Being able to communicate effectively is crucial for individuals at any age as it is our way of bonding with our community as well as requesting aide or support with the things that we are struggling with. This makes communication especially important for older adults who may require additional support with activities of daily life that others may not be able to predict.
In particular, speech is one of our most commonly used methods of communication. It is therefore important that whenever our ability to speak is affected, speech therapy is sought in order to facilitate recovery. This can be necessary following conditions like dementia or a stroke but can also be a beneficial option if you find that your loved one is communicating less or becoming withdrawn.
Why Is Speech Therapy Important?
Speech therapy is especially important for older adults due to the regular changes that arise from aging. It is normal to experience issues with vocalizing when we are older as our vocal cords are likely to gradually lose their elasticity and our larynx muscles can also experiencing weakening. This means that communicating in the way that they have done previously may no longer be an option, and it might be necessary to have to relearn how to speak in order to communicate.
Regardless of whether it is due to gradual deterioration or a health condition, it is important to start speech therapy as soon as symptoms are observed. If treatment is delayed, it is likely that their ability to speak might be permanently affected.
What Does Speech Therapy Entail?
Speech therapy will differ depending on the needs of the individual. This can involve a combination of art therapy, visual speech perception, melodic intonation therapy and other methods.
Benefits of Speech Therapy
There are many benefits that come from undergoing speech therapy. Firstly, it is able to improve their ability to communicate. Whether this is through using their speech or exploring other effective ways of expressing themselves.
This leads to speech therapy also being able to help improve the social skills of the individual. Older adults are more prone to social isolation, and this can have a detrimental effect on their physical and emotional health. Being able to communicate effectively enables them to create meaningful bonds and have stimulating interactions with others.
Lastly, by encouraging older adults to utilize and practice their speech more, speech therapy is able to boost an individual’s cognitive abilities, reducing any possible deterioration that occurs.
Speech Therapy Sessions at Mariposa
If you or your loved one is struggling with their communication skills, it is important to know that you are not alone in this journey. For most individuals, this is a stressful and traumatizing process to regain the communication skills that you have lost.
At Mariposa, we have a certified team of health professionals that are ready to provide speech therapy on-site as well as any other assistance that is required. This is just one of the many amenities that we offer to residents that stay in our senior living community. On top of this, each of our residents can expect to enjoy delicious meals, exciting activities, and events every day, as well as beautifully landscaped grounds.
For more information on the types of therapy and support we offer or our senior living options, contact us today.