Unfortunately, yet understandably, there are more seniors deciding against joining or rejoining their necessary rehabilitation during these turbulent and questionable times. With sickness still surrounding us, and with so much fear and unknown in the air, it makes sense.

There are so many important questions and points that seniors and their families are thinking about in relation to this. Let’s take a look at some of these questions, and address possible solutions to put their mind at ease.

At ManhattanView, our number one concern is to facilitate healing for our residents and provide them with an improved quality of life. For those who need it, rehabilitation can provide patients with the tools that will help improve their quality of life immensely now and for many years to come.

Here is some of the reluctance we know you and your family are feeling:

• Isn’t it a risk to go into such a public space, and working closely with others?
• I don’t want to get stuck there for many weeks without being able to see my family. If someone gets Covid, we’ll all probably have to stay there for many days quarantining, and I don’t want that!
• I’m immunocompromised and worried about getting exposed to COVID-19.

We hear your concern, you are not alone. We’re right there with you, taking every precaution and recommended regulations from the CDC to the T. Because the last thing we want is for seniors to live their lives in constant stress and fear, when they can be getting the help that’ll give them the best chances at an amazing quality of life.

Staying home and sheltering in one place for the first 15 months of the pandemic, and for many in isolation, has caused large numbers of older adults to become cognitively and physically debilitated and less able to care for themselves.

No large-scale studies have documented the extent of this phenomenon. But physicians, physical therapists and health plan leaders said the prospect of increased impairment and frailty in the older population is growing concern.

So, it’s important to weigh the pros and cons and think strategically about this.

Showing up for short term rehab can:

• Improve strength, mobility and flexibility
• Give tools and techniques for making everyday living tasks easier
• Help with communication, swallowing (if needed), and cognitive skills
• Create joyful moments and feelings of empowerment and accomplishment
• Be an opportunity to connect socially
• +MORE

Not showing up can result in a major decline in these areas, and with that, stress, depression, weight loss, weight gain, low energy can set in. Explain to your older adult who needs rehabilitation that they are worth it. Anything is possible, and all they need to do it is show up. Then it’s all uphill from there.