I’ve Fallen And I Can’t Get Up!
Do you remember the first time you heard that tag line? "I’ve fallen and I can’t get up" was the popular commercial tag line for Life Call a medical alarm and protection company. Now this line is a highly recognized punchline embedded in pop culture history. Even though this line has provided comedic relief to many, it is a serious situation that happens to many seniors. The article posted on Therapy Times.com by Amy Storer, Brightening The Golden Years- New trends in treating the geriatric patient, talks about these seniors and just how they can prevent having to use the phrase "I’ve fallen and I can’t get up."
"Currently, close to half of the population is expected to live 80 years or longer. But there’s a downside: The added years of life may involve declining health, loss of physical and mental capabilities as well as increased social stress. These problems contribute to loss of productivity, increased dependence and reduction in quality of life."
"In response to this challenge, experts are striving to better understand the biological processes involved in aging and age-associated diseases and discover effective methods of therapy, technology adaptations and prevention."
That is where you come in! As a New Grad PT,OT,ST….COTA or PTA have you ever considered working with the Geriatric population? What comes to mind when you think of the word geriatric patient or skilled nursing? Do you think swimming pools, Nintendo Wii……. That’s right many Skilled Nursing Facilities, otherwise known as "Nursing Homes" are using these innovative therapy treatments with their senior patients. As Margaret Calta, BSN, associate director of Nursing at The Valley View Center for Nursing Care and Rehabilitation states……..
“Industry wide, the nursing home resident is changing,”
"Years ago, says Calta, the nursing home was considered the last resort. It was where someone went at the end of their life after they had been kept in the home as long as possible. “People thought they came to the nursing home to die,” says Calta."
But not anymore. Today, nursing homes are welcoming in many more sub-acute residents. “They don’t really qualify for a hospital setting,” explains Calta, “but they come to the facility to get things like intravenous therapy, advanced respiratory therapy or short-term rehab after a hip replacement.”
Innovative Senior Care’s Therapy and Wellness Program includes screenings, health issue-related education courses and exercise courses tailored to each resident’s individual needs. With this program, Fein says her facilities are taking a proactive approach to keeping seniors healthier, longer.
RehabCare is a leading provider of physical rehabilitation program management services in 1,200 hospitals, nursing homes and other long-term care facilities throughout the United States. RehabCare also owns and operates freestanding rehabilitation and long-term acute care hospitals. Everyday thousands of geriatric patients are treated in our facilities with some of the same innovative, high-tech treatments that are mentioned in this article. As a new grad have you ever considered Skilled Nursing as your practice setting after graduation? When was the last time you have been in a SNF? Contact a Campus Relations Manager and we can set you up for a site visit or tour of a facility near you. There are senior patients out there just waiting for you!
