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Healthy Aging Month: How Rehab Providers Can Support Aging in Place

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Posted On: September 1, 2025 by NARA in: Aging In Place Articles Exercise Falls Programs Home Health Patient Safety

Healthy Aging Month: How Rehab Providers Can Support Aging in Place

September is Healthy Aging Month, a perfect time for rehabilitation providers to double down on strategies that help older adults live independently with safety, dignity, and confidence. Aging in place works best when PT, OT, SLP, nursing, social work, and primary care move in sync. Below is a playbook you can put to work in your clinic or agency today.

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Why Aging in Place Matters for Rehab

Aging in place aligns with what most older adults want: stability, routine, and community. For providers, it is an opportunity to reduce fall risk, prevent avoidable ED visits, optimize function, and improve patient-reported outcomes. Done well, it also supports value-based care goals and patient satisfaction.

Screening: A Fast Aging-in-Place Assessment

Use a brief, standardized screen to flag risks and set priorities:

  • Falls & Mobility: TUG, 30-Second Chair Stand, gait speed, balance screen.
  • ADLs/IADLs: Bathing, dressing, transfers, cooking, meds, transportation.
  • Cognition/Depression: Orientation, executive function red flags; mood screen.
  • Home Environment: Lighting, flooring, stairs/handrails, bathroom safety.
  • Sensory & Footwear: Vision/hearing status; safe shoes, foot pain, neuropathy.
  • Medications: Polypharmacy, sedatives, fall-risk meds → coordinate with prescribers.
  • Nutrition & Hydration: Weight change, dentition, dysphagia risk, hydration.
  • Social Factors: Caregiver availability, language, transportation, financial strain.

Learn More About: Tools Physical Therapists Can Use to Create Plans for Safe Aging in Place

Care Planning: From Goals to Frequency

Translate findings into a simple, shared plan:

  • SMART Goals tied to what matters most to the patient (e.g., church, grandkids, gardening).
  • Interdisciplinary Roles: PT (strength/balance/gait), OT (ADLs/home mods/energy conservation), SLP (cognition/communication/swallow), SS (benefits/resources), nursing (meds/conditions).
  • Frequency & Duration: Align intensity with risk profile; schedule earlier-day sessions if fatigue or sundowning is an issue.
  • Education & Teach-Back: Confirm understanding; provide plain-language handouts.

Fall Prevention: Programs That Work

  • Exercise: Progressive strength (posterior chain, quads), balance (narrow base, perturbations, dual-task), and endurance walking.
  • Vision & Footwear: Annual vision checks; non-slip soles; address foot pain/ulcers.
  • Medication Review: Partner with prescribers/pharmacists to de-risk regimens.
  • Assistive Devices: Select, fit, and train on canes, walkers, or rollators; reassess regularly.
  • Home Modifications:
    • Quick wins: Remove loose rugs, add night lights, tidy cords, non-slip bath mats.
    • Upgrades: Grab bars, raised toilet seat, shower chair, hand-held shower, railings both sides of stairs, threshold ramps.

Caregiver Note: Post the emergency numbers list and a “what to do after a fall” card on the fridge.

Learn More About Evidence-Based Falls Prevention Programs

Mobility & Home Safety Upgrades

  • Transfers & Gait: Task-specific training, sequencing cues, sit-to-stand practice, safe turning.
  • Energy Conservation: Pacing, planning, work-rest cycles, adaptive tools in kitchen/bath.
  • Equipment Fit: Seat height, armrests, cushion support; check that device height promotes neutral posture.
  • Access: Doorway clearance, ramp slope, lighting at entries, lever-style handles, reachable storage.

Learn More About Home Modifications

Pain Management Without Relying on Meds

  • Movement First: Graded activity, pacing, joint protection, gentle ROM/strength.
  • Manual & Modalities: Where appropriate, combine with education and HEP to sustain gains.
  • Self-Management: Sleep hygiene, heat/ice guidance, relaxation breathing, mindfulness micro-breaks.
  • Behavioral Strategies: Catastrophizing reduction, goal setting, flare-up plans.

APTA’s Resources for Pain Management

Cognition, Communication & Swallowing (SLP)

  • Cognitive Safety: Routines, visual cues, pillbox systems, calendar/clock orientation.
  • Communication: Hearing amplification tips, low-vision print, teach-back scripts.
  • Swallowing: Screen for dysphagia; coordinate diet textures, hydration strategies, and positioning.

Tech That Extends Independence

  • Personal Safety: Medical alert systems, fall detection wearables, door sensors.
  • Medication: Locked dispensers, reminders, caregiver alerts.
  • Smart Home: Voice assistants for lights/thermostats, video doorbells, stove shut-offs.
  • Telehealth/RPM: Virtual check-ins between visits; share HEP videos via patient portal.

Caregiver Training & Respite

  • High-Yield Skills: Body mechanics, transfer techniques, safe ambulation with devices.
  • Teach-Back & Micro-skills: “Show me how you’ll set up the shower,” “Let’s practice the pill routine.”
  • Respite & Community Resources: Adult day programs, meal delivery, transportation services.

Transitions of Care & Hospital Avoidance

  • 48–72 Hour Touchpoint: Post-discharge check to catch red flags early.
  • Red-Flag Script: New confusion, chest pain, sudden weakness, new falls, fever, med changes.
  • Coordination: Share summary with PCP and caregivers; tighten communication loops.

Measure What Matters & Sustain the Program

Track outcomes that reflect independence and safety:

  • Clinical: TUG, 30-Second Chair Stand, Berg or ABC scale, 6MWT where appropriate.
  • Utilization: Falls rate, ED visits, readmissions.
  • PROs: Pain interference, confidence, participation goals.
  • Quality & Equity: Language access, rural access, financial barriers addressed.

Bring Healthy Aging to Life & Take It Further in Phoenix

If you’re passionate about aging in place, you’ll love what’s coming this fall. The NARA Fall 2025 Conference (Oct. 15–17) features sessions on fall prevention, tech-enabled care, and new revenue pathways for aging services.
Join us in Phoenix to connect, learn, and lead the future of rehab.

Register Today!

How NARA Can Help

NARA supports rehab leaders with education, advocacy, and community:

Explore member tools and upcoming events at naranet.org.

Find Member Tools & Upcoming Events

Quick Tools You Can Copy/Paste

Home Safety Quick Check (Provider or Caregiver)

  • Night lights in hallway/bedroom/bath
  • Clear pathways; no loose rugs or cords
  • Grab bars installed; non-slip bath mat
  • Stable chair with arms for sit-to-stand practice
  • Frequently used items at waist-to-shoulder height
  • Proper footwear (no floppy slippers)

First 30 Days: Aging-in-Place Action Plan

  1. Screen for falls, ADLs/IADLs, cognition, meds, home risk
  2. Set 2–3 SMART goals tied to life roles
  3. Fit device and train; print HEP with pictures
  4. Install quick home safety fixes; schedule grab bars if needed
  5. Educate caregiver with teach-back; post emergency plan
  6. Schedule follow-ups + telehealth check-ins; reassess at day 30

Patient Handout Snippet (Plain Language)

  • Move a little, often—short walks or chair exercises daily
  • Keep paths clear and lights on at night
  • Use your walker every time, even “just to the bathroom”
  • Take meds as directed; bring your list to all visits
  • Call your therapist if you fall or feel unsteady

Bring Healthy Aging Home

Aging in place succeeds when rehab providers lead with prevention, personalization, and teamwork. Use the tools above to launch or sharpen your program this month, and help older adults stay safe, active, and independent where they want to be most: home.

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