Senior Care Rehabilitation Services

GLA Rehab Services for Dementia and Senior Care

Have you noticed that your parents or relatives are gradually becoming less active, more forgetful and confused, causing concern about their safety and ability to cope?

You might find yourself increasingly preoccupied with their well-being, spending more time assisting them and wondering if a Long Term Care (LTC) facility is the next step.

Our services support older adults and individuals living with dementia to maintain, improve, and/or restore physical and cognitive functioning so that they can age safely in a place of their choice. We focus on finding solutions to maintain functioning, improve safety, and independence so that our clients can continue to do the things that they need and want to do.

We also understand the complexities of the healthcare system and offer support with system navigation and the management of care services.

Our goal is to assist in keeping your parents or relatives at home as long as possible and reduce cost of care.

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Find out how an Occupational Therapist can help with Aging in Place

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Occupational Therapy

Hospital Discharge

A discharge assessment is completed to determine the client’s needs for continuing care after they leave the hospital. We would assist in coordinating any devices and assessing home safety and accessibility. The client and family are fully involved in the assessment process.

A care plan is developed before discharge. Our OT/ Care Plan Manager (CPM) will communicate with the client’s team and will complete a home assessment to assess accessibility, should this be an issue.

The OT/CPM will then communicate with your family to ensure collaborations with regards to purchase and/or renting assistive devices, paid personal care and any issue related to a smooth discharge plan.

The Care Plan Managers will send a report to the client, and family physician with recommendations.

The following is an example of what can be done following the discharge:

The client will receive a name and phone number of the provider to contact should any questions arise.
Recommendations for home support will be discussed with the client and the family. These recommendations may include OT, PT, Rehab Therapy, Social Worker etc. Assistive Devices will be ordered or rented from vendors.
They will also learn when and how often support will be provided and how the support will be monitored and reviewed.

The next step:

Our Care Plan Managers will continue to visit you at your home to ensure all services are arranged.

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OT Functional Assessment

Our occupational therapists assess the client’s function and the level of assistance needed for daily care. The OT assessment of physical, psychosocial, behavioural, cognitive or perceptual functions lends a comprehensive insight to the client’s ability to manage daily living skills.

The OT will make recommendations for assistive devices and for functional OT goals to return to optimal independence and reduced paid help or caregiver burnout. The OT will also make recommendations for other services needed such as PT, RT, SW etc.

The OT/CM will then communicate with your family to ensure collaborations with regards to purchase and/or renting assistive devices, paid personal care and any issue related to a smooth discharge plan.

The OT can address accessibility within the home and connect the family with a certified contractor.

The next step:

The OT will provide OT services and care plan management to ensure a team approach.
The OT will communicate with the client’s primary physician on a regular basis through written updates.

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OT Cognitive Assessment

When medical records indicate that the clients are experiencing cognitive problems affecting their ability to complete daily function, our OTs can offer a cognitive-perceptual assessment.

The occupational therapist uses standardized assessment tools, to assess attention skills, memory, visual perception, executive skills, organization and other cognitive functions. The OT is also observing the client’s cognitive, physical, behavioural, and psychosocial impairments and strengths, while performing functional tasks.

The result of this assessment can assist with determining areas of cognitive deficits and to plan interventions to remediate or compensate for these deficits, when the main long term goal is to help client return to Activities of Daily Living (ADL).

For people with Dementia, our OTs will be using several standardized tests specifically for Dementia, including:

The ABC Dementia scale, Allen Cognitive Level Screen, BSO-DOS, Cohen-Mansfield Agitation Inventory, Mini-Mental test and MoCA.

Next step:

Following the assessment and analyzing the results the OT will complete the following:

Write a comprehensive cognitive assessment report that will be circulated to the client and their rehab team, and will be provided to the family, if requested, so that everyone is aware of the difficulties.
Develop cognitive remediation activities to provide feedback to the client regarding their abilities and progress.
Develop cognitive compensation strategies to assist the client to develop further independence by using some tools to eliminate cognitive mistakes For example, for individuals with impaired memory, the OT will set up alarms on the client’s cell phone to remind them of their appointments or when to ingest medications.
Coordinate cognitive-behavioural goals, tools and strategies with the rehab team to ensure a team approach.

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Mobility Assessment & ADP Devices

Our mobility assessments provide a thorough evaluation of your physical abilities to ensure safe, independent movement and access to the right mobility aids.

Assessment Includes:

Review of muscle strength, balance, coordination, and joint function
Measurement of height, weight, posture, and range of motion
Gait and balance analysis using standardized tests (e.g., walking speed, sit-to-stand, transfer tasks)
Consideration of risk factors such as dementia, weakness, impaired mobility, or neurological conditions

Outcomes:

Recommendation of the most suitable mobility aid or device
Guidance on safe use of equipment
Assistance with ordering and vendor selection

Funding Support (Ontario Residents):

The Assistive Devices Program (ADP) covers up to 75% of mobility equipment costs, or 100% for those receiving ODSP
Our authorized therapists (OTs and PTs) complete assessments and funding applications on your behalf

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Occupational Therapy Treatments at Home

Occupational therapists focus on enabling elderly persons to improve and maintain their independence with Activities of Daily Living in order to age comfortably and safely within their own homes.

OTs are trained to address a wide range of physical, cognitive, and emotional challenges that seniors may encounter as they navigate the aging process.

OTs assess the home environment for safety and provide suggestions for home modifications and assistive devices. We offer information and education on devices including wandering technology to improve safety.

Our OTs address cognitive decline such as in Dementia by offering the client and their family compensation strategies to eliminate confusion, memory problems, behavioural difficulties and caregiver burnout.

Our OTs can help with medication management, cognitive support, energy conservation and social engagement opportunities.

The primary goal is to enhance the overall independent function of seniors and promote a sense of autonomy. We also help the families in addressing safety of their loved ones and daily routine. We work with the PSW and educate them on behavioural management and strategies for care.

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Care Plan Manager (CPM)

Are you unsure about what services you will need in the future and how to access them?

Are you a son or a daughter living far away from your parents and worry about their safety and ability to manage on their own? Do you find yourself spending increased amounts of time doing things for your parents?

Are you a spouse to an elderly person who is unable to handle all the care for your loved one or a son or daughter that cannot help your parents by yourself?

You may need help navigating the system to access additional services and understand all the options.

Our Care Plan Manager (CPM) is involved in planning, implementing, coordinating, monitoring and evaluating the options and services available that will help meet your needs and your family members’ needs.

Holding a wealth of knowledge about rehabilitation and care, CPMs provide invaluable insight for your family, physician and rehabilitation team. The overall aim is to maximize independence with daily functions, reduce paid help and help elderly people to stay in place as long as possible within their home.

Some of the areas a Care Plan Manager may get involved with include:

Coordinating with various health and social services to ensure your needs can be met.
Arranging or organizing assessments by healthcare professionals, such as an audiologist, pain specialist, gerontologist and others.
Ensuring you have the correct equipment that will help promote confidence, increase safety and independence and aid comfort.
Working closely with you and your family. Offering help, support and guidance and links to collateral and private services.
Allocate funding resources for expenses related to your current needs

The Care Plan Manager offers an important role in health care management for elderly people and their family.

The Care Plan Manager keeps in regular contact with the family physician.

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Physiotherapy

Aqua Physiotherapy

Aqua physiotherapy offers a safe, enjoyable, and effective way to address a wide range of physical and psychological needs, while supporting seniors in maintaining their independence and well-being.

Water buoyancy reduces the impact on joints, making it an ideal form of exercise for seniors with arthritis, joint pain, or limited mobility. It allows them to perform movements that might be challenging on land.

LSVT BIG (Lee Silverman Voice Technique)

LSVT BIG is a treatment approach for people with Parkinson’s disease and other neurological conditions. People with Parkinson’s disease usually move with smaller and slower actions. This makes it difficult for them to walk, move around, and complete activities of daily living like getting dressed.

LSVT BIG treatment can help these areas by training people to move “bigger” and more like the movement of everyone around them. Exercises involve the whole body, with a focus on “think big” as a guiding principle. It can help with balance, posture, mobility and activities of daily living. It is tailored to each person’s abilities and goals, so individuals can work on goals that are important and meaningful to them.

In-Home Physiotherapy

Physiotherapists play a vital role in enhancing independence with mobility and daily functions for seniors, who prefer to receive care in the familiarity and comfort of their own homes or cannot make it to a physiotherapy clinic.

In-home physiotherapy services are tailored to meet the unique needs of elderly individuals, ensuring they maintain their independence and mobility while aging gracefully.

Kinesiologist

Our Kinesiologists will design a customized exercise program tailored to the individual’s needs and capabilities. These exercises may focus on improving mobility, strength, joint stability, or overall fitness.

Falls are a significant concern for seniors. Kinesiologists work on exercises and activities to improve balance and coordination, reducing the risk of falls and related injuries.

Orthotic Assessment

As we age, our walking pattern may undergo changes. Some clients may have mobility problems and a compromised gait. A foot orthosis can be inserted in a shoe to help support or improve the function of the foot and/or ankle.

The main goals of an orthotic device are to improve biomechanics, re-distribute pressure or to accommodate acquired deformities.

The ultimate goal is to improve and maintain joint alignment during the gait cycle or the individual’s highest functional level.

Foot orthotics can support the feet and ankle, correct gait, accommodate position if the client is not walking, provide shock absorption and re-distribute pressure on the feet.

Next step:

Once assessed, prescribed and received, the orthotic assessor will prescribe the devices and will visit the client one more time to make adjustments once prepared.

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Rehab Therapy Senior Care

Once a treatment program is developed by the occupational therapist and physical therapist, the Rehabilitation Therapist (RT) will help to implement the exercises and repetitions to enhance and augment on OT and PT goals.

The RTs guide seniors through prescribed exercises and rehabilitation routines aimed at improving strength, balance, cognition, and emotional regulation.

The RTs facilitate community integration and assist with improved stamina and endurance through a walking program in the community. The RTs, are improving mood and provide respite for caregivers at home. They assist with reducing social isolation and promote enjoyable activities indoors and outdoor.

They work collaboratively with the client and team to ensure healthcare needs are met.

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Social Work

Many seniors face feelings of loneliness, isolation, and depression. Social workers offer emotional support and provide strategies to cope with these emotions.

The social workers offer services to spouses who are experiencing caregiver burnout and to families that are struggling with managing care for their loved ones.

Certifications

Our providers are holding the following certifications:

U-First

U-First! is a proven and effective approach to working with people with dementia and to improve the quality of the interaction between the formal care provider and the person living with Alzheimer’s disease and other dementias.

U-First! uses P.I.E.C.E.S.™ concepts in its training. P.I.E.C.E.S. is a best practice learning and development initiative that provides an approach to understanding and enhancing care for individuals with complex physical and cognitive/mental health needs and behavioural changes. The P.I.E.C.E.S. model helps us to understand the whole person.

Gentle Persuasive Approaches e-learning (GPA)

GPA eLearning helps the provider to better understand Dementia and its responsive behaviours in order to respond effectively, respectfully and safely in the client’s environment.

DementiAbility

The DementiAbility Methods is an innovative, multidisciplinary, evidence-based, nonpharmacological, person-centered approach to dementia care that aims to help professionals and family care partners to think differently about dementia and dementia care. DementiAbility Methods help to provide a variety of tools, that can be used to empower each person with Dementia to live with meaning, purpose, joy, enhanced self esteem and choice, a feeling of belonging, dignity and overall well-being.

Services

GLA Rehab Services for Dementia and Senior Care

Assessment and Treatment Services

Find out how an Occupational Therapist can help with Aging in Place

Occupational Therapy

Hospital Discharge

OT Functional Assessment

OT Cognitive Assessment

Mobility Assessment & ADP Devices

Occupational Therapy Treatments at Home

Care Plan Manager (CPM)

Physiotherapy

Aqua Physiotherapy

LSVT BIG (Lee Silverman Voice Technique)

In-Home Physiotherapy

Kinesiologist

Orthotic Assessment

Rehab Therapy Senior Care

Social Work

Certifications

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