The Get Right Gazette: Edition 01
Edition 01: Can In-home Physiotherapy Reduce the Risk of Hospital Readmissions?
An advice column from the folks who know what it’s like to fall (and find your way back up again). In this inaugural edition, Ruth, 84, shares lived-in wisdom about aging, recovering at home, and what physiotherapy really feels like after the hospital discharge papers have cleared. She’s not a doctor; just someone who’s been there, and knows what actually makes a difference.
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Back in the 70s, I wrote a weekly column in our church newsletter titled “Ruth’s Rants.” It mostly involved complaints about parking spots, kids on bikes, and why no one salted the sidewalk properly anymore. It got me banned from the bake sale committee once, but I had a loyal following (mostly folks who appreciated a little sass with their sermon notes).
Now, thanks to Get Right Physio, I’m back at it. This time, with a little less ranting and a lot more practical advice for people like me (seniors who’ve been through the wringer and are trying to get right again without being treated like a glass ornament). I’ve got two artificial knees, one stubborn hip, and more experience with hospital food than I care to admit. But I also have something else: a second chance at independence, thanks to physiotherapy that came to me.
So, whether you’re a caregiver, a concerned child, or someone who just fell reaching for a pickle jar, welcome to the Get Right Gazette. Let’s sort through this aging thing together (one question, one Theraband, and one brutally honest answer at a time).
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Dear Ruth,
My dad just came home from the hospital after a bad fall. He says he’s “fine,” but he mostly just sits in his chair and stares at the TV. I’m worried we’re missing something. What helped you the most in those first few weeks at home?
– Stressed in Scarborough
Dear Stressed,
You’re not missing something. You’re missing everything. I was the same way. When I got home, I thought rest would heal me. Spoiler: it didn’t. I lost strength, got dizzy easily, and started fearing the stairs like they were Mount Everest. What helped? A physiotherapist who came right to my house. She didn’t just treat my hip. She taught me how to trust my body again. The secret no one tells you is that recovery doesn’t end when you leave the hospital. In some ways, that’s when it really begins.
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Dear Ruth,
My mother refuses to use her walker. She says it makes her feel old. But she’s already had two falls in the last year. How do I convince her without upsetting her?
– Caught in the Middle
Dear Caught,
Ah yes, the ol’ “I don’t want to look old” argument. Listen, I spent 45 minutes once trying to prove I could carry laundry down the stairs without my cane, and ended up with a sprained ankle and two bruised knees. Sometimes pride needs a little push. The trick isn’t to lecture but to team up. My physiotherapist helped me adjust the walker to fit me better, showed me how to move with it, and gave me exercises that made me feel stronger. Suddenly it wasn’t a symbol of age but rather a tool for independence. That’s the difference a good physio can make.
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Dear Ruth,
My family thinks home physiotherapy is just “extra fluff” since I’ve already been discharged. Be honest: is it really worth it?
– Wondering in Willowdale
Dear Wondering,
Yes. A thousand times yes. Discharge means “you’re stable,” not “you’re strong.” I was discharged with a bruised tailbone, low energy, and a warning not to fall again. That’s it. In-home physio helped me build the strength I lost in hospital, made my hallway walker-friendly, and gave me the confidence to make it to my granddaughter’s birthday without needing help to sit down. I haven’t been back to the hospital since. So no, it’s not fluff. It’s the thread that stitched my life back together.
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Dear Ruth,
What would you say to someone who’s nervous about aging?
– Quietly Concerned
Dear Quietly,
Aging isn’t the problem. Isolation is. Being alone with your pain. Your fear. Your stiff knees. You don’t need to accept decline like it’s the weather. There are people, genuinely good ones, who come to your door, bring their knowledge, their kindness, and their therapy bands, to fix things for you. And you know what? Sometimes, they do.
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Final Thought from Ruth:
If you’re reading this while worrying about a parent, or yourself, here’s what I’ll say: don’t wait for the next fall or hospital stay to get help. A physiotherapist can do more than stretch your hamstrings. They can bring your life back into motion. Right there in your living room.
Getting older doesn’t mean giving up. It just means getting smarter about how you care for your body. I used to think hospital discharge meant the hard part was over, but I’ve learned recovery is its own journey. If you’re not sure where to start, there are folks at Get Right Physio who genuinely get it right.