With Australia’s aging population, specialist aged care physiotherapy services are becoming more critical.
Physiotherapy can involve pain management, physical rehabilitation and exercise therapy, tailored to individual needs, and helps improve a person’s ability to move, function and manage pain. It is used to assess and treat people with a variety of health conditions.
With many musculoskeletal conditions related to or exacerbated by aging, aged care physiotherapists are required to help older people maintain and improve their quality of life by reducing pain and increasing mobility and independence.
Aged Care Rehabilitation Services (ACRS) is a dedicated provider of physiotherapy services to all sectors of aged care. Our qualified and experienced physiotherapists work within nursing homes, retirement villas (independent living units) and also deliver in home care, to assist seniors to manage pain and movement challenges.
All our Physiotherapists have a special interest in aging and geriatric care, and are registered with the Physiotherapy Board of Australia.
Our Physiotherapists can help provide support with:
- In-Home Physiotherapy
- ACFI accreditation support
- Introduction to Physiotherapy
- Mobility assessments and reviews
- Outcome-based Physiotherapy approaches
- Exercise programs for groups
- Manual handling training for staff
- Pain management
- Falls prevention programs
- Physiotherapy focussed on Parkinson’s Disease
- Rehabilitation after hospital admissions
- Care planning with families
Mobility assessments and reviews
Mobility assessments conducted by a physiotherapist are an essential part of a holistic aged care approach. Both mobility and balance can deteriorate with age and certain health conditions.
Our experienced physiotherapists can assess and review aspects of mobility including in patients who are experiencing musculoskeletal, cardiovascular or neurological conditions. Mobility assessments and reviews including measuring aspects of body functions including muscle strength, joint mobility, fitness and balance.
As an outcome of a mobility assessment, an exercise program or other interventions can be designed to improve movement and independence.
Pain management
Chronic, long term pain is a critical issue for many older people that can impact on every aspect of their life. Focussed pain management for chronic health conditions in older patients, as well as management of post-operative pain, can help decrease discomfort and distress and improve physical and mental wellbeing, function and mobility.
Our AHPRA-registered physiotherapists help diagnose and address chronic pain by developing evidence-based care plans to treat pain resulting from chronic conditions, resulting in better wellbeing and quality of life for clients.
Falls prevention programs
Serious injury or death resulting from falls is a serious threat due to older people, due to a loss of balance, strength and certain conditions. Implementing a robust falls prevention program in your aged care facility is an intervention that can make a profound difference to client outcomes.
By developing programmed approaches to falls prevention that include clinical assessment, education, environmental modification and exercise programs, our physiotherapists aim to reduce the likelihood and severity of injuries from falls.
Occupational Therapists are trained professionals who assist people with psychological, developmental, emotional or physical impairments to participate as fully as possible in everyday life. This includes helping seniors adapt to new ways of doing activities and modifying their environment to suit their needs as a response to illness or age related conditions. Occupational therapy has become increasingly relevant for assisting seniors who want to maintain their independence.
At Aged Care Rehabilitation Services (ACRS), our Occupational Therapists have a special interest in aged care including supporting older people to recover from illness, prevent falls, and manage everyday tasks. By improving a patient’s functional ability, they not only give them greater independence, but reduce the load on carers and residential aged care staff.
ACRS provides accredited Occupational Therapists to work in house in a wide range of residential aged care facilities and home care environments.
Our Occupational Therapists can assist with:
- In-Home Occupational Therapy
- Home-based environmental assessments
- Functional and cognitive assessments and intervention
- Specialist equipment prescription, including seating and positioning
- Upper limb assessment and treatment
- Ergonomic assessments
- Dementia care programs
- Staff training
- Reablement programs
Home-based environmental assessments
Home-based environmental assessments by a qualified Occupational Therapist help support aging in place for older Australians who wish to live independently. Our Therapists will visit the client’s home to undertake an assessment that ensures the environment is set up to help keep them safe and independent in their environment. ACRS services are available direct to individuals and as part of home care packages.
Professional Occupational Therapists may recommend modifications to the home environment to improve safety and accessibility as well as provide education, advice and support to clients to enable them to manage independent living.
Specialist equipment prescription, including seating and positioning
Our Occupational Therapists are experienced in equipment prescription to assist older people, including seating and positioning. They offer clinical assessment, advice, product recommendations and trials and educational support, for both aged care settings and home care environments.
Our OTs consider the most effective seating and positioning systems considering various factors including mobility and posture needs, safety, injury management, continence care and comfort.
Reablement programs
OT-designed reablement programs help clients regain and maintain independence, mobility and confidence following an illness or injury. Reablement programs may include assessment of changes in a person’s functional capacity, development of exercise plans, prescription of assistive equipment, engagement activities including creative therapies, social interaction and education in self-care and life skills.
The aim of reablement programs is to assist clients to live independently and regain confidence in their ability to do so, with the support of an Occupational Therapist.
Geriatric Podiatry Services
Our experienced podiatrists provide a range of specialist geriatric foot care services for seniors in residential care or home care. These include assessments and care plans, checking skin integrity and pressure points, nail care, managing foot pain and more.
Podiatry services are an important part of holistic health care for older people, particularly for supporting mobility. Their expertise includes providing foot care for people with conditions including diabetes.
Podiatric Concerns
Bunions, hammertoes, ingrown or infected toenails, corns and calluses can cause a great deal of discomfort for older people, as well as limiting their movement leading to other health and wellbeing complications. A qualified podiatrist can help address all of these common foot health conditions to help manage pain and improve quality of life. With training and experience in supporting foot, ankle and lower limb health, our podiatrists are all registered with the Podiatry Board in Australia. They provide their comprehensive service within all aged care settings including nursing homes, retirement villas (independent living units) as well as provide visiting in home podiatry services.
Our Podiatrists can provide help and support in areas such as:
- In-Home Podiatry
- Podiatry for residential aged care
- Comprehensive foot assessments and treatment plans
- Diabetic foot care
- Treatment and management of ingrown toenails, removal of corns and calluses, foot ulcers and wounds
- Prescription of specialised footwear and orthotic devices
- Addressing lower limb circulatory and sensory changes
