For people with Alzheimer’s, sleep doesn’t always come easily. As the brain changes, so, too, does a person’s nightly sleep schedule. While these changes are a normal part of developing dementia, they can harm the quality of life for the person affected. Fortunately, there are steps you can take to help your loved one cope with sleep problems, both now and in the future.

Here’s what you need to know. 

Sleep Changes and Alzheimer’s

As we age, our relationship with sleep begins to change. Even in adults without symptoms of dementia, getting a restful 7-8 hours of sleep each night can feel like an impossible task. When dementia is present, though, sleep changes tend to become more pronounced. While symptoms vary, people with dementia may experience:

• Difficulty getting to sleep or staying asleep. People with dementia wake up more often throughout the night, and frequently have trouble getting back to sleep once they’re awake. Brain wave studies on affected patients have revealed decreases in dreaming and non-dreaming sleep phases. When a person cannot sleep, they may wander, become restless, or cry out for their caregivers at night. 
  
• Disruptions in the sleep/wake cycle. People with Alzheimer’s may feel tired during the day, but lie awake all night. Sometimes, they experience a phenomenon known as “sundowning,” which causes them to feel agitated in the early evening. In extreme cases, people may experience a complete reversal of regular sleep/wake cycles, sleeping all day, and lying awake all night. 

How You Can Help Resolve Sleep Problems

When it comes to treating sleep disruption in people with Alzheimer’s or dementia, there are two primary approaches: medical and non-medical. Most caregivers recommend starting with non-medical methods, which include the following:

• Stat and maintain a daily schedule, with regular times for meals, going to bed, and waking up.
• Strive for early morning sunlight exposure. Going for a walk outside is a great option, but opening the home’s curtains and blinds will work, too.
• Encourage regular daily exercise, and make sure the session is finished no later than four hours before bedtime. 
• Discourage consumption of alcohol, nicotine, and caffeine.
• If your loved one takes a cholinesterase inhibitor, start giving the medication in the morning rather than at night. 
• Avoid having television and computer screens in the bedroom. 
• Treat any underlying sources of wakefulness, such as pain or depression.

If the above non-medical approaches don’t help as much as you’d hoped, consider talking to your loved one’s doctor about medications for sleep problems. In many cases, sleep-inducing medications can help take the edge off the situation and provide more restful nights for everyone involved. 

Nursing Home Care: A Loving Option

If you care for your loved one at home and are finding it challenging to keep up with their changing needs, Senatobia Healthcare is here for you. One of the premier nursing home facilities in Mississippi, we specialize in helping patients with Alzheimer’s and dementia live healthy, happy, fulfilling lives. Contact us today to learn more about our long-term care programs and how we can help you. 

Of all the things that are inevitable in life, aging is one of them. No matter how young you might feel, our brains age, and there’s not much we can do to stop it. Fortunately, the quality of life doesn’t have to go downhill with aging. There are things you can do to decrease the effects of aging on the brain.

One of them, as it turns out, is as simple as dancing. 

How Dancing Impacts the Brain

Think you can dance your way to a healthier brain? You might be right, and science is here to back you up. With normal aging, approximately 40% of people aged 65 and older will experience some degree of memory loss. If a condition like Dementia or Alzheimer’s is present, memory loss becomes more pronounced. 

Fortunately, recent studies have shown that regular exercise (and dancing, specifically) can help you maintain a healthy, youthful body and brain. Consider these findings:

• According to a study published in the journal “Frontiers in Human Neuroscience,” dancing is more effective than other physical activities at reversing aging in the brain.
• The same study examined MRI brain scans and age-related brain degeneration. The study took place over 18 months and looked at the effects of dancing compared to other forms of exercise. It found that 68-year-old people (the study’s average age) saw dramatic improvements in brain structure after participating in weekly dance classes.
• Most of the benefits of dancing appear in the brain’s hippocampus area, which is known to be most impacted by age-related declines. This is excellent news for people who have Alzheimer’s and other age-related illnesses. 

How to Dance Your Brain Back to Health

If you’ve suffered a stroke or a condition like Alzheimer’s, dancing is a great way to facilitate rehabilitation and restore the function of the brain. Here are a few ways to incorporate dancing as a healthcare method:

• Join a dance class. According to recent research, participating in choreographed dance routines can boost endurance, flexibility, and balance, while also triggering increased activity in the brain.
• Try a new style of dance. In the “Frontiers in Human Neuroscience” study, people who participated in Jazz and Latin-American dancing showed dramatic improvement in brain structure after weekly choreographed classes. With this in mind, try a new style of dance to keep things fresh.
• Start slow. For people who have had strokes or are suffering from Alzheimer’s or Dementia, enrolling in a dance class might be biting off too much all at once. In situations like these, starting slow is ideal. 

Dance Your Way to Healthy Living

Aging doesn’t have to be a downward spiral. Regardless of what your current state of health is, you can be empowered by doing certain activities and living healthy. These activities will slow down the negative aspects of aging and allow you to enjoy the positive. Dancing, specifically, is a great way to promote rehabilitation. Ranging from improved muscle movement and brain activity to better balance and more. 

Here at Senatobia, we specialize in helping you preserve and reclaim your health. Contact us today to learn more about our professional rehabilitation services. 

May 12-18 of this year was National Skilled Nursing Care Week. The theme for the week was “Live Soulfully.” The idea of “living soulfully” is nice, but what does it mean, especially in the realm of healthcare and aging? Is “living soulfully” a faith-based approach to the world? Or is it something people do on a day-to-day basis to define their outlook on the world? Here’s what we think:

The Definition of Soulful Living in Healthcare

Many people believe that getting older means giving up: giving up on life, on the things you love, on friends and family, and on having new aspirations. That’s a very depressing view, and we’re happy to report that it couldn’t be further from the truth. Yes – aging creates changes. What it does not do, though, is render people unable to enjoy life.

This is where the idea of living soulfully comes in.

Living soulfully is the act of embracing aging and finding ways to make the most of its changes. Living soulfully means bringing the things a person loves into the every day, whether that’s by cooking a special meal or finding new ways to get involved with a community. People who live soulfully welcome each season of their life, reaching out to uplift and be of service to others throughout.

It’s a beautiful concept, and it’s one our nursing care team here at Senatobia is happy to support.

4 Ways to Live Soulfully in Your Care Facility

Want to create a more fulfilling life for yourself or a loved one? Here are a few ways to bring more happiness into your daily routine:

1. Bring in the Outdoors

Did you know that indoor greenery like house plants reduce toxins, improve concentration and productivity, reduce stress levels, and improve your mood? Most importantly for people in nursing care facilities, they also provide structure and purpose – giving you something beautiful to focus on each day. 

With this in mind, bring in some beautiful, flowering plants for your room or apartment. Caring for them is one of the most soulful things you can do.

2. Reach out in Service

There is no pursuit so great as helping others. Live more soulfully by extending your energies to other people in need. Volunteer at your local soup kitchen, donate clothing to a women’s shelter or read to children at the library. Giving your time is a simple pursuit with a big payback.

3. Decorate Your Space

The environment you live in has a significant impact on your mental and emotional health. With this in mind, decorate your space with things that make you happy. Pictures of loved ones, treasured keepsakes, and soft, plush textiles will all make your area feel homier.

4. Focus on Relationships

One of the great things about nursing care facilities is that they provide an automatic community. So why not take advantage of it? Focus on the relationships you have in your new space – be they with other residents or a favorite caregiver. Forging secure connections with others is one of the best ways to feel happier and more fulfilled.

Finding Peace and Happiness in Your Golden Years

Living soulfully means creating a fulfilling life for yourself, no matter what season you’re in. By focusing on these four things and finding a community that’s just as dedicated to soulful living as you are, you can thrive both now and in the future.

Want to learn more about our healthcare offerings? Contact Senatobia Healthcare & Rehab today. 

The hip fracture: it may seem like a mild injury. In truth, it can be incredibly dangerous. Each year, more than 300,000 Americans ages 65 and older are hospitalized due to hip fractures. Even worse, these hospitalizations can lead to numerous other complications, like treatment-resistant infections and pneumonia. 

When it comes to hip fractures, an ounce of prevention is worth a pound of cure. Here’s what you and your elderly loved ones need to know about preventing hip fractures both now and in the future.

How Hip Fractures Happen

According to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), more than 95% of hip fractures are caused by falling – typically by falling sideways. While women experience three-quarters of all hip fractures, both men and women fracture their hips for many of the same reasons. 

Ice, uneven ground, household obstacles, and interference by pets and kids are the primary culprits. The risk of hip fractures goes up with aging – doubling with every five-year increase after the age of 50. By 90 years old, one in four women and one in eight men have fractured a hip.

Preventing Hip Fractures

Since hip fractures are so painful and difficult to recover from, it’s smart to be proactive about preventing them from happening in the first place. 

Here are a few ways to do just that:

Work With Your Doctor

Your healthcare provider is your primary line of defense when it comes to hip fractures. A doctor will educate you about your risk of falling and ways to avoid incidents. The doctor should review all the medications you’re taking to ensure there are no interactions between them that could cause dizziness or fatigue.

Finally, a doctor will screen you for osteoporosis and recommend a Vitamin D supplement to strengthen bones and improve density.

Stay Fit

Strength and balancing exercises (like moderate weight lifting and yoga) will both go a long way to prevent hip fractures. According to studies conducted and published by Harvard Health, just twelve minutes of yoga practice each day is enough to reverse and prevent osteoporotic bone loss. 

If yoga isn’t your thing, turn to other exercises like walking, strength training, or swimming to maintain your range of motion, improve stability, and prevent injury.

Make Your Home Safer

In-home obstacles are a significant factor behind many hip fractures. It’s tough to stay safe, for example, if you’re always worried about tripping over loose carpets or slipping down the stairs. With this in mind, here are a few simple tips to make your home safer:

• Get rid of items you could trip over – clutter is a primary culprit 
• Add grab bars to the bathroom, specifically on the sides of the toilet and the outside of the shower or bathtub
• Add railings to both sides of the stairs to prevent slipping
• Increase visibility by adding more lights throughout your home

Rehab Old Injuries

If you’ve suffered a hip fracture in the past, proper rehabilitation is critical to preventing it from happening again. An excellent rehabilitation facility will offer the occupational therapy (OT) and physical therapy (PT) you need to get stronger. If you live in a nursing care facility, tell the staff about your old injury (Assuming it did not happen at the facility). They’ll be able to put together a recovery plan that works for you.  

Looking for a healthcare and rehab center for education and recovery services? Contact Senatobia Healthcare today to learn more about our programs and offerings.

2019 is underway, and now is a great time to think about the changes that are coming down the pipe from the Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services (CMS). These new patient-driven payment model rules affect Skilled Nursing Facilities (SNFs) and Home Health Providers. Here’s what you need to know about how these healthcare changes will affect nursing homes in the coming months.

The Patient-Driven Payment Model: SNF Medicare Payments

The most significant change facing this segment of the healthcare industry is the patient-driven payment model, which is slated to roll out October of 2019. According to CMS, this model places a new emphasis “on the patient’s condition and resulting care needs. Rather than on the amount of care provided to determine Medicare payment.”

The change presents a noticeable shift toward value for nursing home and therapy facilities. Which means skilled nursing facilities will now have an incentive to evaluate a person’s total condition before determining whether or not that person is receiving the right care.

This promotes a more cohesive care model and disincentivizes care models where every task is carefully recorded and submitted for payment. Which is creating a waterfall of paperwork that’s virtually impossible to keep up with.

The 3 Primary Impacts of PDPM on Nursing Facilities

According to Optima Healthcare Solutions, PDPM will affect establishments in the following three ways:

1. Managing care. Unlike RUG-IV, which prompts high-volume care, PDPM will require establishments to pay close attention to how they deliver services. If a facility over-delivers therapy, it won’t be paid for the care that was provided. Likewise, under-delivering therapy in a way that leads to poor patient outcomes will result in potential Medicare audits and take-backs.
2. Staffing. Thanks to the reduction of total therapy minutes, there will be a decreased demand for therapists in the Skilled Nursing Facility (SNF) setting. This, in turn, will reduce the labor shortage companies trying to find qualified staff experience. It will also make it easier for facilities to locate and retain top therapy talent.
3. Financial. The mission of PDPM is to be budget neutral, which is especially likely in SNFs. Thanks to some new nursing allocations, SNFs are going to be able to offset the loss in therapy reimbursement with reimbursement for the nursing care that is already being provided.

The Positive Changes For Rehabilitation Facilities

According to most therapy settings, the introduction of the new patient-driven payment model is a good thing. This allows nursing home staff and care teams to take a more holistic, better-rounded approach to care. CMS is aiming to emphasize patient outcomes while also reducing the likelihood of penalties.

While care staff at Senatobia and throughout Mississippi will still have to use due diligence to classify patients. CMS will be there to help guide care and provide reimbursement thresholds for rehabilitation facilities. This program has the potential to positively impact both customers and care providers alike. Our team here at Senatobia looks forward to seeing what else the industry has in store for the coming year.

Want to learn more about the PDPM? Contact Senatobia today to find out how it will impact you or your loved one in care.

In healthcare, acronyms are everywhere. PA. MSW. CNA. RN, LPN. While these acronyms are meant to designate different levels of care, deciphering them can feel impossible.

The last three, especially, are essential for anyone curious about caring for the aging and related requirements. So, here’s what you need to know about the difference between a CNA, LPN, and RN.

Registered Nurse vs. Licensed Practical Nurse

While the names sound similar, there are many differences between RNs and LPNs.

While LPNs typically provide primary nursing care to ensure patient comfort, RNs receive a higher level of nursing education and training. Because of this, RN nurses are qualified to administer medication, advanced treatments, and educational materials to patients and families.

Here’s a brief breakdown of the job duties for each type of nurse:

LPNs

• Providing basic medical care, such as checking and recording vital signs
• Inserting catheters
• Ensuring patient comfort and helping with activities of daily living (ADLs)
• Discussing health care and treatment plans with patients and families
• Reporting vital patient information to nurses and doctors

RNs

• Administering medication and treatment to patients
• Working with doctors and PAs to coordinate patient care plans
• Performing diagnostic tests and interpret results
• Overseeing other nursing staff, such as LPNs, nursing aides, and home health aides
• Helping patients, families, and caregivers establish plans for ongoing care

What is a CNA?

A CNA, or Certified Nursing Assistant, typically will attend less school than either an RN or LPN. Regardless, they are a critical part of the healthcare environment, and many focus on more aging education requirements than either LPNs or RNs.

Serving as the frontline contact between medical staff and patients, CNAs often work in nursing homes and assisted living facilities. These nurses help patients bathe, dress, eat, use the bathroom, and maintain their dignity in a wide assortment of ways. Because of this they are highly sought after in the Nursing Home Industry.

CNAs may also dispense medication, and are often the principal caregivers in residential care facilities. And, with their specialized training, many work in home health care, as well.

High-Quality Healthcare With Senatobia

RNs, LPNs, and CNAs all serve critical purposes in the healthcare environment. Here at Senatobia Healthcare and Rehabilitation, we understand that. Our entire organizational mission is dedicated to “Compassionate Care.”

The Senatobia Healthcare staff and nurses focus on education, experience, and helping patients improve their quality of life. Our fully-staffed Physical Therapy & Rehabilitation Staff work alongside our nursing staff to help people get and stay as healthy, and independent as possible. Both mentally and physically.

If you or a loved one experiences care at Senatobia, you’ll see this commitment to compassionate care firsthand. If you’re a caretaker looking for a new opportunity, we invite you to consider our Center. We’re always looking for good caregivers with a deep commitment to patient care. Our culture of “Compassionate Care” creates a rewarding work environment for caregivers and staff, as well as everyone we treat. Contact us today to learn more about our job opportunities.

As we age, most of us expect to lose some functionality. We know that our muscles will change, that we may experience balance issues, that we’ll probably stop driving at some point, and that many of us will need help and may wind up in some form of assisted living.

But what about our mental capabilities?

If you’re familiar with Alzheimer’s disease and dementia, you know that these common conditions can affect people as they age. What most people don’t understand, though, is how common these conditions are or that there are actually some very important differences between the two.

Here’s what you need to know.

What is the Difference Between Alzheimer’s and Dementia?

While most people group Alzheimer’s and dementia into a single bucket, they’re not the same disease. While dementia is a blanket term used to describe a host of disorders that affect memory, daily activities, and performance, Alzheimer’s is a more specific kind of dementia. In fact, it is the most common type of dementia. Right now, Alzheimer’s is the 6th leading cause of death in the United States. It’s also important to remember that Alzheimer’s is a disease and dementia is a syndrome.

While it’s possible for young people to develop dementia or Alzheimer’s disease, the risk for each increases dramatically during the aging process. Additionally, people can have more than one type of dementia, while Alzheimer’s is a single condition.

Signs of Alzheimer’s and Dementia

Wondering how to spot the early indicators of dementia or Alzheimer’s in yourself or a loved one? Here are the signs to watch for:

• Memory Loss. No matter how old you are, it’s normal to experience occasional, mild memory loss. These “brain farts” don’t impact your overall life or put other people in danger. They’re as simple as forgetting your keys or being temporarily unable to recall someone’s name. Memory loss related to Alzheimer’s or dementia, however, is quite severe and ongoing and will disrupt your daily life. Think things like leaving the stove on or getting lost while you drive.

• Challenges With Everyday Tasks. If everyday tasks, like paying bills, getting dressed, cleaning the house, or cooking a meal have suddenly become difficult, it’s time to take notice. Alzheimer’s and dementia both cause concentration and focus difficulties that become more severe over time.

• Confusion About Time or Place. While it’s normal to think it’s Thursday when it’s actually Wednesday, it’s not normal to lose track of dates, passages of time, or seasons. These are some of the earliest signs of Alzheimer’s and dementia.

Senatobia Healthcare: Your Partner in Dementia Care

Nobody wants to experience dementia. This condition affects about 5% of the older population, though, and rates are expected to double by 2020. If you or a loved one are experiencing early signs of dementia, Senatobia Healthcare can provide the resources, information about possible treatments, and care you need to keep life moving forward. Contact us today to learn more.

Betty Friedan once said, “Aging is not ‘lost youth’ but a new stage of opportunity and strength.” Unfortunately, it can be tough to see it that way when you’re right in the midst of it, or when you’re watching a loved one move through the aging process.

Between limited physical abilities, changing lifestyles and bodies, and the mental and emotional challenges that come with growing older, it’s no wonder aging can be so difficult for everyone affected by it.

Fortunately, it is possible to navigate the aging process gracefully and to help your loved ones do the same. Here’s what you need to know:

What Happens During the Aging Process?

The process of getting older is filled with seemingly baffling changes and shifts. Here are some of the most common, according to MedLine:

“As aging continues, waste products build up in tissue… Connective tissue changes, becoming stiffer. This makes the organs, blood vessels, and airways more rigid. Cell membranes change, so many tissues have more trouble getting oxygen and nutrients and removing carbon dioxide and other wastes. Many tissues lose mass. This process is called atrophy. Some tissues become lumpy (nodular) or more rigid. Because of cell and tissue changes, organs also change as you age. Aging organs slowly lose function. Most people do not notice this loss immediately, because you rarely need to use your organs to their fullest ability.”

Because of these physical changes, many people also lose independence during the aging process, moving out of their family homes and into long – or short-term care facilities.

How to Help Your Parents Through the Aging Process

Currently, there are about 10 million adult children in the U.S. who are caring for their aging parents. If you’re one of them, you’re probably looking for any tips you can find about how to help your parents navigate their golden years as enjoyable as possible. Here are a few things our staff recommends:

• Enlist Community Support. It takes a village to help someone age gracefully. With this in mind, don’t be afraid to enlist the support of your friends or family. Have the neighbor check on your parents when you’re out of town, start a meal train, and encourage your parents to get involved with community events and activities to stay active and sharp.

• Keep up With Doctor’s Visits. As your parents get older, be sure they’re keeping up on their doctor’s appointments. This is a great way to prevent needless issues from arising and detect small problems before they become big ones.

• Look for Warning Signs. Helping your parents age is as much about looking for danger signs as it is promoting independence. If your parent starts wandering, getting lost, forgetting things like time, dates, or directions, or exhibiting behavior that is likely to be dangerous to themselves or someone else, it’s time to call in additional help. In these cases, physical therapy, a nursing home, and other such resources can help prevent or reverse declining health.

Aging Can be Graceful

Here at Senatobia Health Care, we are a short and long-term care facility.  Our goal is to help slow the aging process and promote health and wellbeing (for older adults and the children of aging parents, as well), well into the golden years. Call us today to learn how our Mississippi caregivers can help you or a loved one stay healthy and independent for as long as possible.

Here’s what you need to know about the process of working with physical therapists, and how critical the process is to healthcare as a whole.

For many people, the idea of physical therapy is a foreign one. Often associated with accidents, strokes and aging, it is frequently seen as something designed for people with extreme injuries or illnesses.  But did you know that its benefits extend far beyond rehabilitation? Yes – physical therapy can help you heal from a traumatic health event, but it can also strengthen muscles, promote independence, and encourage better balance and improved health.

The Benefits of Physical Therapy

While physical therapy is an effective treatment for people recovering from accidents or strokes, its benefits stretch far beyond that. According to the National Institutes of Health, physical therapy can improve balance and strength and boost overall fitness and mobility. These are things that all aging people can benefit from, as each of those perks will promote independence and long-term comfort and health.

Want to learn more? Here are a few other benefits of PT:

• Improved Balance. Did you know that adults lose 10% of their strength and balance for every decade that passes after the 30s? As it stands now, one in four Americans over the age of 65 will fall each year. Falling is currently one of the primary risks facing the aging population. Fortunately, physical therapy can help reduce this risk. By improving balance and strength, PT can make falls less likely and promote long-term health.
• Better Social Interaction. Senior isolation can be a real risk for the mental and emotional health of the aging population. Fortunately, physical therapy provides structure and social interaction, both of which can promote happiness and wellbeing.
• Independence. Even for seniors who have not suffered an accident or stroke, physical therapy promotes wellbeing and can help support independence. Because of this, many seniors who want to live on their own for as long as possible utilize physical therapy as a prophylactic measure.

How to Get the Most out of Physical Therapy

Are you or a loved one considering physical therapy? If so, there are a few simple “rules” that will help you get the most out of the process. The first is to maintain a positive attitude.

Physical therapy can be a tough process, and it will push your physical boundaries. No matter how hard it gets, though, it’s critical to maintain a healthy attitude and be positive about your course of treatment. This will improve your results and help you create the change you want to see.

Maintaining open communication is also essential. Your relationship with your physical therapist will become a close one. Ask the questions you have about your health and treatment. Express your concerns and roadblocks. Be grateful for your changes. As you move through your therapy process, this communication will help ensure you’re getting a comprehensive treatment plan that works for you.

Physical Therapy: A Critical Form of Healthcare

For seniors, stroke survivors, anyone who has suffered an accident, and people who simply want to promote independence, physical therapy is a great option. Designed to promote balance, graceful aging, and long-term strength and mobility, PT is good for the mind, body, and heart.

At Senatobia Healthcare and Rehab we honor and appreciate the hard work of our PT’s and PTA’s.  Every year during the month of October is National Physical Therapy Month (#ChoosePT).  This is an especially opportune time to celebrate and  “Thank a Physical Therapist”!

To learn more about physical therapy or to speak with one of our experienced physical therapists, contact our team today!

While aging looks different for everyone, there are three common conditions that create a need for rehabilitation for older adults. Learn more about each (and how you can avoid them) here.

As we age, our bodies start to wear down. It’s an unfortunate truth, but it’s something we all go through eventually. In most cases, this gradual breakdown is normal and does not impair the activities of daily living as an older adult.

Many seniors remain mobile and independent well into their golden years. In other situations, though, conditions like balance problems and strokes, or the injuries caused by accidents like falls can create a dynamic that requires physical therapy or rehabilitation.

In these cases, extended care is typically necessary, and may be the only way a person can get back to health and continue to live independently.

While not all of these situations are preventable, there are certain preventative actions you and your loved ones can take to ensure health in the long-term.

The 3 Most Common Conditions That Require Nursing Care

From injuries to chronic conditions, these are the most common situations that may land seniors in long-term care or rehabilitation:

1. Strokes

Strokes are the third leading cause of death in the U.S. Each year, upwards of 140,000 people die from strokes. Beyond that, though, they are the leading cause of long-term disability in this country, with more than 795,000 people suffering strokes annually.

Depending on their severity, strokes can cause slurred speech, impaired movement, and paralysis. After suffering a stroke, most patients go through physical therapy or nursing care to regain strength and re-integrate into their normal lives.

2. Balance Problems

According to Move Forward, a division of the American Physical Therapy Association, balance problems affect 75% of older adults ages 70 plus. While these vary in severity, they can be crippling and can lead to ongoing problems with strength and stability.

When balance problems reach an unstable level, physical therapy is often required to help the senior fix muscle weakness and joint stiffness, and regain the strength needed to live independently or semi-independently.

3. Falls

Falls are very common among people ages 65 and older. In fact, NCOA (The National Council on Aging) reports that one in four Americans ages 65 and older fall annually, and that American emergency rooms treat a senior for a fall every 11 minutes. Falls can cause injury and have a heavy impact on quality of life.

Broken hips, chronic pain, and disability are all potential side effects of falls and can make it difficult for a senior to maintain independence without physical therapy or nursing care.

How to Avoid Needing Rehabilitation as Older Adults (or Speed the Healing Process)

While not all conditions are avoidable, these tips can help seniors stay healthy and speed up healing throughout the golden years:

• Stay active. The more active a senior stays, the lower the risk of injury. Regular activity keeps the heart and bones healthy and can help ward off balance problems and muscle atrophy.
• See a doctor regularly. It’s recommended older adults see a primary care provider on a regular basis. This can help prevent major health incidents and deliver preventative care.
• Eat a healthy diet. A healthy diet is one of the best ways to prevent strokes, heart disease, diabetes, and other conditions that often necessitate rehabilitation.

Want to learn more about staying healthy as you age? Visit our blog to read the latest news.