Senior Therapy Services
Restoring activities of daily living lost due to age, injury, illness or surgery is a crucial milestone for someone who hopes to maintain their independence. Whether it's through occupational therapy, speech therapy or physical therapy, the goal of senior rehab at Penn Highlands is to return our patients back to functional living. Our team works collaboratively to develop and coordinate a program specific to each individual's needs—and we encourage family members to participate in that plan.
Here's a closer look at our senior rehab options.
What is Occupational Therapy?
Focusing on the types of tasks most of us take for granted—like getting dressed, feeding ourselves and bathing—occupational therapy aims to help residents relearn the tasks they need to function on their own. As the name implies, occupational therapy also helps patients battling a debilitating injury that prevents them from returning to work. In either case, the team at Penn Highlands will provide customized evaluation, treatment and training for patients needing:
- Stroke and accident rehabilitation
- Cognitive re-training
- Restoration of activities of daily living
- Home safety programs
- Patient home evaluations
What is Physical Therapy?
This method of rehabilitation typically restores function and stability in patients who have been injured or had surgery. However, it can also be used prior to surgery or to prevent an injury. Physical therapists at Penn Highlands are trained to handle a variety of injuries and are experienced in using methods such as:
- E-Stim
- Reflexology
- Ultrasound
- Massage therapy
What is Speech Therapy?
While communication disorders and swallowing impairments can happen to us at any age, these conditions can be particularly dire for the elderly. Speech therapy is a service offered at Penn Highlands that focuses on improvements in swallowing, speech and cognitive skills. For swallowing disorders, we may elect to use a technologically advanced approach called VitalStim. This device delivers electrical currents that are small and painless through electrodes our therapists will attach to the face and neck. Those currents can help to stimulate the muscles used for swallowing.
Speech therapy programs have been developed for the treatment of these conditions and more:
- Speech and communication disorders
- Dysphagia management
- Multiple sclerosis
- Aphasia
- Parkinson's disease
Who offers Senior Therapy Services at Penn Highlands?
Mon Valley Care Center
Rehabilitation Services
Our team of rehab professionals is dedicated to providing the high-quality care you expect offering personalized physical, occupational, and speech therapy programs administered by licensed therapists. Our therapists work with physicians and nursing staff to plan rehabilitation and restorative programs to help the resident to achieve their highest functional level to regain an active, independent lifestyle to prepare to return home.
Areas of specialization include Orthopedic, Musculoskeletal, and Neurological disorders.
Therapy programs focus on relieving pain, promoting healing, and restoring function and movement.
Through the use of various modalities and "hands-on" techniques, we work together with residents and their family members to meet mutually determined short- and long-term goals.