First Assessment
Free
45 minutes, at home
- Full clinical examination at the patient's home
- The likely cause explained in plain language
- A realistic recovery plan and what it will cost
- No obligation to book any further sessions
Older people in Hirabaug often live in the same home they have lived in for decades. They know every step and every corner, yet that familiarity can hide risk: a mat that curls, a passage lit by one weak bulb, a bathroom threshold that was no problem at sixty and is a hazard at eighty. When a fall happens, the physical injury is only half the story. The other half is the loss of confidence that follows.
Our page on physiotherapy for older people covers the general approach. This page is about the way we work with an older person at home in Hirabaug.
A room-by-room walk through the house
At the first visit, the physiotherapist goes through the home with the patient and the family, looking at the following.
- Floors. Loose mats, slippery tiles near the kitchen or bath, cables across walkways.
- Light. The passage to the toilet at night, and the stairs.
- Bed and chair. A seat that is too low or too soft makes standing hard. A bed that is too high makes getting down risky.
- Bathroom. The threshold, the floor surface, whether there is something to hold on to, and whether the patient sits or stands to wash.
- Stairs and entrance. The rail, the steps' height and the light at the landing.
Some changes cost nothing, such as removing a mat. Others, like grab bars or a raised toilet seat, are decisions for the family.
Strength and balance that fit the person
The routine is short and specific. Sit-to-stand practice from a firm chair, heel raises holding a counter, stepping side to side, and standing balance with a hand near a wall are the foundation. The physiotherapist adjusts each exercise to heart condition, joint pain and bone strength, and keeps it safe by having a stable surface at hand. Joint pain is handled with the principles in knee pain physiotherapy in Hirabaug, and after a stroke the programme on stroke rehabilitation applies.
Dizziness on standing, new confusion, or a recent change in medicines should be reported to the doctor, since the cause may not be in the muscles at all.
Going out on your own again
Hirabaug is a busy junction on Tilak Road, and crossing roads or walking through crowds takes confidence as well as strength. The physiotherapist practises the steps outside the door, then the walk to the gate, and then a short trip with the patient: crossing a quiet lane, pausing, looking, and judging speed. Walking in a lane at a quiet time of day is a good start, and a larger garden such as Saras Baug, which has a jogging track, suits longer walks once the patient is steady.
A stick or a walker may be recommended. If so, we adjust the height and show how to use it on steps and kerbs, because a wrongly set aid is itself a hazard.
Involving the family
Children often live elsewhere or work long hours. We keep the exercise set short and written down, and show whoever is present how to stand beside the patient and encourage without rushing. Our article on the benefits of home physiotherapy for older adults gives more reasons why home sessions suit this age group.
When to call a doctor
After any fall, seek medical help if there is a blow to the head, severe pain in the hip or wrist, or inability to stand. Chest pain, fainting, sudden confusion or weakness on one side are emergencies.
To arrange a visit, request an appointment and tell us about the home and the person. More on how we work is on the Hirabaug physiotherapy page.