Restorative care is given to an elderly person after they have had an accident or need to work muscle groups they do not usually use. More than physical therapy, restorative care is used for emotional well being as well. The goal is to not only help a person recover from a broken bone or pulled muscle, but also to get the person to socialize and want to be part of a group. Many times, elderly people will not want to participate in social activities because they are not able to move around easily or because they are afraid to make new friends.
Walking with an elderly person up and down the hallway for ten or fifteen minutes a day is usually enough for them to stretch muscles and interact with others. For many older people, sitting all day becomes a natural part of life. But this can have negative side effects including muscle atrophy, weight gain, and depression. Simply walking with an elderly person is enough to spark brain activity and keep the muscles alert.
For those who cannot walk, restorative care is given by pushing a person who is in a wheelchair around the facility so that they are visit friends or meet new people. Many times exercises are given which includes moving the leg muscles up and down so that the muscles remain active. The attention paid to residents is very special to them. They will hopefully want to take part in activities and will look forward to spending a few minutes each day exercising and visiting with other residents.
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