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
A parent can live comfortably in the same Koregaon Park bungalow for decades, and then, almost without anyone noticing, the house starts to push back. The verandah step feels higher, the bathroom floor feels slicker, the walk to the gate is shorter than it used to be. Sometimes a small fall is what makes the family look closely for the first time.
Proper Care Physiotherapy offers home visits for older adults in the neighbourhood, built around the person's own routine. Our elderly physiotherapy guide covers the general principles. This page explains how that looks in Koregaon Park.
What changes with age, and why the home matters
Muscle strength, balance reaction times and bone strength tend to decline gradually with age, and long-standing conditions such as arthritis, diabetes or Parkinson's disease add to the load. None of this is inevitable decline: strength and balance respond to exercise at any age. But exercises that are generic do little. The physiotherapist who works in your parent's own home can see exactly where the risk lies, whether that is the step at the front door, the low sofa, the bed height or the toilet seat.
Risks specific to larger, older houses
- Distance and levels. A big house means many metres between bed, toilet and dining table, and often a change of level along the way.
- Smooth floors and rugs. Polished stone and loose mats are a common cause of slips, especially in socks or at night.
- Outdoor paths. The garden and driveway have uneven stones, wet leaves and tree roots, and the light is poor after dark.
- Living quietly. If a parent spends most of the day with a helper, there may be little incentive to move, and strength falls further.
- Medicines. Dizziness from blood pressure or sleep tablets raises the chance of a fall, and the doctor should know about it.
What a home visit includes
The physiotherapist starts with the person's own story: falls or near-falls, pain, fear of walking, daily routine and goals. Then comes an examination of strength, joint movement, balance, walking speed and how the person stands up from a chair. We may time a few simple tasks, such as rising from a chair five times or walking a set distance, so that changes can be tracked. A review of the home follows, with practical changes: a night light, a grab rail, a firmer chair, removal of mats.
Treatment combines strengthening for the legs and hips, balance practice, walking training with or without an aid, and mobility work for stiff joints. Where knee pain limits all of this, the plan on our knee pain physiotherapy page for Koregaon Park applies. If a stroke is behind the weakness, stroke rehabilitation in Koregaon Park explains what is added.
Walking outdoors again
Koregaon Park's lanes attract walkers, and many older residents want to keep that habit. The physiotherapist will tell you when it is time to try, and will usually begin with the garden path or the flat stretch outside the gate. A stick or walker can be fitted to the person's height. Osho Teerth Park and the quieter lanes are options later on; a companion is advisable for the first outings.
A parent at home, a family elsewhere
Many families have children working in other parts of Pune, in other cities or abroad. The physiotherapist can write down the exercises in a clear form for the helper and the family, and suggest how often to do them. If you live far away, send a message after each visit to the person you have named as contact; we will confirm what can be shared. Ask the doctor about any change in medicines that may affect balance.
When a fall or symptom needs a doctor
After a fall, a person who cannot stand, has severe hip or wrist pain, a new swelling, a head injury or drowsiness needs emergency assessment. Sudden confusion, one-sided weakness, chest pain or breathlessness also need an ambulance rather than an exercise plan.
Arranging care
Choose a time on the booking page and note how many steps lead into the house and whether a helper will be present. For more about getting to this neighbourhood, see home physiotherapy in Koregaon Park.