Beginning on January 1st, 2011 over 10,000 Baby Boomers will reach the age of 65 each and every day. This daily trend continues for the next 19 years. To discuss the role physical therapists play in keeping seniors healthy and active, the President of the APTA Section of Geriatrics, William Staples, PT, DHS, GCS joins PT Talker.
To address the changing health care environment and the needs of an aging population, Staples sees physical therapists moving away from traditional referral based medicine and moving towards a more preventative role. The expertise of physical therapists makes them well-positioned to design programs to fit the unique needs of seniors wanting to remain healthy, get active or improve quality of life. One of the key focuses in the APTA Section of Geriatrics is developing some clinical practice guidelines as well as creating informational web pages for consumers highlighting the benefits of physical therapy and exercise. Learn more about other APTA Geriatric Section initiatives and why you should get involved by listening to the full podcast now.