Group Help: 5 Professionals That Assist with Physical Limitation

For those with physical limitations, it is not enough just to have a family physician. A team of medical professionals is required to maintain the best quality of life or to see improvements in these limitations. Whether the initial cause was a traumatic accident, a chronic or congenital condition, or another situation, they need a treatment team to manage the different facets of their condition.

 

 

Who makes up this group?

Many are therapists of various types. Others are from disparate backgrounds. All of them can be necessary, depending on a patient’s individual situation.

Physical Therapists

Physical therapists concentrate on physical well-being and health. They provide rehabilitation, composed primarily of guided exercises to strengthen limbs or prevent loss of muscle mass in those confined to wheelchairs. To become a physical therapist, a post-graduate degree is typically required, along with certification, usually at the state level.

 

Occupational Therapist

Similar to physical therapy, occupational therapy is more goal-oriented. The primary motivation is to give patients the ability to do things for themselves, including everyday activities that may be difficult for them. Becoming an occupational therapist requires a graduate degree, like those offered through the OTD graduate programs, found at RMUoHP.com, along with state-level certification.

 

Home Care Aides

For those who cannot do many common household tasks without assistance, home health care aides provide that assistance, along with monitoring medication or vital signs. Primarily, they assist with chores, like cleaning and cooking, along with helping with dressing or bathing, for those who can’t do it alone. They can also drive them to appointments. Home health cares aids typically do not require any special education; however, certification is sometimes required.

 

Medical Social Worker

These are specialized social workers who assist patients with managing their affairs, including help finding financial assistance, understanding benefits information, and helping maintain quality of life for those patients without family to assist them. Most social workers have a bachelor’s degree, but having a master’s degree can be helpful as well. Licensing varies by state.

 

Counseling Psychologist

For those who are emotionally affected by their condition, counseling psychologists can give them a person they can talk to about their feelings and explore how to adapt to their limitations and future prospects. Counseling psychologists typically have a graduate degree in their field and are licensed by the state where they practice.

 

It takes a lot of people to provide quality care to patients with physical limitations. This team can determine the quality of life for someone who depends on their advice, instruction, and therapeutic methods, and make a genuine difference in their potential recovery and future.

Categories: care aides, counseling psychologists, graduate degree, home health, limitation, occupational therapist, physical, physical limitations, physical therapists, Professionals

Ways to Care for a Loved One with Dementia

Importance of Dementia Care

Individuals with dementia require specialized care as their condition progresses. The condition of dementia affects various cognitive abilities of the brain. The usual cause of dementia is ageing. However, diseases and injuries can also lead to progressive or static loss of cognitive functions in younger individuals. Each individual diagnosed with this condition has a different set and progression of symptoms. A person with dementia may eventually require full-time care at home or in a specialized facility.

Creating a Care Plan

Caregivers with health care training must develop a unique plan for each patient with dementia. Most individuals diagnosed with loss of cognitive abilities due to ageing are over the age of 65. As the world’s population is ageing, more individuals will be diagnosed with a dementia condition. In addition to dementia, an elderly individual may have physical health conditions such as arthritis, heart disease, diabetes and others. While caring for a senior with dementia, the additional conditions also require specialized medications and treatments.

Difficulties Caused by Dementia

An individual with this condition can have difficulties with solving problems, loss of language, attention span or memory. The condition progresses differently with each patient requiring careful monitoring of symptoms. Any care decisions must be discussed with the loved one first to maintain their dignity. While making lifestyle changes an individual should be seeking medical attention. New medications and treatments are useful for various types of dementia and can delay loss of mental functioning. Many dementia patients also develop anxiety or depression that requires treatment.

Help From Family

In the early stages of the dementia condition, an elderly person is often able to continue normal activities with assistance from caregivers. Family members can share in the task of caring for an individual with this condition while they remain in the home. Setting up a schedule with phone calls and home visits by family members is helpful in making sure the loved one is safe. In addition, many religious institutions provide volunteers who are eager to help the elderly in their communities. Various private and government agencies have also developed programs to assist with caring for the ageing population.

Home Care for Dementia Patients

Remaining in familiar surroundings is essential for individuals with dementia during the early stages of the condition. Stress from moving to new locations can actually cause an increase in loss of mental functions. A senior’s home is safer with a few simple changes to the physical characteristics of the home. Installing safety devices in the bathrooms such as grab bars, electrical outlet covers and slip proof flooring can prevent falling injuries. Increased lighting inside and outside the house also helps a senior to walk safely from location to location.

Home Health Assistance

The individual with dementia should begin making plans for their future care before losing the mental capacity to make decisions. Hiring a home health worker to visit every day or live in your loved one’s house can be a great plan. A trained professional caregiver can assist with tasks such as bathing, household chores and preparing nutritious meals. Alternatively, an individual could spend time each day in a specialized day care facility designed for dementia patients. As the dementia condition progresses, a loved one may move to an assisted living home full-time.

 

Nisha has been writing about elderly and dementia care for the last few years now. She enjoys reading health articles from http://mha.org.uk and other dementia and care home resources.

Categories: cognitive abilities, condition progresses, Dementia, dementia condition, dementia patients, Early Stages, emotional, family members, home health, Mental Health, require specialized