Wellness programs for seniors are highly beneficial—but what do they encompass? What does “wellness” cover? “Wellness” is a broad term used in various ways, from healthcare to the workplace and everywhere. For instance, primary care annual appointments typically include wellness services, such as health screenings, risk assessments, and routine blood work. In the workplace, employers may offer wellness programs, promote stress reduction, fitness memberships, nutritional education, or healthy living. Other health professionals also offer wellness services aside from those found within medical practices or employ organizations, such as health spas or fitness centers. Regardless of the setting, these services have a commonality in promoting overall health and well-being in a manner that is designed to be proactive and preventative in nature.
Who Benefits from Physical Therapist-Led Wellness Programs?
Physical therapists can provide wellness services that typically incorporate generalized exercise training and are designed to maintain gains, one’s level of function, or promote health benefits. While physical therapy services are designed to be restorative in nature, wellness services are proactive. Wellness services often follow a course of skilled physical therapy, although they can also be standalone services. Individuals seeking medically supervised exercise programs, generalized wellness support, and/or professional health oversight can benefit from physical therapist-led wellness programs for seniors.
Older adults are the most sedentary group and arguably need regular physical activity the most to maintain brain and body health. For those who do not partake in traditional community or group-based wellness programs for seniors, physical therapist-led wellness programs can reach those looking for individualized health support. As our aging population continues to grow, there is a heavy emphasis on adding quality to those years. Physical therapist-led wellness programs also complement the growing group of older adults aging in place and who are looking to stay healthy while doing so. Aside from individualized programs, physical therapists also frequently lead group, community, or virtual wellness programs for seniors. With an option to meet each person’s individualized needs, physical therapist-led wellness programs can help anyone looking for professional health support.
Another consideration is for those living with a chronic condition or who have sustained a major medical event. For those with progressive conditions, such as Parkinson’s Disease, physical therapist-led wellness programs provide ongoing support to maintain disease stability and proactively identify additional health and care needs. After concluding skill-based physical therapy for a neurologic event, such as a stroke, physical therapist-led wellness programs also help maintain health and well-being and minimize the risk of a decline by ensuring appropriate exercise routines and health support.
Top 5 Benefits of a Physical Therapist-Led Wellness Program
- Establishment and maintenance of a personalized exercise routine, including working toward leading health organization activity guidelines when appropriate
- Custom exercise training and progress tracking to reach personal health goals
- Ongoing support, motivation, and accountability through personalized strategies and recommendations to stay active
- Increased likelihood of maintaining mobility and independence through regular physical activity and exercise
- Proactively identify resources to promote holistic well-being, including referrals to additional health and wellness providers if/when needed.
An Investment for Healthy Aging
Participating in physical therapist-led wellness programs for seniors provides the expertise to optimize health and well-being benefits, ensures regular physical activity incorporating individualized considerations, and offers the ability to refer to additional health and wellness resources in a timely manner. These services are proactive, providing you or a loved one with what you need when you need it, as opposed to waiting for a fall, hospitalization, decline, or another adverse event to occur.
Most importantly, wellness services are an investment in health longevity and healthy aging. Investing in regular physical activity has immediate and long-term health benefits, promoting independence, mobility, and a higher quality of life. Inactivity and sedentary behaviors can result in worse health outcomes and often correspond with financial burdens, including medical care costs, healthcare bills, and short- or long-term care needs. Many of these are out-of-pocket costs, so investing in wellness services today can help lessen the potential financial burden that accompanies poor health and related events.
Wellness is Not One Size Fits All
Being active is about more than the knowledge of activity benefits. It’s about building healthy habits and finding a personalized exercise and physical activity program that promotes health through movement. Utilizing an individualized approach and taking personalized health and activity preferences into consideration helps promote success and empower an active, healthy lifestyle. The “what” of exercise is well-established, but the “how” is not. Physical therapist-led wellness services help to bridge the gap and add quality to the aging years.
If you or a loved one are looking for personalized health support or were recently discharged from physical therapy and want to know what comes next, reach out today for your complimentary wellness consultation.
*Traditional health insurance policies do not cover wellness or other proactive care services. In some instances, long-term care policies will cover physical therapist-led wellness programs for seniors; therefore, it is recommended that you verify benefits with your insurance company.