Helping the elderly "have more fun at home
Unlike the usual silence, every morning at the Department of Rehabilitation, Ho Chi Minh City Hospital for Rehabilitation - Career Treatment, there is a bustling laughter. Here, the daycare treatment model for the elderly is bringing a new breath of life, bridging the gap between young technicians and the elderly who are participating in treatment.
The care process here is maximally individualized. After measuring blood pressure and checking vital signs, each person will have a separate roadmap depending on their health condition. Some groups focus on restoring motor function with leg lift and knee lift exercises; some groups participate in speech therapy or cognitive training exercises. These movements seem simple, but for people who have had strokes or osteoarthritis, it is a whole effort to regain self-control in life.
Ms. Do Thi Mui (72 years old, residing in Phu Dinh ward) came to the daytime inpatient treatment model for the elderly to treat knee and spinal joint pain. After 3 months, she not only recovered her health but also found joy through meaningful activities such as planting trees with other old friends. The dedicated care of doctors and the warm social environment helped her become confident and optimistic. "This place is not like going for regular treatment" - she shared. Her joyful spirit helps her children feel secure in their work, no longer worried when leaving her mother at home alone.
Not only Ms. Mui, Mr. Nguyen Tanh (80 years old, from Khanh Hoa) also found positive changes when participating in this care model. After a traffic accident requiring spinal surgery, he had numbness in both hands, holding hands and living encountered many obstacles. Nearly a month of treatment at the Department of Rehabilitation, symptoms gradually subsided, and his spirit also became more comfortable. “Here, not only is he treating diseases but also making the elderly feel cared for and happy. If the spirit is good, the disease will recover quickly” - Mr. Tanh shared.
Specialized medicine hidden behind smiles
According to Dr. Dinh Quang Thanh - Head of the Department of Functional Rehabilitation - Physical Therapy (Ho Chi Minh City Hospital for Functional Rehabilitation - Treatment of Occupational Diseases), the daytime inpatient treatment model for the elderly is a comprehensive care solution, closely combining medical treatment, rehabilitation therapy and support for spiritual and social life. Dr. Thanh emphasized that building this model is an inevitable step, in line with modern medical trends, especially when the elderly often suffer from many chronic diseases at the same time such as diabetes, hypertension, COPD, cognitive decline, osteoarthritis or have sequelae after cerebrovascular accidents, traumatic brain injury...
The clear difference compared to nursing homes or conventional care centers that are inherently focused on managing daily life, this model is oriented towards "Day care rehabilitation".Here, instead of just stopping at entertainment activities, the elderly have access to a system of medical services and highly specialized rehabilitation, then return home during the day to connect with their families.
Assoc.Prof. Dr. Phan Minh Hoang - Director of Ho Chi Minh City Hospital for Rehabilitation and Care of Occupational Diseases - affirmed that this process focuses on individualizing treatment, not just simply care.The core advantage lies in the ability to screen and intervene early in health risks.Through daily general examinations, doctors can early identify underlying pathological changes such as signs of pneumonia or blood sugar fluctuations - details that relatives at home often find difficult to recognize.From there, the hospital promptly makes positive treatment indications, helping to minimize severe complications.
