Sometimes when people think of speech therapy, they think of small children with stutters. However, speech therapy can be for seniors as well. How does it work? Speech therapists work with seniors to improve speech clarity, language comprehension, memory, and cognitive skills and enhance swallowing function, ensuring better communication and quality of life. Often your loved one will need a whole team of professionals to ensure their end of life is happy and healthy. This may include speech therapy, home care services, nurses, doctors, etc. Here are all of the reasons you should consider speech therapy for your loved one.
Helps With Vocal Chords
Almost everything becomes weaker as your body ages, which is natural, but you need ways to keep strengthening certain things. This includes the use of voices and vocal chords. Speech therapists can help train a senior’s vocal cords to become stronger or even help them relearn speaking after a stroke or other medical condition. Speech therapists can help seniors strengthen their vocal cords through exercises that focus on breath control, vocal resonance, and vocal cord coordination. These exercises may involve techniques to improve breath support and enhance vocal projection, helping seniors regain or maintain their ability to communicate effectively and with confidence.
Working On Swallowing Problems
Home care can help your loved one prepare meals, but if your senior has a hard time swallowing, it can be challenging to eat. Your senior may give up eating altogether, which can cause major health concerns.
When a senior stops eating, it can have various implications for their health. Weight loss, dehydration, and reduced energy levels can contribute to the overall decline in physical and cognitive function, potentially leading to complications and impacting their quality of life. It’s crucial to address the underlying causes and seek appropriate medical attention if a senior is not eating adequately. So, if your loved one is having difficulty swallowing, which causes them to eat less, it’s time to find a speech therapist to help with the issue.
A speech therapist can help a senior learn to swallow through a process known as dysphagia therapy. They will assess the senior’s swallowing ability, identify any difficulties or aspirations, and then design a personalized treatment plan. This plan may involve exercises to strengthen the muscles used in swallowing and strategies to modify food textures and mealtime behaviors to ensure safe and effective swallowing.
Helps Patients With Dementia Communicate With Others
When your loved one is diagnosed with dementia, it can seem like the beginning of the end. However, this diagnosis does not have to be the end; with the right team in place, your senior can live a full and enriched life. If your senior needs help with speech and communication, it is time to look for a speech therapist on top of everything else your loved one may need. Even when your senior loses the ability to speak, they will need a good way to communicate, which a therapist may help with. If you’re worried about communication, it’s time to look for the right professionals.
If you or an aging loved one are considering Home Care Services in Old City TN please contact the caring staff at Senior Solutions Home Care. (865) 539-5224
Senior Solutions Home Care is a Trusted Home Care Agency serving Knoxville, Old City, Fort Sanders, Old Sevier, Edgewood, North Knoxville, Forest Heights, Sequoyah Hills, Knox County, and surrounding areas.
Over the years, we have expanded, providing service in all 95 counties throughout Tennessee, and we now have a growing presence in Georgia.
Senior Solutions is recognized as a top 5% independent agency and a three-time Inc. 5000 honoree in 2018, 2019, and 2020. These types of awards matter to us because they show growth in our goal of eventually touching a million lives. We’re excited to continue that growth and to touch even more families with our commitment to quality care!
- Setting Healthy Boundaries for Your Elderly Loved One - November 11, 2024
- Helping Seniors Age in Place - October 23, 2024
- Ways To Help Your Senior Parent Age In Place - October 7, 2024
