call us today at (703) 369-6677
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