Your dad has macular degeneration and he’s losing his vision faster than expected. His doctors recommend that he work with a physical therapist to learn how to adjust to the vision loss. He needs to be able to take care of himself. What is physical therapy and why are his doctors recommending it?
The Benefits of Physical Therapy
Physical Therapy Willard OH – Physical Therapists Help Get Your Dad Back to Normal RoutinesPhysical therapy is a therapeutic service that teaches your dad how to navigate his home, outside time, and errands when he no longer has full vision. He’ll learn how to rely on himself and not have to become dependent on others.
He maintains his independence, even if it means making some changes to his normal routines. Independence is one of the things he feared losing, and physical therapy shows him he can still live by himself, he just needs to learn new ways to do that.
How Does It Work?
His physical therapist will assess how he uses any vision he still retains. His use of other senses, such as hearing or smell, will be assessed. And then, they’ll work on how strong, balanced, and mobile your dad is. This helps form a plan to help him adjust his daily routines and make them work for him.
Physical therapists help your dad learn new ways to complete activities of daily living and instrumental activities of daily living, even when his vision is diminished. Your dad will learn how to get around his home and use adaptive equipment like voice-activated technology to turn on and off a stove and oven, adjust the temperature in his home, or make a phone call.
Your dad may learn to count steps from his bed to the door, the direction to turn, and the number of steps it takes to get to the toilet, sink, or shower. His therapist will help him declutter his home and make sure there are no safety hazards that put him at risk of a fall.
He’ll often rely on touch to make the best decisions for what he should wear. He may need to learn braille or the shape and size of bottles to ensure he uses mouthwash and not hand soap or toothpaste and not antibiotic ointment.
If he qualifies for a guide dog, his physical therapist can help him learn to trust in his dog for guidance both in the home and outside too. They’ll work on remaining socially active and not letting his vision loss limit him.
Talk to His Doctors
Ask his doctors about his prognosis. Has he lost full vision at this point or partial vision? This helps determine how much he’s limited with daily chores and self-care tasks. It’s important information to share with a physical therapist.
Whether your dad deals with vision loss from macular degeneration, physical therapy will help him maintain his daily activities. Arrange a consultation with a physical therapist for an initial consultation and to find out how a physical therapist can help him.
If you are considering hiring Physical Therapy Services in Willard OH, call the caring staff at Central Star Home Health at (419) 610-2161.
Providing services for families in Mansfield, Lexington, Bellville, Crestline, Galion, Shelby, Ashland, Ontario, Bucyrus, Mt. Vernon, Marion, Willard, and the surrounding areas.
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