Occupational Therapy at Lindley Health and Rehab

Restorative Care

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.

It Is Not Rehabilitation

Restorative nursing maximizes a resident's abilities through the use of individualized, progressive restorative programs. Restorative nursing dwells on what the resident can do. Restorative programs focus on residents whose are has been assumed by nursing staff because it seemed quicker and easier than allowing residents to take care of themselves, a decision that creates dependence. Restorative nursing seeks to create independence, improve self image and self esteem, reduce the level of care required, and eliminate or minimize the degrading features of long term care, such as restraints, incontinence, and supervised feeding.

Restorative nursing requires consultation with specialized therapy disciplines, but it is not rehabilitation.

Rehabilitation focuses on retraining, education and the teaching of new skills. Rehabilitation flows from acute injury with input from all disciplines. Rehabilitation is a task-oriented discipline, with a specific aim to be achieved within a finite period of time.

Restorative nursing, on the other hand, focuses on restoring or compensating for skills lost through disuse or changes in physiology. Restorative nursing is based upon the nursing model, with less continuing direct input from therapists. Restorative nursing seeks to maximize and prolong abilities. It has specific objectives and can be a continuing process.