In the ever-changing world of senior care, a growing trend has risen recently. This trend aims to improve the quality of life for seniors while also reducing the need for extended stays in Skilled Nursing Rehabilitation (SNF) facilities. The rise of offering 5-days-a-week therapy on-premise in senior living communities has proven to be a game-changer for seniors. It has helped them maintain and regain their independence, reduce hospital readmissions, and stay in the comfort of their communities for longer periods.
Therapy services in senior living communities aim to drastically reduce the need for outside rehabilitation by stopping function decline, preserving independence, and preventing further decline. Other advantages of therapy include early intervention, personalized care, and maintaining mobility. Regular therapy sessions provide a general improvement in life and engagement in activities, thereby providing independence and satisfaction with the added benefit of a residential setting.
A large factor in this change is the growing emphasis on providing therapy services directly within senior living communities. This helps seniors maintain and build mobility skills, which in turn helps them reduce their risk of injury and recover from any injuries they have.
This innovative approach involves offering regular therapy sessions five days a week. Seniors are provided with the consistent support they need to recover from illness or injury from the comfort of their homes.
Things To Know and Benefits of Senior Living Therapy Services:
• Early intervention: On-site therapy services can identify and treat potential issues and allow for early intervention.
• Personalized care: Treatment plans are tailored to the needs of the individual.
• Maintaining mobility: Physical therapy maintains muscle strength, balance, and range of motion, which reduces the risk of falls and injuries related to falls.
• Cognitive stimulation: Occupational therapy maintains memory, problem-solving, and executive function.
• Quality of life: Symptomatic improvement through regular therapy sessions enhances overall well-being and participation in daily activities.
• Types of therapy offered: Physical therapy, occupational therapy, and speech therapy.
The Benefits of Therapy in Senior Living
- Consistency and Frequency Lead to Better Outcomes
Traditional therapy services, like those provided in Skilled Nursing Rehab stays, often involve less frequent and less intense sessions of an hour a day for three to five days a week. On the other hand, therapy at senior living facilities helps ensure a more consistent and regular approach toward rehabilitation. By offering therapy every weekday, seniors can make greater progress in a shorter period. Regular physical, occupational, and speech therapy can help seniors regain strength, improve mobility, and increase independence while maintaining their social connections and routines within their community.
- Reduction in Hospital Readmissions and Long-Term Rehab Stays
A significant benefit of on-site therapy is the elimination or significant reduction in hospital readmission rates and reduced rehab days: a large percentage of seniors cannot or do not like adjusting to an alien rehab environment outside of familiar surroundings. In such a way, therapy within the senior living community allows caregivers and therapists to closely monitor progress, make real-time adjustments, and quickly address any setbacks before they require more intensive care and intervention. This can be seen as a form of preventative medicine, considering its proactive nature to senior care.
- Convenience and Comfort for Seniors
The comfort of receiving therapy services in a familiar setting may make all the difference as seniors recover. Being among the things they love and know; their community helps motivate them in their journey of recovery and to work hard at their therapy. Skilled nursing facilities or rehab hospitals can be overwhelming and often feel sterile, lacking the homeyness that would be felt in their own spaces. Therapy within a senior living community allows residents to stay in a familiar place with their community where they feel at ease and supported by staff members they know and trust. This can be advantageous for the emotional and mental well-being of the seniors during their recovery process.
- Personalized, Tailored Care Plans
Another advantage of on-premises therapy is the possibility of developing individualized care plans based on the needs of each resident. In senior living communities, therapists can work with other caregivers and health professionals to design a program that is tailored to the personal goals, abilities, and limitations of the resident. Be it to help a senior recover the strength to walk again, enhance their ability towards being able to bathe and dress independently, or improve clarity in speech patterns resulting from a stroke, services about therapy can be tailored and hence will accelerate the recovery speed proportionately.
- Cost-Effectiveness
Another factor driving the shift towards therapy within a senior living community is cost-effectiveness. It is costly to keep patients in Skilled Nursing Rehab, and the expenses start adding up quickly for seniors and their families. Performing the therapy right at the senior living community site decreases the need for more intensive care options, reducing healthcare costs overall.
As there have been more advancements in technology and innovations in healthcare, there is a greater need for appropriate solutions in senior care. The trend towards on-site therapy in senior living promotes a much more holistic, personalized, and effective approach to senior rehabilitation; it enables seniors to recover a lot faster, be more independent, and live a much healthier life without the interruption of hospital stays or rehabilitation facilities.
For families in the Central Texas area, searching for a senior living facility for your loved one can be overwhelming, but you don’t have to do it alone! We are here to help!
Senior living communities that also offer therapy on-premises can be game-changing for a loved one’s recovery. They can ensure seniors and their families have the rehabilitation support they require while keeping them in their familiar, supportive environment.
If you or a loved one is considering senior living options, take the time to research and learn about communities near you that make therapeutic care a priority and offer this valuable service. To learn more about this growing trend and how it can help you or your loved one, contact an Oasis Senior Advisors expert today. We can help guide you and help you find the right community that will not only meet your health needs but also your lifestyle needs.
Written for Oasis Senior Advisors Austin and Central Texas by Lauren Hope Bartling
