At Touchstone Communities, we believe in the overwhelming power of physical therapy to change lives. That’s why we collaborate with Aegis Therapies® to provide best-in-class physical therapy services in our communities. Whether people are with us for short-term skilled nursing care, long-term care, or rehabilitation therapy after illness, injury, or a hospital stay, personalized physical therapy can help seniors regain strength, independence and functionality. Here are five ways that physical therapy can Make Lives Better.

1. Improving Mobility and Balance – According to the CDC, about 36 million falls are reported among older adults each year. Physical therapists help seniors at skilled nursing facilities improve their balance, muscle strength, range of motion and flexibility, which reduces their risk of falls. This helps seniors improve their safety and their confidence. Physical therapy also helps people maintain or improve mobility by increasing strength, flexibility and balance. This allows seniors to perform daily activities more independently. By using targeted exercises and an individualized approach to care for every person, physical therapists can create customized routines that help meet the needs of each person they treat.

2. Managing Pain Without Medications – Pain medications can be a necessary part of healthcare, but sometimes they have unwanted side effects, and they don’t treat the root cause of pain. Physical therapists work to treat the source of pain that comes from conditions like arthritis, muscle pain or other conditions. PTs use techniques such as manual therapy, heat or cold therapy, traction, ultrasound or electrical stimulation to help decrease pain without medications. This allows seniors to live their daily lives more comfortably.

3. Speeding Recovery After Surgery – Gone are the days when getting surgery meant days of bed rest in the hospital. Now, it’s understood that being sedentary after surgery or illness can cause loss of mobility and other problems. Physical therapists help seniors resume movement safely, which means that they can get back to their daily lives more quickly and with fewer lasting health problems.

4. Managing Chronic Conditions – People with chronic conditions such as Parkinson’s disease, multiple sclerosis, COPD, diabetes, osteoporosis and arthritis can all benefit from physical therapy. Physical therapists help seniors with these conditions manage their symptoms through approaches that strengthen muscles, improve range of motion, help them maintain balance, control weight or blood pressure, reduce joint pain and more.

5. Enhancing Strength and Endurance – Strength and endurance affect all areas of life, including the ability to climb stairs, carry groceries, or perform other activities of daily living. Physical therapy can help seniors maintain or even increase their strength or endurance so they can have the highest possible quality of life and level of independence.

Touchstone Communities & Aegis Therapies

Touchstone Communities is proud to collaborate with Aegis Therapies to provide rehab for seniors that improves independence and quality of life. To learn more about the collaboration between Aegis Therapies and Touchstone Communities, watch this video in which Leslie Campbell, Chief Operating Officer of Touchstone, and Martha Schram, President & CEO of Aegis Therapies, discuss the meaning of the collaboration.

Whether you or a loved one is with us for short-term care, long-term care or rehab after a hospital stay, we’ll create a customized plan of care that helps you reach your goals. Contact a community near you for more information.