Today we were visited by a Physical Therapist (Hospice, I think), sent by dh's doctor because of his balance issues. I had asked her to send in a crew to assess the house for things to improve on for safety but they sent a PT. She asked a lot of questions, had husband enter his shower, get up and down off toilet, walk down the hall, etc. and then showed him exercises for balance. They will come 2/week for 3 weeks. She did convince him that he should try to walk with a walker for safety sake because it would help him with his balance. I had a wonderful loaner walker from the Senior Center that he refused to use. The PT will teach him how to use it and I think that will make it fine (as long as it isn't me trying to teach him - he always responds more positively to what the doctor tells him to do). . My question is: have any of your spouses used a PT before? Was it helpful? I've always wondered how a person with AD is "taught" something new, beneficial to their bodies or not? Dh did seem to enjoy the attention and the PT was very experienced with people like him. Just wonderin how this has gone with any of you??
We had a PT in 2-3 times a week last summer. He was very good and was good with DH. DH did fairly well while he was here, but after he would leave, he had no idea he had been here, and, of course, promptly forgot everything he was to do. It did more for me than DH. By that, I mean, while the PT was here, I could go outside, sit on the porch, have a nice cup of coffee and relax for a time. In fact, the PT told me I could leave the house while he was here- but it just wasn't long enough to really go anywhere.
So...yes, it helps - at least for the moment - but with DH,not for the long haul.
PT is like everything else when it comes to Alzheimer's. Good for the moment. Sid had PT for his back and legs at various diffeent times. Same old story. He followed the PT's instructions while she was here, but promptly forgot that she had been here and certainly never remembered to do any of the "homework" exercises. It would have been up to me to be "PT in absentia", meaning I would have to have a session with him every day, explain what he was to do, show him what to do, and make him do it. Since he wouldn't listen to me, and I was honestly tired of adding another "hat" to my list of jobs, PT was discontinued. His latest orthopedic won't even recommend it. He said it's useless in a person with Alzheimer's for the reasons I have listed.
The only time PT "worked" for my DHwas during the first 2-2.5 months he was in the NH, and that's because they quickly realzed that in his mind PT was iding he bike. They let him come down and do that mostk mornin gs, ven sometimes when he wsn't actuallyscheduled forPT. It madre him happy ad did help mainain his functioon for a wile. Actual PT?--not really. Social--yes, and he was doing nearly nothing else social. His CHF was worsening and he slowly stopped wanting to go to PT.
As I have mentioned before-my daughter is a memory care specialist. She is very much in favor of a PT assessment. The PT can offer suggestions to the CG about making the home safer, address balance issues-sometimes just a change of shoes. It is more to instruct the CG as of course the person with dementia won't remember much-if anything.
Claude had balance problems and was falling frequently. I couldn't get him up by myself and practically was on a first name basis with the EMT's at our local fire station. His doctor ordered PT and it really helped him with his balance, leg strengthing and inadvertedly helped him with his lower back problems. He couldn't remember what she told him, but he would listen to me most of the time and I would help him practice.
The best thing of the PT was he became comfortable with strangers in the house. Prior to her coming, he was very fearful of strangers (or who he thought were strangers) in the house which limited my respite time immensely unless one of the kids was here to stay with him. He really liked Dawn and could get him to smile and laugh which he seldom did otherwise.
DH had in home PT for 2-3 weeks after hospitalization in 2011. As bluedaze says they purpose of the PT is to show the CG how to conduct/supervise the exercises between visits so we can help with the muscle strengthening/balance to prevent falls and accidents which we will be responsible for managing if they happen. The PT did recommend buying a stationery bike for DH to keep his thigh muscles strong to prevent future balance issues and falls.
Okay, you have all verified my thoughts on this subject. A OT will be making a visit here soon to evaluate what I need to do to make the house more user-friendly for Herb's declining functioning, and tell me how to get the work done. That's a good thing. Today, I did exercises with Herb and I think that's a good thing for him, as well, and probably me, too. I think teaching him how to use the Walker will be invaluable as he won't use it if I suggest it but will if the "professional" goes there with him. For now, I think it will work out well.
We joined a gym that only takes people over 50. I chose it because they have a trainer stay with a special needs person (physical or mental) through the whole workout. They set up the machines, keep count for him, show him how to do the exercise...every time! We go twice a week and Jim is now making every one feel his arm muscles! It's great for me too, because I can work out by myself and get a little break but still keep an eye on him. It's only $20 a month, too!
We are also going to see a PT soon for balance help. Hopefully we can see them once a week regularly. I know Medicare now requires PT to be offered to those who will never completely improve, which is great for AD patients.
I am a firm believer in PT and any other thing they want to offer, such as OT and restorative care. True Lynn is late stage and needs total care, so no he can not follow these instructions, BUT it does help keep his body from getting rigid and it helps with his overall health to be doing these exercises.
Aside from the care he gets twice a day, I also learned from them how to exercise all the joints and do additional exercises daily with him as well. For someone as advanced as he is, he still has pretty good range of motion. What's that old saying, something like, If you don't use it, you lose it!