What is Speech/Language Therapy for Seniors?
After an accident, injury, illness, or surgery, seniors may face various issues such as speaking or swallowing. Additionally, as we age issues may arise when the muscles that allow us to speak and swallow become weak and elastic. Speech/ Language Pathology addresses these issues and can help seniors to:
- Improve Dementia Symptoms
- Improve Communication skills
- -Relearning to speak
- -Improving Cognition
- -Improve any decline reading/writing
- Relearn how to swallow Correctly
- -Prevent unhealthy weight loss
- -Ensure proper nutrition
One of the main reasons Speech therapy is crucial for a senior is so that they can communicate with their physician, family, friends and/or caregivers. Effective communication of pain or discomfort and general needs is vital to a seniors overall health and well-being.
What do Speech Therapists for Seniors Do?
At our Long Beach rehabilitation center, our team of licensed Speech Therapists and their assistants work with each patient and their doctor(s) to create an individualized treatment plan. Medical concerns are important, but also the goals of each patient are as well.
Speech and Language pathologists can perform various neurological assessments in order to create a plan of care. Considering the source of a speech or swallowing issue is also important and can be determined from these assessments.
Cognitive Linguistic therapy is a method used by Speech therapists in order to improve muscle strength and mental capability, as well as reinforcing the connections between them.
Individualized Speech Therapy Treatment Plans
Speech therapy can become a necessity for a senior due to a variety of reasons. One of the most common reasons is Aphasia. This is a condition that is often due to a stroke or other TBI which has resulted in damage to the area in the brain which controls speech.
Early intervention for injuries such as these is crucial to recovering the neurological connections lost from aphasia-causing injuries and medical events.
Individualized treatment plans for speech therapy at Colonial Care also include:
Cognitive-linguistic therapy
Dysphagia therapy
Various vocal exercises.
Speech Therapy Rehabilitation Center in Long Beach
At Colonial Care, treatment plans are individualized and created by licensed speech therapy specialists. It is always best to have the guidance of a physician while in recovery. Specialized equipment and technologies are often unavailable outside of rehabilitation centers for this very reason.
At Colonial Care, it’s like having a rehabilitation center in your home. We know that recovery or regaining strength can be a difficult process. You’ll never be alone at our Long Beach Senior Rehab home. Our team of caring professionals helps each and every individual every step of the way.