International Nurses Association

You may have the sweetest patient in the world, a nice elderly woman that looks like she could not get angry if she tried.   However, bring up physical therapy following a broken bone, and that sweet patient can become your worst enemy.    Seniors and Physical Therapy You have to see things from an older person’s perspective, they are older, and it was most likely a fall that created their injury in the first place.   Follow that up by asking them to do exercises that hurt, and seem pointless to them, and you have the makings for a cantankerous patient.   One way to help may be to offer encouragement without sounding demanding.   In most cases the doctor will order physical therapy for the patient, and then of course it falls on you, as the nurse to encourage the patient to be cooperative.   In these situations, baby steps may be the best approach.   Ask your patient to attempt to do the recommended exercises for just a few minutes, and try to increase that time a little eac