PWD & physical/occupational therapy

Could you possibly go with one or the other and not both? Is it the same person each time? That could make a difference if he is more comfortable with one person over another. It could also be the day-to-day differences of which mood strikes up at the time.

Is he anywhere near a point where the PT could leave you exercises to do with him? Seems like you may at the tipping point where preventing him from shutting down and refusing to even try to remain mobile is maybe better than whatever benefit he is getting from the therapy. I might make a last ditch effort to change the PT experience. Their "personal trainer" is coming. Have therapist pretend to start their "exercises" with mom and then she can talk about how great it is and say your turn! Put his favorite music on, maybe act like it's more of a senior jazzercise than PT. I also wonder if the person didn't come in scrubs if he wouldn't go back to whatever is triggering bad memories? Anyways, if you can't find a way for him to tolerate the sessions better I might switch to just trying to get him to move as much as possible on your own.

Falls and broken hips are often catalysts for declines with dementia. It's a very hard situation to navigate and you certainly aren't alone in these struggles.

Thank you for posting this Diane. Great tips to gain a PWDs trust and cooperation, whether for PT or not. These strategies worked when my DH was confused or tired and not ready to engage in the 12 PT visits that literally got him back on his feet after being bedridden and immobile in hospital for a week. At late stage 6 it was possible he might not rebound, but thanks to a very patient, skilled, and compassionate "physical trainer", he did.

I learned a lot from her approach, and the only thing missing from this article was the lighthearted spirit and humor of his amazing PT. I think you can't fake that, but it helps to at least be aware that the facial expression, demeanor, and overall since of fun vs. serious business, can make or break at encounter when dementia is involved.

Our person was so pleasant and genuinely smiling and happily reacting at pretty much whatever DH accomplished during their sessions. She made it a winning adventure for him even if he needed me to join in the walking, leg lifts, or whatever she was asking him to do -- which required modeling and repeated prompting since he was already having great communication/comprehension issues and also would forget the task midway through it, and need continued reminders of what he was doing (10 or 20 reps of something). She was great and her attitude made such a difference in his successful response to the 12 PT visits, I know!

Reading this article reminded me how many of her strategies I have employed outside of PT to get DH's cooperation on something or other. Thank you again for sharing it.

When my dad had back surgery, he was in rehab and was sent home with home health pt/ot. He was uncooperative and refused therapy to continue. They stopped coming. Then when my dad went back to rehab for fractured pelvis, he never got therapy when he came home. I think the agency noted about his refusal last time so he was denied. But fortunately he is not in pain and he can actually move around more than before. He walks holding his wheelchair and can take short steps to go to the bathroom himself and can step into the shower and can get in and out of bed and can get in and out of the car. All this without any pt/ot! I just hope he doesn't fall again and break something and never recover.