Geriatric Observation

Seeking out facilities that would grant me the opportunity to complete clinical observation hours was fairly simple. The School of Kinesiology distributes a list of establishments, including contact information, where students have completed clinical observations. In addition to those listings, I personally explored the Internet for facilities that would allow me to observe a variety of settings. I simply researched the care facilities and the physical therapists on staff, and contacted them directly to request permission to observe them. I found the therapists I contacted to be very willing to assist me with the experience and knowledge I was seeking. The responsibilities I was given were quite limited as physical therapy itself is very hands

However, with children in particular, there is no way of constructing and precisely following any specific intervention plans. In some instances, a child would refuse to engage in an activity so it was up to the therapist to create a new “game” on the spot that would motivate the child while still accomplishing their therapy goals. Geriatric patients are another instance in which the daily therapy prescription can’t always be accomplished. Geriatric patients can be easily fatigued during exercises or simply can not perform the necessary movement. Pediatric and geriatric physical therapy impacted my view of physical therapy more so than other areas. Prior to this experience, I thought of physical therapy as a structured plan where a patient entered with a problem and had to complete a set list of exercises prescribed by the physical therapist. I now realize although therapists may attempt to follow a structured plan, in some instances it serves as more of a guideline than a set standard depending on the patients willingness and/or ability to complete specific