There is encouraging news for all those with peripheral artery disease (PAD), a debilitating condition that can result from smoking or diabetes and can increase a person’s chance of developing a heart attack or stroke, and sometimes leading to limb amputation. Medicare is now going to pay for the cost of treadmill therapy once recommended and supervised by a health care professional.
With few treatment methods, people battling with PAD encounter pain and cramping in the legs described as “feeling as if their leg is in a vise,” according to University of Minnesota’s Diane Treat-Jacobson. Prescription medications have proven unsuccessful in decreasing pain, and while stent or bypass procedures can help, they’re pricey and come with their own associated risks. The latest research is indicating that treadmill therapy can be equally effective, at a considerably reduced cost, and with Medicare on board to pay for that cost, several thousand rehab centers are preparing for a wave of clients prepared to give it a try.
The expectation is that various other insurers will shortly follow suit and provide coverage for treadmill therapy, which is often the case when Medicare covers a treatment option. At present, over 2,000 hospital-based rehabilitation facilities are preparing to provide treadmill workouts to those whose medical practitioners prescribe and oversee them.
Since people that have PAD frequently reduce exercise because of leg pain, the benefits of supervised treadmill therapy go beyond decreased hospitalizations and cost savings to strengthening cardiovascular and lung health, extending the distance a patient with PAD can walk with no soreness, and even possibly increasing length and quality of life.
If your senior loved one is among the 8 million Americans struggling with the difficulties of PAD, or any other condition that makes living in the home independently challenging, contact Independence-4-Seniors Home Care. We can offer help and support in numerous ways, including:
- Providing transportation and accompaniment to therapy treatment as well as other healthcare appointments
- Helping with tasks around the home, like light housework and washing clothes
- Making wholesome and appetizing meals
- Running errands like picking up groceries and medications
- Offering support for senior citizens to participate in doctor-approved exercise programs
- Offering friendly companionship – someone with whom to take walks, enjoy favorite hobbies and pastimes, and become more earnestly involved in the world around them
- And much more
Call us at (630) 323-4665 to learn more about our customized in-home care for seniors in Hinsdale and the surrounding suburbs and improve the quality of life for your loved one!