How Speech Therapy Can Help Seniors in Respite Care

How Speech Therapy Can Help Seniors in Respite Care

August 1, 2020 0 Comment Category: Recuperative Care

Speech therapy is one of the most common types of senior respite care, especially for those who have had a stroke, any kind of brain injury, or mouth and throat cancer. Speech therapy helps seniors to communicate clearly so that they can tell caregivers what they need or how they are feeling. This in turn will help to avoid the likelihood of any situation escalating into a serious problem. Below are a few ways in which speech therapy helps seniors in respite care.

How Speech Therapy Benefits Seniors

The vocal cords in humans become less elastic due to aging, while the larynx muscles also grow weaker. This can make it difficult for seniors to communicate well as they used to. Although speech therapy does not directly affect the elasticity of the vocal cords, the specialized exercises included in the therapy, such as visual speech perception therapy, Melodic Intonation therapy, and constraint-induced language therapy, can help to strengthen them and recover the quality of speech.

Seniors also find it more difficult to swallow foods properly, which in turn increases the risks of choking on certain foods. Speech therapy in a senior respite care facility will help to tone and strengthen the jaw muscles, vocal cord muscles, and larynx muscles, which help to improve swallowing reflex. Besides, speech therapy is also recommended to patients as part of a stroke rehabilitation program to avoid the onset of further complications like aphasia and apraxia.

Aphasia is a condition wherein seniors find it difficult to find the right words to express their thoughts. Apraxia, on the other hand, refers to a condition wherein seniors fail to move their lips properly to utter words. Speech therapy can help to treat both the conditions and help seniors to have a better chance of recovering fully after stroke.

Another common ailment that can be managed with speech therapy is memory loss. Seniors are likely to suffer some kind of memory loss due to the effects of aging on their cognitive functions. Speech therapy can help to motivate cognitive activities that are centered on attention, communication, and problem-solving skills. This can in turn help to address the symptoms of memory loss and help seniors improve their communication when they are struggling to express their thoughts.

Speech therapy can help improve the overall quality of life for seniors. As it helps them to inform caregivers in the senior respite care facility about any pain or illnesses that they are experiencing, adequate action can be taken in time to deal with the condition and avoid serious medical problems. If you know someone who can benefit from Horizon Recuperative Care, visit our referral form page.