Seniors & Disabled

Adaptive devices like sock aids, reachers, and elastic shoelaces enable patients to perform activities of daily living (ADLs) with greater ease, allowing them to focus on living life to the fullest. For individuals recovering from surgery or managing chronic conditions that affect physical mobility, these tools provide a sense of empowerment and control that is valuable for maintaining a positive outlook. Join us as we explore three examples of small tools that have made a big impact on our featured client, Annie.

For many individuals, mealtime is more than just an opportunity to nourish the body; it is a deeply social and emotional experience. Sitting at the table, sharing a meal, and engaging in conversation fosters a sense of connection and community. However, for clients living with conditions such as Parkinson’s disease, muscular dystrophy, and other movement impairments, the act of eating can be fraught with frustration, embarrassment, and even isolation.

As a physical therapist, you play a pivotal role in protecting your patients from falls—the leading cause of injury among older adults. With over 36 million falls annually in the United States resulting in more than 32,000 deaths, addressing this issue is both a professional responsibility and an opportunity to improve patient outcomes. This guide offers actionable insights into prevention strategies, patient care tips, and tools to empower your practice.

We navigate our world through locomotion, however we manipulate our world through the use of our hands. The benefits of maintaining a healthy strong grip are many! There has not been a paucity of research to demonstrate the overall positive influence and importance of grip strength in overall health

Anyone who has an elderly or disabled loved one or works with such patients knows that a fall can be devastating to their health and well-being no matter where it happens. A fall threatens independence and overall health. According to the CDC, more than one in four Americans 65 and older fall each year. These falls not only affect the health of those who experience them but generate significant personal and economic costs. But falling does not need to be an inevitability of aging and/or physical impairments; there are measures and programs that can be used to significantly reduce the risk of falling for our aging and disabled population.

While utilizing pill-splitters or crushers is beneficial in a hospital and other environments, there are also risks for using such a device. These risks include cross-contamination of different drugs, especially if there is not a cleaning procedure between different patients or drugs.1 This article will help break down the best practices of using a pill-splitter device to follow Joint Commission Standard: MM.05.01.07, which explains how to safely prepare medications.

National Service Dog Month is observed during the month of September. In this article, you’ll learn about service dogs, the environments they are trained to work in, and products that can be of assistance to you while you wait for your new companion.

Pilates is a perfect exercise regimen for older adults because it does not have the impact on the body that other forms of exercise do and is not nearly as severe on the joints as most workouts. Learn more about Pilates and its benefits to find out if it's the right exercise program for you!

Meals for those who have cerebral palsy, regardless of how severe the disorder is, can last much longer than the average mealtime. It can be difficult for adults with cerebral palsy (CP) to eat or drink if they have trouble controlling their hands. Fortunately, dining aids like weighted utensils and robotic feeders can help adults with CP go on to lead an independent life. Read this round up to learn about 12 dining aids that help increase user independence during mealtime!