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Body and mind: how physiotherapy can help seniors with dementia

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The physiotherapists at The Physio Co can work with you to keep you mentally and physically active. Visits from our friendly physios not only help with dementia, but also provide an invaluable lift in mood. We come to you!

Body and mind: how physiotherapy can help seniors with dementia
01 OctHealth, Lifestyle

Body and mind: how physiotherapy can help seniors with dementia

As defined by Dementia Australia, dementia describes a collection of symptoms that are caused by disorders affecting the brain – thinking, behaviour and the ability to perform everyday tasks.

At The Physio Co (TPC), our most effective treatment comes in the form of functional, multi-activity exercises that reflect a person’s lifestyle, passions and hobbies.

It is so important we know the person; what did they do for work? Which sports do they love? Which footy team do they barrack for? If we can divulge personal information by talking to them and their family – or picking up on clues – we can build a picture of what their life has been.

Finding the sweet spot

A lovely old Irishman by the name of Gerry lived in an aged care facility and used to wear a tartan flat cap with a pom-pom on top. So our physio Robyn took a golf putter in one day and set up a putt-putt course. All of a sudden, a number of folks who were not very mobile got up and started moving. Things became pretty competitive!

Another lady picked up the putter and practised a full backswing! The club obviously triggered something.

Often, dementia sufferers lose recent memory but retain early memories – sometimes even childhood memories. So a prop such as a putter, or a badminton racquet or even a song can get the synapses going and get the body moving.

Come on Eileen!

Dexys2 2227993b 300x172Another woman, named Eileen, was in great physical condition, but she was no longer able to talk and had lost a lot of cognitive function. TPC Physio, Robyn, would walk with her and play Come on Eileen by Dexys Midnight Runners on her phone. On hearing the first few bars, Eileen would light up. Her often expressionless face would break into the biggest, cheekiest smile. She would get the giggles and get her groove on. Dancing is so good for strength and balance!

We love to see Australian seniors getting joy out of life. And by understanding the person we can build familiarity and create a bond, which helps to break down any resistance or negative associations and perceptions.

Non-structured exercise, such as dancing and sport provides an opportunity for dementia sufferers to rediscover themselves and sometimes find new capacity.

Physiotherapy helps to maintain strength, fitness and endurance, as well as balance, contributing to an improved overall quality of life – keeping seniors mobile, safe and happy. There is evidence to suggest that physiotherapy, even something as simple as gentle massage and facilitated relaxation sessions can help to manage symptoms and cognitive decline.

Treating injury or stiffness

In the case of specific injury or pain, it is super-important that physiotherapists and healthcare workers consider the verbal and non-verbal ways that senior clients with dementia might be communicating that they are in pain.

There are different types of dementia and different tolerance levels to pain, but pain receptors are the same for everybody. We have to consider the stage of disease, age and previous injuries during our work with people experiencing dementia.

In the case of a senior person with dementia who isn’t able to speak, our physios will assess them using touch, palpation, strength and observation of movement and function. We will assess the whole body and look out for the hallmarks of distress such as flinching, guarding, vocalising or grimacing. Rigid muscles and severe stiffness are not uncommon and muscles can respond to being injured in many different ways. We do not want to cause any further discomfort or create any link between treatment and pain.

Everybody on the ticket

As cognitive function in an older person declines, it usually gets harder for them to follow their physiotherapy or exercise program. At that point, a person’s support network (that is, family / friends / carers, etc ) can help the person get their important exercise program done in between physiotherapy sessions to help them stay as mobile, safe and happy as possible.

Alongside a trusted medical team, having a person’s friends and families understanding the condition and how they can help from early onset of dementia can make a huge difference to the life and happiness of a senior client.

Interested in knowing more?
Please call on 1300 797 793 or email [email protected] 🙂

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The Physio Co Cancellation Policy is as follows:

We require 3 hours notice otherwise the session will be charged at full cost. If the client cancels within 24 hours, the appointment will be charged at half price. Anything after 24 hours, there will be no charge. Medical reasons are of course exempt from the above, as long as we have been made aware one hour prior to the appointment. If you are ever unsure, please call the client care team at 1300 797 793.

DIRECT DEBIT REQUEST SERVICE AGREEMENT
COMPANY NAME: THE PHYSIO CO AUSTRALIA PTY LTD
ADDRESS: 25 DORCAS STREET, SOUTH MELBOURNE, VIC, 3205
CONTACT DETAILS: 1300 797 793

This is Your Direct Debit Service Agreement with THE PHYSIO CO AUSTRALIA PTY LTD (ABN: 54120918854). It explains what Your obligations are when undertaking a Direct Debit arrangement with us It also details what our obligations are to You as Your Direct Debit provider. Please keep this agreement for future reference. It forms part of the terms and conditions of Your Direct Debit Request (DDR) and should be read in conjunction With Your DDR authorisation.

Definitions

account means the account held at Your financial institution from which we are authorised to arrange for funds to be debited
agreement means this ment Agreement between You and us.
banking day means a day other than a Saturday or a Sunday or a public holiday listed throughout Australia.
debit day means the day that payment by You to us is due.
debit payment means a particular transaction where a debit is made.
direct debit request means the Direct Debit Request between us and You,
us or we means THE PHYSIO C0 AUSTRALIA PTY LTD, (the Debit User) You have authorised by requesting a Direct Debit Request.
You means the customer who has signed or authorised by other means the Direct Debit Request
Your financial institution means the financial institution nominated by You on the DDR at which the account is maintained

  1. Debiting Your account
    1. By signing a Direct Debit Request or by providing us with a valid instruction, You have authorised us to arrange for funds to be debited from Your account, You should refer to the Direct Debit Request and this agreement for the terms of the arrangement between us and You.
    2. We will only arrange for funds to be debited from Your account as authorised in the Direct Debit Request.
      Or
      We will only arrange for funds to be debited from Your account if we have sent to the address nominated by You in the Direct Debit Request, a billing advice which specifies the amount payable by You to us and when it is due,
    3. If the debit day falls on a day that is not a banking day, we may direct Your financial institution to debit Your account on the followrng banking day. If You are unsure about which day Your account has or will be debited You should ask Your financial institution.
  2. Amendments by us
    1. We may vary any details of this agreement or a Direct Debit Request at any time by giving You at least fourteen (14) days written notice
  3. Amendments by You
    You may change* , stop or defer a debit payment, or terminate this agreement by providing us with at least 30 days notification by writing to-
    THE PHYSIO CO AUSTRALIA PTY LTD
    25 DORCAS STREET, SOUTH MELBOURNE, VIC, 3205
    Or
    by telephoning us on 1300 797 793 during business hours;
    Or
    arranging it through Your own financial institution, which is required to act promptly on Your instructions.
    *Note: in relation to the above reference to ‘change’, Your financial institution may ‘change’ Your debit payment only to the extent of advising us THE PHYSIO CO AUSTRALIA PTY LTD of Your new account details.
  4. Your obligations
    1. It is Your responsibility to ensure that there are sufficient clear funds available in Your account to allow a debit payment to be made in accordance with the Direct Debit Request.
    2. If there are insufficient clear funds in Your account to meet a debit payment:
      • You may be charged a fee and/or interest by Your financial institution;
      • You may also incur fees or charges imposed or incurred by us, and
      • You must arrange for the debit payment to be made by another method or arrange for sufficient clear funds to be in Your account by an agreed time so that we can process the debit payment.
    3. You should check Your account statement to verify that the amounts debited from Your account are correct
  5. Dispute
    1. If You believe that there has been an error in debiting Your account, You should notify us directly on 1300 797 793 and confirm that notice in writing with us as soon as possible so that we can resolve Your query more quickly, Alternatively You can take it up directly With Your financial institution.
    2. If we conclude as a result of our investigations that Your account has been incorrectly debited we Will respond to Your query by arranging for Your financial institution to adjust Your account (including interest and charges) accordingly. We Will also notify You in writing of the amount by which Your account has been adjusted
    3. If we conclude as a result of our investigations that Your account has not been incorrectly debited we Will respond to Your query by providing You with reasons and any evidence for this finding in writing.
  6. Accounts
    You should check:
    • with Your financial institution whether direct debiting is available from Your account as direct debiting is not available on all accounts offered by financial institutions.
    • Your account details which You have provided to us are correct by checking the against a recent account statement,- and
    • with Your financial institution before completing the Direct Debit Request if You have any queries about how to complete the Direct Debit Request.
  7. Confidentiality
    1. We will keep any information (including Your account details) in Your Direct Debit Request confidential. We will make reasonable efforts to keep any such information that we have about You secure and to ensure that any of our employees or agents who have access to information about You do not make any unauthorised use, modification, reproduction or disclosure of that information.
    2. We will only disclose information that we have about You:
      • to the extent specifically required by law; or
      • for the purposes of this agreement (including disclosing information in connection with any query or claim).
  8. Notice
    1. If You Wish to notify us in writing about anything relating to this agreement, You should write to
      THE PHYSIO CO AUSTRALIA PTY LTD
      25 DORCAS STREET, SOUTH MELBOURNE, VIC, 3205
    2. We Will notify You by sending a notice in the ordinary post to the address You have given us in the Direct Debit Request.
    3. Any notice will be deemed to have been received on the third banking day after posting.

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