NEW PHYSICAL THERAPY SERVICES PARTNERSHIP FOR BARRINGTON TERRACE LOCATIONS IN SOUTHWEST FLORIDA
There’s no denying that as we age our ability to do normal activities diminishes. Compound this with the fact that our muscles are weakening, our bones are more brittle, our sight isn’t as sharp, and our balance is off, not to mention any number of diseases or illnesses we may be battling, and it’s a recipe for potential disaster.
Yet, The Weston Group, a comprehensive rehabilitation service company, believes that in spite of these barriers, older people can achieve an optimal level of functionality through various, prescribed therapies. In fact, The Weston Group partners with hospitals and centers around the nation to accomplish just that.
Barrington Terrace, assisted living communities with locations in Naples and Fort Myers, has announced its partnership with The Weston Group. The Weston Group began offering physical, occupational and speech therapy to Barrington’s residents in May.
“Our goal is to achieve the maximum physical benefits so a resident can live his or her life effectively in that environment,” says Harriet Collier, vice president of operations for The Weston Group’s Southeast Region.
To accomplish this, The Weston Group employs a team of skilled therapists who work one-on-one with the Barrington Terrace residents and involve family members in the care of their loved ones. “It is all about communication,” Collier notes, “not only understanding the needs of the resident, but also about understanding the caregiver’s needs.”
The therapies provided are only given under doctor’s orders and each is implemented to achieve a desired result. Take for instance, physical therapy. If an elderly person falls, the most common result is immobilization whether the person breaks a hip or not, explains Saji John, a physical therapist and Weston Group’s regional director of operations for South Florida.
Pain that results from the fall, plus just a natural fear of it happening again, can cause a person to be less active. Physical therapy helps to increase mobility and strength, giving them the confidence to go about their daily lives.
Occupational therapy at Barrington Terrace also gives residents confidence by improving their daily living activities, including bathing, feeding themselves and personal toilette. As Collier points out, it is only natural for insecurities to plague people living in a new environment.
“Will anyone like me? Will anyone sit with me during lunch? This feeling multiplies when a person’s abilities are limited,” says Collier.
A final component to The Weston Group’s services for Barrington Terrace communities is speech therapy that specifically helps with swallowing disorders and a person’s ability to articulate well. If a resident is unable to communicate his or her needs, speech therapy can help alleviate this.
What’s nice about these services is that they can often be performed right in a resident’s room or around the building. “We can work anywhere in the building to make sure they are safe,” Collier says. Also, most of the therapies require little to no equipment. “The right therapist can work in a small area and be very effective,” she adds.
The goal is to keep the residents out of the hospitals and nursing homes that can so often result in a person’s decline and instead keep them actively involved in the residential community for the rest of their lives.
“Barrington Terrace knows what therapy can do. A move to an assisted living facility can be the last move a person makes if it’s done right,” Collier says.
Barrington Terrace Naples (AL#10447) is located at 5175 Tamiami Trail East and Barrington Terrace Fort Myers (AL#10100) are both managed by The Arbor Company, managers of successful independent living, assisted living and memory care communities throughout the Southeast. At The Arbor Company comprehensive staff training programs and advanced management tools produce exceptional results. Innovation, tempered by industry experience, allows Arbor-managed communities to be leading performers in their markets. For more information about Barrington Terrace communities in Southwest Florida, visit the website at http://www.arborcompany.com
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