Rehab Select Blog

Tracheostomies become necessary surgery for many reasons. If a patient has had obstruction of the airway, due to an allergic reaction or injury that causes edema, a tracheostomy can be required. Tracheostomy is also often performed when ventilator support will be permanent.

The kidneys are located on either side of the spine, just above the waist. Their most famous role is as a blood cleanser, whereby they remove waste and toxins so that those toxins can then be excreted from the body. They also help regulate blood pressure, maintain the proper balance of minerals and salts in the blood, and assist in red blood cell production. The kidneys also produce a form of vitamin D, necessary for healthy bones.

Patients who have been diagnosed with type II diabetes require serious intervention to help them control their blood sugar. While medication can certainly help, lifestyle changes – specifically, diet and exercise – are essential to good blood sugar control.

Unfortunately, by the time many patients are diagnosed with type II diabetes, they have already developed medical conditions that can make exercise difficult. They may be obese, have begun to develop or have already developed full-blown diabetic neuropathy, or have developed metabolic syndrome, for example. Because of that, it may be neither safe nor effective to expect patients to begin to undertake exercise on their own. This is where physical therapy can help with diabetes management.

Think exercise is just for the "younger set"? Think again. Exercise is important for seniors, as well -- even if someone has never exercised before. 

Before starting an exercise program

Anyone thinking about beginning an exercise program should visit his or her doctor to make sure physical activity is okay, and what if any restrictions need to be in place.

Re-hospitalizations and potentially avoidable hospitalizations: they are hot topics amongst hospitals and other care facilities. Since late 2013, hospitals have been measured by—and fined for—instances of re-hospitalization, and the percentage of dollars fined per occurrence is set to increase in 2015.

Have you just been diagnosed with diabetes? Or, have you had diabetes for a while now–either diagnosed or undiagnosed–so that now it must be managed?

Diabetes management doesn't have to be hard – but it does have to be done

If you have ended up in the hospital as a result of diabetic complications and need to go to a skilled nursing facility once you are stable enough for discharge but not well enough to go home, don't be discouraged. This is called "post-acute" care, and your doctor may decide that it is necessary. It is also an opportunity for you to learn how to manage your disease well, with your family's help.

Every year, over two million people in the United States have some kind of serious cardiac event that requires extensive medical attention. Myocardial infarction, heart failure, and cardiac surgeries such as coronary artery bypass or valve replacement are some examples. Many of these patients are over the age of 65, and with the aged population growing, the number of elderly patients in need of cardiac rehabilitation will also increase.

For these patients, recovery is often long and difficult, because of comorbidities, general age-related frailty, and their need to restrict physical activity during acute recovery. Skilled nursing facilities are an often overlooked resource for patients who need postacute care and cardiac rehabilitation. 

Having surgery? Not sure where you should go for your post surgical rehabilitation? Fortunately, you have a choice. Skilled nursing facilities are a valid option for inpatient rehabilitation after your surgery. Why?

They have the resources you need

Today's skilled nursing facilities (SNFs) are dynamic community-based institutions that provide facilities for recovery, rehabilitation, and long-term care as needed to the residents of the area. Top-notch medical staff and professionals serve patients in the community as they recover from surgery or other medical situations.

Scams against seniors have been called the "crime of the 21st century". Seniors are often targeted for fraud because they're thought to have a lot of money. In addition, seniors with cognitive difficulties can be easy targets.

Is it safe for older people to exercise? For most people, the answer is a resounding "yes."

Understanding health benefits of exercise for seniors is relatively straightforward: The American Academy of Family Physicians states that almost all older people can benefit from at least some activity. Regular, sensible physical activity helps protect seniors from chronic diseases, improves mood, lessens the chance of injury, and helps prevent situations that can lead to rapid decline, like falls.