January is National Bath Safety Month and the ideal timefor seniors and those who love them to develop a plan for a safe bathroom environment. Falls are the number one cause of serious injury and hospitalization for seniors each year and many of these injuries occur in the bathroom. In fact, statistics provided by the National Institute on Aging (NIA) show that 80 percent of senior falls that happen in the home occur in the bathroom.
According to The American Physical Therapy Association(APTA), the goal of physical therapy (PT) for seniors is to make daily tasks and activities easier, while enabling them to function as independently as possible.
Physical therapists are fully licensed practitioners who assist senior adults in achieving their health and fitness goals. Physical therapists help to reduce pain, restore functionality and improve mobility for better living –issues that many seniors deal with today.
According to the National Council on Aging (NCOA), falls are the leading cause of injury and injury-related death among senior adults ages 65 and older today. According to statistics, one out of three seniors falls every year, and two-thirds of them will fall again within six months. Additionally, the risk of falling increases with each decade of life.
We’ve all heard the term, "sandwich generation" – that segment of the population caught in the middle of taking care of their children while also acting as caregivers for their aging parents.
