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.