Therapy and exercise
Physical health is an important consideration for aged care providers. The benefits of physical activity are immense and will greatly impact overall resident health.
Accessing therapy and exercise:
Depending on the facility and care being received there may be a variety of therapies that either you or your loved one can take advantage of.
Physiotherapists play a critical role in the aged care sector. They can assist in many areas including:
Pain management – Many aged care residents suffer from chronic pain. It is important that they receive treatment or find ways to cope with it.
Rehabilitation - Physiotherapists can help victims of fall-related injuries or any other injuries that aged care residents may acquire.
Manual handling - Physiotherapists assess the use of equipment for the elderly and ensure that staff use the safest techniques to handle the elderly.
Exercise - They can run group exercises for you to take part in to keep active or assist you in developing a schedule to benefit your physical health.
Accessing Physiotherapy services:
The cost of accessing physiotherapy services depends on the individual’s eligibility for government subsidised packages such as the Commonwealth Home Support Program and Home Care Packages. If eligible, individuals may be able to access subsidised providers in their area and may only have to contribute a small fee. Some physiotherapy services may also be bulk billed under the Medicare scheme. However, most physiotherapy services will not be covered by Medicare, and instead may be covered under private health insurance or must be paid out of pocket. To access these services, you must first determine your eligibility for subsidised care, and then you will be able to search and get in contact with the appropriate providers.
