PT question.

kmw11

Has anyone taken their pwd to physical therapy before? My mom has a frozen shoulder she can move it but doesn’t have full range of motion. It was recommended to go to pt by her doctor after telling her doctor she was having some pain. We went the first time to get evaluated and was given home exercises to do. We went back again and was put into a larger room with lots of other people doing pt as well. I can’t help but feel there was a lack of understanding at my moms cognitive ability. There was a lot of noise and the pt, although very kind and patient, was asking my mom to a lot of new exercises. Which is fine but she would do them and explain them to her and then say okay go now your turn. Or tell my mom to do an exercise and tell her to stop when my mom herself counts to 10. My mom can barely hold a thought in her head for more than three seconds let along count to ten. I could tell she was getting upset and kept saying she felt like a failure. When we do the exercises at home I do them with her so she can see and do what I am doing, count out loud and it’s one on one. I’m not a pt but I can’t help but feel like going there was not beneficial and more overwhelming and frustrating for my mom. Maybe I’m putting my own emotions onto the situation. Not sure if we should continue to go or if I should just continue to work on getting my mom to move and do the exercises at home.

Anyone have any suggestions?

M1

I would go with the home exercises. I think your assessment of the situation is entirely correct. She probably just has to live with the frozen shoulder, unfortunately.

kmw11

Thank you M1. I get a bit in my head about these things. I overthink about how it might look to other people on the outside our situation. I get worried people might think I am not out for my moms best interest by not having her go to these appointments. That is something I need to work on letting go of. I know the reality of our situation. In the end none of this will get better and the shoulder is the least of my concerns. I will continue to keep her moving and exercising as much as we can. Thank you for the back up!

M1

Everything has to be filtered through the dementia-a lot of the "shoulda/coulda/woulda" just doesn't apply. No need to worry yourself about what other people think! Everyone here gets it.

Anonymousjpl123

Totally get it. Before her dementia progressed, few years ago, my mom had a few very positive experiences at water aerobics. When she moved near me she spoke often of wishing she could go. A weeks after she moved to memory care, I found a class she could go to. We went once together, and then I had a close friend take her. I will save the details but nothing about it was appropriate or helpful. She never wanted to go again.

It is so hard when things we wish we could to help our loved ones - what others unfamiliar may think SHOULD help - don’t actually help.

But so good for you to recognize.

​fesk

There may be one-on-one PT you can get for your mom in home. I have had that several times for my mother and it was helpful. The PT has to understand how to work with someone with dementia. There will come a point that they will provide you with written instructions/exercises so you can continue on your own. Her doctor's office ordered it and it was covered by Medicare.