Elderly Physiotherapy at Home in Hadapsar, Pune

Older residents of Hadapsar live in very different homes: a narrow three-storey house in the older village lanes, a ground-floor bungalow with a yard, a flat reached by a long staircase, or an apartment in a large township with a lift and a security desk. A loss of confidence or a fall can happen in any of them, and what keeps an older person safe differs from home to home. That is why a physiotherapist who visits can do more than one who works in a clinic.

Our guide to physiotherapy for senior citizens gives the general picture of ageing and exercise. This page looks at how a home session works in Hadapsar.

The hazards that sit inside Hadapsar homes

• Thresholds and level changes. Raised doorsteps, bathroom lips and a step down to the kitchen are common in older houses. They catch a shuffling foot.
• Floor-level living. Sleeping on a mattress on the floor and eating or praying on it means getting down and up several times a day, which becomes difficult with weak legs.
• Steep internal stairs. Many houses have narrow, steep staircases with a rail on only one side, or none.
• Bathrooms. Wet tiles, an Indian-style toilet and no grab rail make the bathroom the most likely place for a fall.
• Dim corridors and night trips. Walking to the toilet in the dark, half asleep, is a typical cause of falls.

During the first visit the physiotherapist walks through these with you and your family, and agrees which ones to deal with first.

What the session works on

An assessment looks at strength in the legs, balance, walking speed, the way you stand up from a chair, joint stiffness and any dizziness. Exercises are then chosen to strengthen the thighs and hips, improve balance and keep joints moving. Most are done standing near a sturdy counter or sitting on a firm chair, and they can be done safely in a small room. Breathing and stamina work is included where it is appropriate. For knees or hips that hurt, the treatment is tied to the pain advice on the knee pain physiotherapy in Hadapsar page, and for those recovering from a stroke, to stroke rehabilitation in Hadapsar.

Doctors sometimes change blood pressure or diabetes medicines, and these can cause dizziness on standing. We check how you feel on rising, and if you feel faint we tell your family to speak to the doctor.

Keeping going between visits

• Practise the chair-stand exercise a few times daily with a sturdy chair against a wall.
• Walk indoors or on a level compound at the same times each day, with someone nearby at first.
• Put a night-light between the bed and the toilet, and keep slippers with grip beside the bed.
• Move a rug, cable or low stool that blocks the path.
• Rise slowly: sit at the bed edge for a moment before standing.
• Drink water through the day unless the doctor has limited fluids.

Family and caregivers

If a son, daughter or paid helper looks after the patient, the physiotherapist can show them how to assist without strain and how to spot warning signs. We would rather hand over a short routine that is done than a long sheet that is not. When relatives live elsewhere, we can talk to them by phone after the visit about progress.

When an older person needs a doctor first

A fall with severe pain, a leg that looks shortened or turned, or a head injury needs a hospital. New confusion, sudden weakness on one side or trouble speaking is an emergency. So are chest pain and fainting. Persistent dizziness, sudden weight loss or a new loss of appetite should be discussed with the family doctor before exercise is increased.

Booking for a parent

Describe the person's difficulties, any recent hospital stay, the floor and the landmark when you book a visit. You will find the whole picture of our visits in home physiotherapy in Hadapsar, and more about whether home care suits a parent in can elderly patients receive physiotherapy at home.