Some of these services can be administered in the person’s home, but most physicians will recommend rehab at a skilled nursing community for safe, medically supervised rehab services.

The Bridge From Hospital to Rehabilitation Therapy

According to Michele Kimball, BSN R.N., Corporate Director of Clinical Services at Bethesda Health Group, rehabilitation in a skilled nursing community begins with a medical evaluation by nurses and physicians specializing in geriatric care. This evaluation includes an assessment of the senior’s medical condition and review of medications. The senior’s nutritional status is assessed by in-house registered dietitians in efforts to provide nutritional support to optimize overall health status and healing. The interdisciplinary team which includes physicians, nurses, therapy, registered dietitians, and social workers collaborate to develop an individualized plan of care to aid in returning the senior to the community at or as close to their prior level of functioning.

“All of these reviews and assessments tie into the overall health of the resident and their therapy plan,” Michele says. “Without considering the needs of the whole person, you’re not going to have the best results and risk re-hospitalization.”

Rehabilitation Services Make a Difference in Senior Healing

Many seniors are hesitant about rehabilitation therapy because they believe it is not as effective for those in their age group. The truth is no one is too old to benefit from physical therapy and rehabilitation. Physicians recommend it because it has proven to be an effective part of a person’s recovery.

For example, if a senior has been released from the hospital after a fall, statistics show they are more likely to fall again if they quickly resume normal activity. Therapy is necessary to strengthen the body and improve balance to help prevent this from happening.

Over time, joints and muscles stiffen and weaken. Mobility decreases while pain increases. Endurance, flexibility and strength can be regained, and pain can be managed under the guidance of a physical therapist.

The training and exercise in physical therapy sessions can also help alleviate the symptoms of arthritis and control some of the effects of osteoporosis, a progressive bone disease that reduces bone density.

Therapists can offer alternative methods to complete daily tasks. Most importantly, as the senior progresses in therapy and begins achieving more goals, their self-confidence grows.

Studies show that long after completing physical therapy and rehabilitation, it still provides benefits in terms of strength, endurance, and balance; benefits that can enable seniors to remain independent in their homes  longer.

A Wide Range of Specialized Services

People often think of rehabilitation services after a fall or broken bone, but the results of the service expand much wider for seniors.

Speech therapists help with speaking skills and difficulty in swallowing. According to Michele, the breathing exercises speech therapists use can prevent a reoccurrence of pneumonia and subsequent re-admission to the hospital. Speech therapists also work on cognitive exercises that enhance seniors’ safety awareness thus assisting in prevention of falls.

Additionally, occupational therapists work to increase a senior’s range of motion, which improves their ability to perform daily tasks. Occupational therapists work with seniors to teach them how to break down daily tasks into segments that work for their individual physical functioning and endurance level, providing them with ways to safely navigate their activities of daily living.

At Bethesda Health Group skilled nursing and rehabilitation communities, an additional specialty service, Respiratory Therapy, has been added. This service has been effective in reducing reoccurrence of respiratory illnesses that lead to re-hospitalizations. In addition, the respiratory therapists provide education on worsening signs and symptoms of respiratory illness, breathing exercises and even have seniors bring in-home equipment such as CPAPS to check functioning, cleanliness and proper understanding of the machine. After all, seniors that breathe better move better, ultimately optimizing their therapy sessions.

The Caregiver and the Reluctant “Rehabber”

Seniors decline rehabilitation for a variety of reasons. If inpatient rehab is recommended, seniors who were previously hospitalized may not want to be bothered with any more treatments outside their home, and they may not understand the basis for the therapy. Not only can this be frustrating for caregivers and loved ones, but declining recommended rehab can lead to permanent loss of function and diminished quality of life for the senior. Therefore, it is important to explain why therapy and rehabilitation are needed. It may help to include the senior’s physician in the discussion as well.

Fear may also be an issue. Seniors may ask themselves if rehab will be painful, or if they will ever return home after rehab is over. Caregivers and family members must explain that the therapy is temporary and an important part of the healing process that should not be skipped.

Sometimes seniors are more open to outpatient therapy, as it offers more independence and time at home. However, this may not be the best option for a senior’s condition. If this requires multiple trips to and from an outpatient rehab center, caregivers should point out it would be best to receive therapy on an inpatient basis. As hesitations arise, assure the senior that their home will be taken care of in their absence.

“Simply because someone is a senior doesn’t mean they can’t become stronger and healthier,” says Michele. “I have seen great results where medical expertise and rehabilitation services have restored capabilities that were thought to be lost forever.”

At Bethesda, we understand the physical and emotional needs of seniors receiving therapy and rehabilitation services. If your senior loved one has recently experienced an injury, illness, or hospital stay, please contact us for more information about our senior rehabilitation services.

The post Physical Therapy & Rehabilitation — Vital for Senior Healing first appeared on Bethesda Health Group.

Ruth Ann Cranston could see her dad slipping away.

“In the last few years my father lived on his own, it became disturbingly apparent that his cognitive ability was fading,” Ruth Ann said. “I knew if I didn’t do something about that soon, it would be too late.”

Two years ago, she moved her father, Larry, into one of the skilled nursing communities at Bethesda Health Group in St. Louis. Since then, Ruth Ann said the reawakening of her dad’s mind has been amazing.

A Familiar Tune

“Dad has senile dementia,” Ruth Ann said. “However, there are parts of his brain, especially on the left side, that can be tapped into and he lights right up. Music Therapy has been wonderful for him. Not only can I notice the improvements in his cognitive abilities, but he says when he is doing music therapy he is in his ‘happy place.’ I’m so glad we moved him here, where the most is being made of his abilities.”

Linda McNair, a board-certified music therapist, started adapted keyboard lessons — one of her favorite music therapy tools — with Larry right after he moved in and began music therapy.

“I take a small keyboard into the resident’s room, and allow them a chance to play,” Linda said. “The therapy is geared to what the resident is capable of doing — I want them to be able to be successful when they attempt to play.”

Lessons can range from letting the resident attempt to play a simple tune such as “Mary Had a Little Lamb” to improvising along to a jazz track.

Larry, who loves big band music of the 1940s and 1950s as well as jazz, likes to try to accompany his favorite songs. He gets a helping hand from Linda’s instrument, as the keys on the keyboard light up in the proper sequence.

Residents who aren’t able to play the keyboard can still benefit from music therapy. Linda said those seniors can listen to their favorite type of songs on an iPod, which stimulates their brains, soothes their nerves and jogs their minds.

“Playing music helps seniors to remember patterns, and that helps them exercise their cognitive ability,” Linda said. “Equally important, it gives residents a chance to feel good about their accomplishments and express their creativity.

Health Benefits of Music Therapy

Music therapy has been proven to help older adults restore and maintain their health. Benefits include, but are not limited to:

• Promoting general wellness
• Managing stress and anxiety
• Alleviating pain
• Expressing emotions and creativity
• Enhancing memory
• Improving communication
• Promoting physical rehabilitation
• A better outlook on life and increased self-esteem

In addition to working well with seniors living with Alzheimer’s Disease and other forms of dementia, music therapy has been found to benefit people who are recovering from traumatic brain injuries, people who have autism, and people with Parkinson’s Disease. Music therapy is an evidence-based clinical practice that is used with all populations ranging from the tiniest newborn preemies to those on hospice. Visit the American Music Therapy Association to learn more about the many benefits Music Therapy can provide your loved one.

Ready for Showtime

In fact, Larry has enjoyed his musical awakening so much, he’s even joined the choir at the community, finding joy in singing with his friends from around the building.

“My father was in a state of mental decline,” Ruth Ann said. “Because of music therapy for seniors and the other care he receives here at Bethesda, his brain is stimulated and he’s much better. It’s clear that what he’s getting here has had a profound effect. He’s much more alert. He’s much more conversational. I’m so grateful for what Linda has been able to do to help him. You can really tell how much she cares about the people who live here and how much she puts into it.”

Can Music Therapy benefit you or your loved one? For more information on Music Therapy, visit Bethesda’s blog! 

The post Harmonizing Healing: Seniors Find Happiness Through Creative Music Therapy first appeared on Bethesda Health Group.

What Does an Art Therapist Do?

An art therapist is a mental health professional who possesses at minimum a master’s degree in art therapy from an Art Therapy Association-accredited program. They do not have to be gifted artists, but they do have to have experience with a variety of art mediums, such as painting, drawing, sculpture and pottery-making.

Art therapists don’t critique a person’s artistic efforts, but rather help guide them in using art to freely express their feelings and emotions. They help develop skills that increase cognitive ability and self-awareness, and improve interactions with others through the practice of art.

How Can Seniors Benefit from Art Therapy

Art therapy is a treatment program that can help improve or heal mental or emotional wounds, relieve stress, and boost health and wellbeing.

For seniors, art therapy can be helpful for many issues, such as:

• Medical impairments
• Dementia
• Cancer
• Depression
• Grief
• Severe stress and anxiety

Learning new art forms can help those who are consistently frustrated or struggling to relax  focus on positive feelings.

Art therapy can also provide physical benefits to seniors by working the artist’s arms, improving muscle coordination and dexterity, and enhancing blood flow. Focusing on creating can also help you relax, which can in turn ease chronic pain.

Participants will gather with likeminded people and interact with them in the art therapy class setting, which can help alleviate feelings of loneliness and isolation.

Practicing creative arts also has been known to help people with dementia recover forgotten memories about loved ones, think more clearly, and connect with those around them.

What the Research Has Shown

A 2018 study of senior participants indicated that art therapy reduces stress and confusion, which leads to decreased depression, and increased cognitive function. Other advantages include feeling a sense of accomplishment, improvements in hand dexterity and pain relief, and better communication with loved ones.

A National Institutes of Health examination of 31 reviewed studies on the benefit of the arts for older adults revealed “overwhelming positive cognitive and quality of life results for seniors participating in various art forms.” These art forms included:

• Dance
• Creative writing
• Music
• Theatre
• Visual arts

Where do Art Therapists Work?

According to the American Art Therapy Association (AATA), art therapists work with individuals, couples, families and groups in a variety of settings. You might find them working in the following:

• Hospitals
• Schools
• Veterans’ clinics
• Physician private practices
• Psychiatric and rehabilitation facilities
• Community clinics
• Crisis centers
• Forensic institutions
• Senior living communities

People in these environments can specifically benefit from art therapy regardless of their age, and can experience all the benefits and more simply by tapping into their creativity.

For more ideas on therapeutic activities for seniors, please visit Bethesda’s Health & Wellness blog.

The post Art Therapy for Seniors first appeared on Bethesda Health Group.

As a senior, however, you may have noticed your hands and fingers have lost some of their dexterity. Or perhaps it has become more difficult to perform tasks that were second nature to you before. Let’s explore some of the reasons why this happens:

Why Our Dexterity Changes as We Age

For many, manual dexterity seems to remain stable until about age 65. However, one of the most common changes that occurs throughout the body is sarcopenia, or the reduction of muscle mass. This causes the loss of grip strength in the hands and forearms, which — according to the National Library of Medicine — is directly related to hand dexterity.

The tensile strength (i.e., the maximum stress a structure can sustain) of the tendons in the hand, which attach muscle to bone, decreases by 30-50 percent as we age.

Older hands and fingers are especially prone to arthritis, especially osteoarthritis and rheumatoid arthritis. This results in pain, swelling, joint deformities, bone spur formation, restricted ranges of motion in the wrist and fingers, and the ability to grip and pinch objects.

After age 50, bone density of the hand tends to decrease, causing a decline in manual dexterity. The number and diameter of nerve fibers also decrease, and there is a reduction in the number of nerve cells that signal muscles to contract and relax. Consult with your physician if you feel you are suffering from one or more of these conditions.

Exercises for Maintaining Manual Dexterity

Although dexterity naturally decreases as we age, there are exercises and activities that you can perform to maintain or potentially enhance the health and function of your hands and fingers. However, please consult with your physician before starting these exercises.

Use boards with locks and latches.

These activity boards are mounted with various everyday objects such as chain bolts, sliding bolts, padlocks with keys, buckles, faucet handles, and switches, which require fine motor skills, finger dexterity, and hand-eye coordination to manipulate.

Work with clay or putty.

Using clay or hand-therapy putty, squeeze with each hand and roll it back and forth. Pinch the putty between your thumbs and forefingers and fold it into different shapes. Resistance to the clay or putty strengthens your hands and fingers.

Make a fist.

Make a fist and squeeze hard inward. Hold for three to five seconds, and release slowly. Do the same with each hand multiple times until you start to feel tired to increase hand strength and dexterity.

Give the “OK” sign.

Extend your hand out and straight (like you were going to shake someone’s hand). Create an “O” shape by touching your thumb to your index fingertip. Next, touch your thumb to your middle fingertip. Make this movement with the rest of your fingers. Repeat multiple times, and then switch and repeat with the opposite hand.

Try finger lifts.

Start with your hand palm-side down on a table. Lift your thumb slowly off the table and hold for two seconds. Gently lower your thumb back down. Repeat for each finger, and then repeat the sequence on the opposite hand.

Practice thumb bends.

Begin by holding up one hand with your fingers straightened, and bring your thumb into your palm. The goal is to reach for the bottom of your pinky finger (don’t worry if you can’t reach that far). Hold the bend for a few seconds, then return to the starting position. Repeat a few times, and then switch to your other hand.

Perform wrist stretches.

Extend your right arm in front of you with your palm facing the floor. Bend your wrist, pointing the tips of your fingers toward the floor. With your left hand, gently bend your right wrist toward you until you feel a mild to moderate stretch in your forearm. Hold this position for at least 15-30 seconds, then switch to your left arm and repeat 2-4 times. (If you are experiencing numbness or tingling in your hands, you should be evaluated by a physician.)

Sew.

Working on crafts such as sewing involves very precise movements along with grasping and manipulating small objects. This is a great manual dexterity activity.

Enjoy origami.

The word “origami” translates to “folding paper” or “to fold paper.” There are different types of origami and many books and online guides to learning this hobby which works both the brain and the hands in creating beautiful designs.

Manual dexterity is crucial to living independently. For tips on aging in place, visit Bethesda’s independent living blog.

The post Maintaining Strength and Manual Dexterity for Seniors first appeared on Bethesda Health Group.

The need for short-term rehabilitation is usually a recommendation of the care team at the hospital. Many factors influence this recommendation, including prior level of functioning, ability to participate and benefit from consistent therapy, ongoing medical needs, and insurance plans.

When short-term rehab is recommended, it is provided as an inpatient service at a Long-Term Acute Care Hospital (LTACH), Inpatient Rehab Facility (IRF) or at a Skilled Nursing Facility (SNF). Let’s take a closer look at the different options and the needs they commonly serve.

Types of Post-Acute Senior Rehabilitation Services:

• LTACH – Typically reserved for long-term or intensive recovery from a complex medical condition. The care needed requires daily physician intervention for patients needing mechanical ventilation or suffering from complex wounds.
• IRF – Inpatient rehab (or Acute Rehab) is for patients who have undergone major trauma and require extensive care for recovery. Common reasons for needing this level of care can include stroke, amputation, debilitating injury, and certain types of complex surgeries. The focus is on functional recovery, and patients receive physical, occupational, and speech therapy for a minimum of 3 hours a day. A physician is involved daily in directing this type of rehab care.
• SNF – Senior rehabilitation provided in the SNFs typically focuses on helping patients regain the ability to resume their activities of daily living (ADLs) after an illness, injury, or procedure. This care could be needed for rehabilitating a physical impairment or for ongoing medical care and support. In a SNF, you will likely receive one or more therapies for an average of one to two hours per day. These therapies include physical, occupational and speech therapy. SNFs serve patients ranging from those who had orthopedic surgeries, to those suffering weakness following an illness, to those who developed infections and require IV medications.

(Although they are often confused for one another, short-term SNFs differ from nursing homes. Rehab facilities provide temporary care for patients who are recovering from a medical event and are expected to resume their previous level of independence and function. Nursing homes, while they often offer rehab services, serve as a full-time residence for their patients.)

Important Qualities to Look for in a Post-Acute Community:

The best time to explore your Post-Acute options is before you need care. Your insurance may only cover some locations, and most hospitals now have Preferred Networks of Post-Acute Providers with whom they work. This could include a physician from that network seeing patients at the post-acute community or specialized case management follow-up for continuity of care. These hospitals usually have standards the network must meet, and they also provide another layer of oversight. The Case Manager or Social Worker at the hospital should be able to provide these recommendations to you.

Other factors to consider:

• Reputation – Do your research and ask for recommendations from your friends, physicians, and look online for reviews. Make sure to consult several sources. Most communities have someone on staff who can give you a tour of the building and answer your questions.
• Amenities – While you may not think this is as important as other factors, a positive, comfortable environment can lead to a more meaningful and beneficial experience. Differentiators such as private vs semi-private rooms, outside visiting areas, and the quality of the rehab gym all matter.
• Location – It’s important to consider the location of the community for ease of visiting, proximity of follow up appointments and other medical needs.
• Service – Does the rehab provider offer the programming you need to maximize the speed and success of their recovery? It’s important to be sure they can tailor their services to meet the specific needs of you or your family member.

Bethesda is here to help

Bethesda offers comprehensive short-term SNF services in seven inviting centers located conveniently across the St. Louis metropolitan area. They’re staffed with personable and compassionate caregivers including highly trained nurses, therapists, and aides whose goal is to see people recovering from surgery, illness or injury regain their maximum ability to be active and live independently.

Bethesda also partners with St. Andrew’s Resources for Seniors to offer a home health agency, St. Andrews & Bethesda Home Health, for those patients whose cases call for home health rehabilitation.

Click here to learn more about Bethesda’s Senior Rehabilitation & Therapy options or to get started.

The post What to Look for When You Need Senior Rehabilitation After a Hospital Stay first appeared on Bethesda Health Group.

A piano. A dulcimer. An acoustic guitar. A ukulele. An untried voice that turned out to be true. These instruments have changed the lives of six older adults who chose to embrace music in their later years. Experts explain here how seniors and music make the perfect pair for promoting your brain health and improving happiness. Each of these six individuals likely would agree with that.

You’re Never Too Old to Learn

The music of a younger man—Charlie Musselwhite, 74, an electric blues harmonica player and bandleader—inspires Willard Harris (pictured above), 98, who started taking piano lessons two years ago. “I’m working on classical tunes and old Negro anthems, but I want to play the blues,” she said. “I went to a music shop and looked at the elementary blues book, and it was just too complicated. That will have to wait,” Harris said. Then she sits down at the piano in her San Francisco home and plays Habanera from Bizet’s Carmen.

A longtime nursing supervisor who served on the California Commission on Aging, Harris works a couple of days a month as an exam proctor for a law school. She practices piano every day, especially intensely on the day of her weekly lesson. To date, Harris has taken part in two student recitals at the San Francisco Community Music Center. “Playing piano is relaxing for me, puts me in my comfort zone, and I like the sound of the music. Plus, this proves you’re never too old to learn,” Harris said.

Seniors and Music to Benefit the Community

Jerry Kramer, of Bellingham, Wash., admits he has developed a condition familiar to others who play music. “Shortly after I started playing mountain dulcimer 17 years ago, I soon became infected by Instrument Acquisition Syndrome,” he said. “Now I own several mountain dulcimers. My wife doesn’t know how many I have, and I won’t tell you, either.”

Kramer, 70, played trumpet in high school, but then walked away from music. One evening at a concert, he heard a mountain dulcimer. Impulsively, Kramer decided he had to play one. Kramer describes the instrument’s sound as “a quiet voice in its solely acoustic style, with a sweet, sentimental tone.” He adds, “However, equipped with a built-in electric pickup, you can rock it with the best of ‘em.” In 2007, Kramer and his friend Clay Butler formed the Bellingham Dulcimer Club, which now boasts 36 members. They get together to jam once a month.

Kramer, a retired university maintenance supervisor, also builds instruments, including dulcimers, ukuleles, cigar box guitars and diddley bows—single-stringed instruments that originated in Mali and influenced the blues sound. Currently, Kramer is assembling kits so he can help students at a nearby middle school build their own diddley bows and then teach them to play. “They have no music program at the school, so this is a club project. And I’m having a ball,” said Kramer.

It’s Never Too Late to Start Again

After 40 years away from the guitar, Clancy Kelly is back at it. Three years ago, when he left his job as a project manager for an industrial mechanical contractor, a friend sent him a guitar as a retirement gift. Kelly signed up for classes at Clark College in his hometown of Vancouver, Wash., a suburb of Portland, Ore.

“I wound up focusing on fingerstyle blues, which is the kind of music I like to listen to,” said Kelly, 69. “It just has a feeling to it—and though it’s mostly played by a soloist or two people, you can’t believe it’s not more. I’m so glad I’m back with the guitar.” He still takes lessons from time to time. Kelly also is in a band, comprised of old friends, that performs rock music and some electric blues around town. “Performing in front of people is an insecurity I have, but you grow when you get outside your comfort zone,” Kelly said. “For anybody thinking about trying something new, I say try it. You may not like it, but at least you tried.”

Promoting Health and Happiness

Rusty Sealy, 66, started piano lessons at nine but stopped when he hit adolescence. “I didn’t come back until I was 62, after I retired from being a lawyer,” he said. “That’s a big gap of time to be away from an instrument.” Sealy, who lives in San Francisco, enrolled in a theory course at the Community Music Center. “I started at what felt like was the beginning, to refresh my basic knowledge. It did not come easily,” he said, laughing.

Today, Sealy plays classical music and some jazz. “I’m also working on some jazz theory,” he said. “I like the tonal aspects, the sound of music, but I’m more interested now in the ability to use my hands to learn to speak a different language, one that is not a verbal language. And I am more interested now in the process of learning than in the results.”

Sealy tries to play an hour or 90 minutes each day. “Taking up a musical instrument later in life is a way of reaffirming your commitment to learning, your flexibility, your capacity for wonder,” he said. “It appeals to your ability to be amazed.”

Let Your Creativity Flow

In 2012, after teaching nursing for 40 years at a university, Jan Fox started planning her retirement. “I enjoyed my job, but I decided there must be something else,” said Fox, 83. She took up line dancing, which she now teaches, and then a friend suggested learning to play the ukulele.

Fox, who lives in Austin, Texas, did just that. When her instructor suggested Fox take part in a student music recital, Fox decided instead to look for other retirees who play the popular stringed instrument and form a band. The Uke-adillos are named in honor of armadillos, which are ubiquitous in Texas. The band, which also includes a bass player, rehearses for two hours every Tuesday and plays occasional gigs at nursing homes. “We’re known for playing country music and golden oldies,” Fox said, “but the ukulele can be soulful, too. You can play it any way you want.”

On her own, she plays for an hour every evening, singing along at the top of her voice. “I love it,” Fox said. “Playing the ukulele is so relaxing and beautiful. It’s lifesaving.”

A Great Way to Meet Other Seniors

After she retired eight years ago from her job as a licensed clinical social worker, Estela Moreno signed up for classes in yoga, tai chi, qi gong, and painting. She started exercising. Nothing stuck.

Moreno, now 68, had never sung in her life, but after attending a choir performance at the Community Music Center in her hometown of San Francisco, she decided that was what she wanted to do. Today, Moreno is a member of the 30th Street Older Adult Choir and the Solera Singers of the Mission Neighborhood Center. The choirs meet once a week. Singers range from 60 to 95 and represent many ethnicities. Neither choir requires an audition to join. “Our director, Martha Rodriguez-Salazar, says if you have a voice, you can sing,” Moreno said.

What does she like best about taking part? “Meeting other seniors. Some of us have become friends outside the choirs and right now three of us are meeting once a week to learn guitar,” Moreno said. “But for me, singing is the most rewarding, and I love it. It makes me so happy!”

By Patricia Corrigan for Next Avenue

© Next Avenue – 2018. All rights reserved. 

Find more articles about living life in retirement to the fullest on Bethesda’s Senior Living blog.

The post Seniors and Music: Benefiting Health and Happiness first appeared on Bethesda Health Group.

When Kate Jenks suffered a terrible fall at her home in August, just six days past her 100th birthday, she wasn’t sure she would live to see the holidays.

Kate was climbing the stairs at her house in suburban St. Louis when she lost her balance and tumbled backwards down the steps, slamming against a wall. She fractured six bones in her neck and upper back and could have been paralyzed or died from that type of injury.

Kate didn’t realize her injury was so serious at first. Although she was battered and bruised, Kate actually got up on her own and made it back up the stairs to call for help. She doesn’t remember much between making that call and waking up in a bed at Bethesda Southgate, a skilled nursing community in South St. Louis County.

“The other lady in my room told me I looked so bad when I got here, with my face all bruised up and in a neck brace, she was scared to death to see me,” Kate said. “She didn’t think I was going to make it.”

Bethesda Southgate social worker Jessica Leuthauser said physicians who refer patients to Bethesda’s therapy service weren’t any more optimistic about Kate’s condition.

“When she arrived, the doctor mentioned hospice care” as a probability for a person in Jenks’ condition, Jessica said. “It was very touch-and-go for a while. It’s always serious when you’re dealing with multiple fractured vertebrae. We were concerned about even moving her.”

Supportive Rehab Staff Builds Confidence

Kate was put on bed rest for six weeks and was forced to wear an uncomfortable “Miami J collar,” a stiff neck brace that not only prevented her from bending her upper back but pushed against her chin and made it difficult to talk or eat.

Despite a long road back to “normal,” Bethesda Southgate rehab staff members and Kate’s family worked to put together a plan to rebuild her strength and give her back her ability to take care of herself.

Neither Kate nor the therapy service staff at Bethesda Southgate were willing to give up or get frustrated by the challenges that stood in her way. Little by little, Kate was able to make progress. She got stronger every day and eventually had to stop therapy for a while because she improved as much as she could while still wearing the Miami J collar.

Kate said she was thrilled when one day, as she ate lunch, a therapist asked her if she was ready to get that collar taken off. She knew she was on her way to a complete recovery. When the collar came off, she began more aggressive rehabilitation that led to her being able to leave the rehab and therapy center.

On Her Way Home

Four days before Christmas, Kate was able to check out of Bethesda Southgate where she spent the previous four months. She was able to stay with her family for a few days and then to return, permanently, to her St. Louis home of 67 years.

“My house means a lot to me,” Kate said. “I was afraid that I wouldn’t be able to go back there. That I would be stuck in bed for the rest of my life. So I’m thrilled to be able to get my independence back.”

While it was a long journey to her recovery, Kate said she has been restored to 100 percent. She can do everything on her own now that she could do before her fall. She was in a lot of pain, especially at the beginning of her recovery. But Kate said she was never discouraged because of the support of the therapists at Bethesda Southgate.

“I owe them my life.”

“It was a lot of work, but it was a great experience,” Kate said. “The girls (in therapy) were all so wonderful. It’s amazing to be able to go home again because I know I probably wouldn’t have made it at all if it wasn’t for them.”

Jessica said Kate has been an amazing patient.

“We have no concerns about her ability to care for herself,” Jessica said. “She’s as good as she was before her fall.”

Kate said she was able to keep her spirits up because of the support of the Bethesda Southgate therapy service staff.“I could see that I was getting better all the time and that really made me feel encouraged,” Kate said. “Little by little, I was getting back to being able to do things for myself. I owe them my life.”

If you or your loved one suffers an injury that requires rehab or therapy, Bethesda has got you covered! Contact us to learn more about our communities that offer Rehab and Therapy Service in the St. Louis area.

The post Therapy Service Restores Independence of 100-Year-Old Woman first appeared on Bethesda Health Group.

Turns out, a lot, especially if rehabilitation and therapy can assist in addressing these issues. Let’s look at three questions:

What Can Rehabilitation Do?

Prevent falls. Falls are the most common cause of injuries among senior adults. A physical therapist can improve strength, stability, walking gait, and balance during the recovery period after a fall.

Lessen pain. The pain of arthritis, osteoporosis, or joint replacement surgery can be alleviated by physical therapy, and there are techniques to reduce the pain caused by cancer. Reducing the need for pain medications may make the therapy cost-effective in the long run.

Restore an active lifestyle. For more seniors, rehabilitative activities increase their fitness levels and lets them enjoy more independence for a longer period of time. Rehabilitation to improve function after a stroke, and helping people with dementia maintain their ability to move are also available.

Restore the ability to perform daily activities. Occupational therapists focus on the things seniors do every day in their home: bathing, cooking, dressing, or doing the laundry, etc. Through these activities, the therapist helps improve the senior’s motor skills, strength, dexterity, and range of motion.

Improve speech after a stroke or head injury. Speech therapists teach seniors how to regain the ability to speak, using vocal exercises so that they can communicate effectively again. They also help seniors who have difficulty swallowing.

These are just a few ways rehabilitation services can aid seniors, and many of them can be provided in the home. Consult with a physician, a rehabilitation professional or a geriatric care manager to learn more details about what is possible.

What Are the Benefits of In-Home Rehabilitation?

Rehabilitation is available in hospitals, outpatient facilities, short-stay rehabilitation centers or in the home.

In-home rehabilitation holds many benefits for seniors:

Convenience. The senior doesn’t have to arrange for transportation to and from therapy sessions. No stress over traffic jams, parking, making it into the facility, and being in an unfamiliar environment with many other people. And if the therapist is delayed, it’s far better waiting in the comfort of your own home than it is in a waiting room chair.

More personalized care. The in-home therapist only has one patient to focus on while providing care in the home. There are no distractions or interruptions for the therapist or the patient. In fact, this one-on-one care has been shown to promote quicker healing, using the home’s unique layout and environment to tailor the therapy.

What Are the Limitations and Costs of In-Home Rehabilitation?

Cost. The in-home cost per-session is usually greater than inpatient or outpatient therapy.

Insurance coverage. Insurance companies are reluctant to pay the additional cost for in-home rehabilitation. Though this seems to be changing, the patient may have to work with his or her doctor to make a case for why in-home therapy is necessary. The inability to travel and the hardship it imposes would be a consideration for coverage.

Limited equipment. Obviously, a therapist cannot transport large pieces of therapy equipment to the home, though advances are creating more portable options.

Other options

If more intense rehabilitation is required, some senior health communities offer options. Aside from its St. Andrews & Bethesda Home Health services that offers in-home rehabilitation, Bethesda has six short-stay Rehab & Therapy Centers around the St. Louis area. The program is covered under Medicare Part A, and provides speech, occupational, and physical therapies. The care is specifically for people who live in their own homes or senior living apartments who may have been recently discharged from a hospital and could benefit from additional rehabilitation before returning home.

And a Bethesda care manager can supply information, options and resources when it comes to rehabilitating your senior loved one.

Learn more about our Rehab & Therapy services under the Care & Services section of our website or contact a care manager today.

The post Is In-Home Rehabilitation Right for Your Senior? first appeared on Bethesda Health Group.

Restorative yoga involves five or six easy-to-hold poses, supported by cushions, props, blankets and pillows. Each gentle stretch is held without strain or pain for 10-20 seconds. Participants may want to go into a darkened room, with music playing in the background, so they can be relaxed, rested, and focus on the rhythm of their breathing.

The idea is to eliminate the thoughts and anxieties of daily life and concentrate in the present moment. Muscles will relax deeply as the mind and body slow down.

It sounds easy, but try to sit quietly in a comfortable chair, clear your mind and focus only on how you draw in your next breath. Then let it out for just a few moments while keeping all other thoughts at bay. You’ll find it takes practice and patience.

What are the Benefits?

In the midst of the COVID-19 pandemic, we could all use some help switching off the negative news that surrounds us. Yoga can help because it benefits the parasympathetic nervous system, which works to restore calm after we are stressed. Yoga allows us to rest and repair ourselves mentally and physically.

It is a well-established fact that stress, aside from the emotional distress it causes, has detrimental effects on the body that include:

• Headaches
• Upset stomach
• Muscle tension
• Low energy
• Aches and pains
• Insomnia
• Frequent colds and infections

Long-term stress can result in depression and anxiety, reduce focus, and negatively impact judgement and the ability to organize and concentrate on tasks. It may also contribute to serious health issues like cardiovascular disease, eating disorders, and gastrointestinal problems, as well as the worsening of many other physical challenges.

To Learn More About Restorative Yoga

There are video previews of online restorative yoga classes at Yoga Download to give you an idea of the poses and equipment used in this form of yoga.

Even though restorative yoga is an extremely gentle form of yoga, seniors or family members should consult with the senior’s physician before taking classes or experimenting with poses.

Mind Plus Body

Of course, the other aspect of fitness is physical health. Rehabilitation and therapy services for senior adults enable them to deal with the effects of aging, recover from injuries and surgeries, and restore physical function and self-reliance.

At Bethesda, a team of professionals, which includes physical, occupational, and speech therapists, and other health and social services professionals can help with flexibility, increased strength, reduced pain, build endurance, improved speech, and enhanced confidence.

At Bethesda communities, therapy is available for the physical challenges that senior adults often face. They include:

• Fall prevention and recovery
• Improvement in strength, balance and walking ability
• Exercise and therapy to slow bone density loss
• Rehab after surgery
• Cardiac rehab

To learn more about additional recovery services, visit our Rehab & Therapy page, or contact us today.

The post Stretch Out and De-Stress With “Easy-to-Perform” Restorative Yoga first appeared on Bethesda Health Group.

“There were so many people up and moving, and that was a good problem to have,” she recalls. Jacobs is pleased that the hospital’s initiative of the past two years to keep patients — especially older ones — mobile during their time there is working.

Like many hospitals around the country, Anne Arundel is recognizing the important role staying mobile in the hospital plays in healing, reducing the risk of medical complications, and ensuring that older patients will be able to return home after they’re discharged, rather than having to go a nursing home or rehabilitation facility.

Immobility Leads to Problems

“One of the things that is absolute is when a person becomes immobile, the loss of muscle tone is very, very quick — the actual loss of muscle mass is quick,” Jacobs says. “So, when a person comes into the hospital and becomes immobile, it’s significant — even if you’re young, you will go out feeling weak.”

And weakening muscles is just one of the negatives of being in a hospital bed for days.

“When we lay in a bed, our lungs are laying back against the back of our body,” Jacobs explains. “For maximum performance of our lungs, you’re supposed to be standing or sitting, where gravity is helping open our lungs. So, we’re more prone to developing pneumonia (and other respiratory illnesses) because our lungs are not in the position that they should be if we leave you in bed all day long.”

Immobility during a hospital stay is connected to a number of other problems, including frailty, falls and even death, “even after controlling for illness severity and comorbidity,” according to a 2018 article in the journal Gerontology and Geriatric Medicine.

Hospitalized older adults who remain mostly in bed are 34 times more likely to die and six times more likely to end up in nursing homes after their hospital stays than those who move around at least twice per day, according to research that included nearly 500 people age 70 and older.

Staying Mobile in the Hospital is a Priority at Anne Arundel

In 2017, Anne Arundel Medical Center began its new mobility practices in the hospital’s geriatrics unit, which is an Acute Care for the Elderly (ACE) unit. Anne Arundel’s ACE unit is part of the hospital’s “age-friendly” initiative, with the goal of aligning care to what matters most to each patient.

Patients of all ages, inside and outside the ACE unit, who are able to get out of bed and move are encouraged to do so — ideally at least three times per day.

“It depends on the patient, obviously,” Jacobs says. “There are times when the person is too sick to get up. But for most people, they should be getting up and mobilizing as far as they can every day.”

That means doing some walking, even if it’s only a short distance.

“If the farthest you can get is walking from your bed to the door, great,” Jacobs says. “If you only go from the bed to the door two times today, but the next day you go fifty feet, that’s great.”

To help get patients moving, Anne Arundel has people called “mobility quality technicians,” whose main job is to ensure that patients who are able to move do so daily.

Movement and Socialization With ACErcise

The ACE unit also launched “ACErcise,” a group exercise program that Jacobs says is popular with patients. The groups do chair exercises and walk to and from their hospital rooms. Other hospitals around the country with ACE units have similar programs.

“Part of what makes it great is the socialization of being together,” Jacobs says. “Then, we had some (patients) who said, ‘Can we just eat together?’ So, after ACErcise, we put up a table and they can eat together.”

This emphasis on mobility has been important to patient Cline Warren’s recovery, says his wife Martha Warren. The couple live in southern Anne Arundel County. Cline Warren, 91, who has dementia, was brought into the hospital after he accidentally ingested a caustic substance.

“He’s much better,” Martha Warren says, adding that along with the exercise, the socialization aspects have been especially helpful. “It certainly contributes to being less bored — you know, being in your room alone. And (it helps to) be able to focus on other patients or the activity director.”

Patients ‘MOVE’

At St. Mary Mercy Livonia, a hospital in the Detroit suburb of Livonia, hospitalized patients have been staying active through “Mobility Optimizes Virtually Everything,” or MOVE, since 2017.

“As I was researching this topic prior to implementation of MOVE, I found out that every day a person spends in the hospital bed can take up to four days to regain their strength,” said program manager Belinda Dokic, adding that the hospital implemented MOVE because “mobility can also be a medicine.”

As part of MOVE, each patient receives “personalized mobility goals,” which nurses and aides review daily with patients.

MOVE began in St. Mary Mercy’s observation unit. This included adding full-time ambulation aides who were trained by the hospital’s physical therapists on how to safely move patients to avoid falls and injuries. Toward the end of 2018, the hospital added MOVE to its medical/surgical unit.

The goal of MOVE is to walk patients twice per day. Patients who are unable to walk are encouraged and helped to at least move from their bed to a chair for some period of time during the day.

“Any movement is good.” Dokic says. “Even if the patient is laying in bed and we (adjust) the bed for them to sit up and eat (a meal) that way, or we move them from bed to chair or even help them walk from a chair to the shower — all of this is considered movement.”

Mobility Helps With Fall Prevention, Too

Because staying mobile in the hospital helps maintain muscle function and overall healing, it also reduces the risk of falls. This is something Dokic has seen at St. Mary Mercy, where the patient falls rate in the two units with the MOVE program decreased from 2.7% to zero from the last quarter of 2017 to the first quarter of 2018.

For some, more movement brings concern of more risk of falls, but a study led by Johns Hopkins Hospital researchers in 2016 found that increasing patient mobility did not increase the number of patient falls with injuries.

St. Mary Mercy carefully trains its ambulation aides, Dokic says. “I think it was four hours of training, where they were shown how exactly to move the patients without putting them at risk to have a fall,” she says.

Patient and Family Buy-In

Nurses and other staff working on mobility programs occasionally encounter concerned family members who believe their parent or other loved one shouldn’t be moving around while in the hospital.

“The family member might say, ‘Well mom’s been sick. Just let her rest in bed,’” Jacobs says. “But we’re actually not helping mom if we just let her rest in bed the whole time. So we have to actually say to the families, ‘No, this is an important part of your mother’s healing, that we get up and ambulate with your mom.’”

Staff also encounter patients who would rather not get up, understandably, because they don’t feel well. In that case, Jacobs says, it’s important to remind patients and families that remaining immobile could lead to a longer hospital stay, or worse.

“There’s a question we ask everybody every day (in the ACE unit), and that’s ‘What is it that really matters to you?’ This is part of our age-friendly work,” Jacobs says. “And the majority of patients answer that they want to get home. Well, the best thing we can do to get you home is to keep you moving. So, if that’s your plan, let us help get you there.”

Mobility in Short Stay Rehab

At Bethesda, we offer short-stay rehabilitation and physical therapy services for older adults who aren’t ready to head home just yet. Our programs also focus on mobility during healing.

If you or your loved one requires short-stay rehab after a hospital stay, contact Bethesda to learn more about this service offered in the St. Louis, MO area.

(Editor’s note: This story is part of a series for The John A. Hartford Foundation.)

By Edie Grossfield for Next Avenue.

© Next Avenue – 2018. All rights reserved.

The post Staying Mobile in the Hospital Helps You Get Better and Go Home first appeared on Bethesda Health Group.