Geriatrics physical therapy

1. Mariah Rogers

2. How many PTA’s work in this setting
Salary range in this setting
Types of diagnoses patients have in this setting
What treatments are preformed in this setting
What could a PTA do to further their education in this setting

3. Roughly 18% of PTA’s work
in this setting
nationally/regionally.

4. $50,000

5. Rheumatoid and Osteo Arthritis
Osteoporosis
Cancer
Bladder and Bowel Incontinence
Cardiac and Pulmonary Diseases
Stroke
Senile Dementia, Alzheimer's Disease
Parkinson's Disease
Coordination and Balance Disorders
Mobility-related Functional Limitations
Orthopedic Injuries
Joint Replacements
Hip Fractures
Amputations

6. Walking and balance exercises,
strengthening exercises, stretching
exercises, hand weights, massage
treatments, learning how to use a cane
or walker, water therapy, exercises to
reduce pain

7. Become an APTA member and
join the geriatrics section
or
Attend a 12 month program that
focuses on geriatric physical
therapy
or
Simply educate yourself with
some books specifically on
Geriatric PT

8. Geriatric physical therapy is
a specific area of physical
therapy that is rapidly
growing.
The Section on Geriatric
physical therapy was formed
in the year of 1978 to focus
on bettering therapy for the
aging population.

9. “Currently, 37% of physical therapy
practice involves elderly people, and
almost 50% of the physical therapists
who treat older adults (age 65 and
older) practice in nursing homes.”
“Many nursing home
residents receive
physical therapy in
order to achieve,
restore, or maintain the
best possible physical
well-being. One study
that looked at the
benefits of physical
therapy for nursing
home residents
revealed that physical
therapy was frequently
used to the benefit of
most residents.”
“Many physical therapist (PT) and
physical therapist assistant (PTA)
programs have made efforts to
incorporate geriatrics into existing
curricula. However, barriers to the
expansion of geriatric clinical
internships exist because of lack of
funding, lack of qualified faculty, and
lack of student interest. It seems
obvious that schools need to make
additional efforts to improve their
geriatric programs because of the
growing demand.”

10. www.apta.org
http://www.articledoctor.com/physical-therapy/geriatric-physical-
therapy-1234
http://www.nursinghomesabuseblog.com/whistleblower-qui-tam-
claims/physical-therapy-for-the-elderly-a-necessity-or-just-a-waste-of-
time/