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
The older people we meet in Wakad are often not long-time residents. They arrived in the last few years to live with a working son or daughter, trading a familiar house and neighbours for a lift, a new lock and a flat that is silent from morning to evening. Some manage well. Others stop going out, stop walking and slowly lose strength and nerve.
Our elderly physiotherapy page explains the approach. Here we focus on what a visit looks like when an older person is at home alone for much of the day.
A long day on your own
When the family leaves for work, the older person's world shrinks to the flat. They may sit in the same chair for hours, skip the walk because the lift feels intimidating, and avoid the bathroom to avoid the effort. Over weeks, thigh strength drops and balance weakens, and the first fall often follows.
The physiotherapist begins with simple tests: how quickly and safely the person stands from a chair, how steady they are on one foot, how they walk, and how they use their hands for support. These show whether strength, balance, joint pain, vision or medicines are part of the problem.
Where falls happen in a flat
- The bathroom. Wet tiles, a raised sill and no grab rail are the classic combination. We discuss a non-slip mat, a stable stool and where a rail would go.
- The path to the toilet at night. A dark corridor and a sleepy walk are risky. A night light and a clear path cost little.
- Soft, low furniture. Deep sofas and low beds are hard to rise from. A firmer chair with arms is often a safer main seat.
- Rugs and cables. Loose edges catch toes, especially in shuffling walkers.
- The lift lobby and entrance. A small step or a closing lift door can alarm a nervous walker. We practise entering and leaving the lift with support.
A routine that fits the day
An exercise plan for an older person should be short, specific and realistic. Typical elements are sit-to-stand practice from a firm chair, heel raises while holding a counter, marching in place, gentle stretches for stiff hips and shoulders, and walking practice with the right aid. Each exercise is shown, repeated back and checked. We write the routine down in large print and tell the family what to watch for, such as dizziness or new pain.
If joint pain is the main barrier, the knee pain physiotherapy in Wakad page explains what we do for stiff knees. For older people recovering from a stroke or an operation, see stroke rehabilitation in Wakad and the matching page on post-surgery rehabilitation.
Getting outside again
Many families want their parent to walk in the compound each morning or evening. This goes well when the first walks are done with someone alongside, on a flat stretch with a bench within reach. We suggest the time of day when the compound is quiet and not too hot, and a distance that the person can manage without struggling. Slowly the distance grows. Our blog on physiotherapy for elderly patients at home covers more of the thinking.
When an older person needs a doctor now
Take the person to a hospital immediately after a fall with severe pain, a deformed limb or any head injury, especially if they take blood thinners. The same goes for sudden confusion, weakness on one side of the body, face drooping, slurred speech, chest pain, severe breathlessness or fainting. A slow decline in walking over weeks should also be reviewed by their doctor, because medicines, vision and blood tests all matter.
Arranging a visit
Because Wakad is one of the farther zones from our South Pune base, visits are booked in advance. Use the booking page and add a line about what worries you most. To see the wider service, read about home physiotherapy in Wakad.