Benefits of Physical & Occupational Therapy for Dementia

Dementia is the impaired ability to think, remember, or make decisions that may interfere with your daily activities. Dementia is known to affect mostly older adults. People with dementia have problems with memory, attention, communication, judgment and visual perception. There are several different types of dementia; Alzheimer’s, Vascular, Lewy Body, Frontotemporal, Huntington’s and mixed dementia.

Physical therapy and occupational therapy are commonly used to improve a person with dementia’s quality of life. Physical and occupational therapy can’t cure dementia but there are ways they can help slow down symptoms and improve the patients quality of life.

Occupational therapy can help a person with dementia learn how to safely eat, bath, dress and complete other daily tasks they need to accomplish throughout their day. Occupational therapy can help simplify words, improve motor skills, cognitive skills, hand-eye coordination, and some other symptoms which are associated with dementia. Occupational therapists may introduce adaptive devices and recommendations to increase safety in the home and community. 

Physical therapy can help with physical limitations such as range of motion, poor posture, imbalance and shuffling gait which are present in dementia patients. Physical therapists may address these physical limitations through strengthening exercises, balance exercises, fall prevention techniques, and flexibility exercises.

A physical and occupational therapist may provide activities such as

• Dancing
• Housework
• Swimming
• Aerobic exercise
• Stretching
• Walking
• Cycling

Physical therapy and occupational therapy has been proven to reduce the risk of depression and help people with dementia remain independent for as long as possible. If you or a loved one is suffering from dementia symptoms, call Reddy Care Physical, Occupational and Aquatic Therapy today!

Great Neck: 475 Northern Blvd., Ste.11, Great Neck, NY 11021   Tel. (516) 829-0030

Farmingdale: 309 North West Dr., Farmingdale, NY 11735   Tel. (516) 420-2900

Woodbury: 150 Woodbury Rd., Woodbury, NY 11797   Tel. (516) 367-1111

Deer Park: 2024 Deer Park Ave., Deer Park, NY 11729   Tel. (631) 243-0247

North Shore Towers: 272-78 Grand Central Pkwy., Floral Park, NY 11005   Tel. (516) 344-0030

In-Home Physical & Occupational Therapy (Home Care): 516-829-0030 

*Home therapy servicing Long Island, Queens, Staten Island, Brooklyn, the Bronx & Manhattan*

Bayside - Aquatic Therapy: 208-32 Cross Island Pkwy., Bayside, NY11360  Tel. (718) 224-8480

Oceanside: 2421 S Long Beach Rd., Oceanside, NY 11572  Tel. (516) 992-2282

Sources: Lewy Body Resource Center, Alz. Organization

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Written by:

Dr. Vinod Somareddy, PT, DPT

President

Reddy Care Physical Therapy

Reddy Care Occupational Therapy

Reddy Care Aquatic Therapy

Author

Reddy Care Physical & Occupational Therapy Reddy Care Physical & Occupational Therapy is an outstanding specialty service providing exceptional care and state-of-the-art treatments for the residents of Farmingdale and Great Neck, New York. The combination of innovative exercise programs, manual therapy, and technology together with the expertise of every member of the team enables Reddy Care Physical & Occupational Therapy to provide services that ensure superior clinical outcomes and consistently high patient satisfaction.