Occupational Therapy – Getting You Back Better Than Ever
Many older adults may hear the term occupational therapy and say, “What do I need that for? I don’t have a job.”
Not so fast — Occupational Therapy has become increasingly important to a senior’s vitality and well-being. It’s a complete game changer when it comes to enhancing their well-being and getting them back to feeling better than ever.
Live Strong Again With Occupational Therapy
As you age, you want to be able to maintain both an adequate level of autonomy and the ability to perform activities of daily living on your own.
Occupational therapy exercises for seniors focus on activities that allow you to maintain independence and help you overcome physical, mental or social problems as a result of a disability or aging.
Physical Therapy vs. Occupational Therapy? What’s the difference?
Within your plan of care, your doctor may recommend both physical and occupational therapy. An easy way to remember the difference is that occupational therapy (OT) is about the technical execution of daily activities. It tends to be more focused on improving life skills and involves adaptive tools that lead to a better quality of life.
Physical therapy (PT) typically helps to improve mobility and is more likely to only treat the physical source of the injury: damaged tissues, muscle, and structure.
When a physical therapist treats an older adult with a broken arm, their main goal will be to restore full mobility to the hands and elbow.
But, an occupational therapist will help that person relearn how to eat using utensils and comb their hair.
There’s an obvious synergy between the two therapies, and it’s no wonder they are often presented hand-in-hand.
Overcoming Daily Challenges
Let’s face it … everyday tasks that were once easy and completed with little or no thought, have now become quite challenging. And what’s worse, you feel the need to constantly depend on others for help.
Occupational therapy can help compensate for the hurdles you face each day. From dressing and feeding yourself, to home management or participating in social activities, OT can bring back your sense of confidence and independence.
Preventing Falls
Did you know that one in four older Americans fall every year?
Falls are the leading cause of both fatal and nonfatal injuries for people aged 65 and over. As we age, most of us lose some coordination, flexibility, and balance — primarily through inactivity, making it easier to fall.
When you or a loved one have experienced a fall, you’ll find just why occupational therapy is so essential. Our OT specialists help seniors with problem-solving strategies so they can stay active.
Modifying Your Home For Better Care
Occupational therapists make your life a lot simpler with convenient devices like built-up eating utensils, semi-automatic cutting boards, and more. Plus, OTs can help you acquire devices like a bathtub bench to make things easier.
The occupational therapists at Elmhurst Extended Care Center truly care about your longevity – even after you’ve left our facility. We’ll help you learn how to optimize your home to promote full participation in all activities of daily life so you can thrive.
Let EECC’s Occupational Therapy Specialists Lead You To A Healthier Life
Our OT specialists are on-staff to assist you or your loved one to gaining more independence, a new lease on life and a healthier outlook.
Even simple occupational therapy exercises done daily can improve function and help you get back to feeling better than ever.
Some of these include:
- Relaxation Exercises
- Range-of-Motion Exercises
- Memory Exercises
- Fine Motor Activities
- Functional Strengthening
Wherever you are in your journey, our job is to help you feel the very best. Trust Elmhurst Extended Care Center to provide you with the care you deserve.
Hear how our short term rehabilitation program helped Anne after a fall that broke her hip.