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Select Physiotherapy

For aged care & older adults

Older Adult Physiotherapy

Physiotherapist-led care that helps older adults stay mobile, steady and independent, and supports the facilities and families who care for them. Delivered on-site across the Waikato.

Enquire about our services Call 07 847 4974
A physiotherapist supporting an older adult with gentle exercise

Physiotherapy in the older adult and aged-care sector covers far more than rehabilitation. It's about maintaining mobility and comfort, preventing falls, supporting recovery, and helping staff and whānau care for people safely.

We work across independent retirement living, rest homes, hospital-level and dementia care, respite services and care in people's own homes, tailoring each programme to the resident rather than using one set of exercises for everyone.

Led by

Sara George, Founder, Director & Senior Physiotherapist

Over 21 years' physiotherapy experience across New Zealand and India, with deep expertise in aged-care rehabilitation, falls prevention, dementia care and complex resident management.

What we offer

A complete older-adult service

The full range of physiotherapy we provide for aged-care facilities and older adults. Tap any area to read more.

Assessments & care plans

Every resident starts with a proper assessment: what they can do, what support they need, and what will help. From there we set meaningful goals with the resident and, with consent, their whānau and care team.

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What we assess

New resident assessment: walking, transfers, strength, balance, joint movement, pain and physical independence
Functional mobility in everyday situations: getting out of bed, rising from a chair, reaching the dining room
Reassessment after illness, hospitalisation, a fall, new pain or a decline in mobility

What you get

An individual rehabilitation plan with meaningful, realistic goals
Mobility and transfer care plans documenting walking aids, transfer methods, equipment and the level of staff assistance
Ongoing progress reviews that adjust exercises and care recommendations as needs change

Walking, mobility & transfers

The aim might be to recover independence, maintain existing ability, or simply make assisted movement safer and more comfortable for the resident and the staff helping them.

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What our mobility work can include

Gait rehabilitation: improving walking pattern, steadiness and efficiency
Walking endurance: gradually increasing distance and time on feet
Bed mobility: rolling, repositioning and moving between lying and sitting
Sit-to-stand practice from different seats
Transfer rehabilitation between beds, chairs, wheelchairs and toilets
Step, stair and outdoor mobility where relevant
Walking aid assessment, fitting and education for residents and caregivers

Strength, frailty & exercise

Frailty and inactivity chip away at strength, endurance and independence. We build them back at a pace matched to each resident's ability and health, rather than using the same exercises for everyone.

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Programmes we run

Frailty-focused exercise for people with reduced physical reserve
Reconditioning after illness or a period of bed rest
Progressive resistance exercise for the major muscle groups
Functional exercise circuits: standing, stepping, reaching
Seated exercise for residents who can't safely exercise standing
Group strength & balance classes, screened and progressed appropriately
Walking groups for suitable residents
Maintenance programmes where full recovery is unlikely
Coaching caregivers to support exercise between physiotherapy visits

Rehab after injury, surgery or hospital

Rebuilding function after a setback, working alongside the resident's surgeon or medical team and their weight-bearing and recovery instructions.

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What recovery can involve

Fracture rehabilitation: recovering movement, strength and walking after hip and other fractures
Joint replacement rehabilitation after hip, knee or other surgery
Soft-tissue injury rehabilitation after sprains and strains
Post-hospital reconditioning following an acute admission or prolonged inactivity
Restorative or transitional rehabilitation during a temporary period of extra care
Discharge and transition support: communicating mobility, equipment and assistance needs across hospital, care and home

Pain, arthritis & joint stiffness

Everyday aches, arthritis and stiffness are common in older adults, and they respond well to the right exercise, activity advice and support.

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How we help with pain and stiffness

Assessment of musculoskeletal pain: back, neck, shoulder, hip and knee
Osteoarthritis management with exercise and activity advice
Joint stiffness and restricted-movement treatment
Persistent pain support: education, pacing and graded activity
Posture advice for sitting, standing and daily tasks
Osteoporosis-aware exercise, adapted to fracture risk
Joint protection and movement advice

Neurological & dementia-sensitive physio

Neurological and cognitive conditions call for adapted communication, treatment and caregiver involvement. Our approach supports physical function and comfort.

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How we adapt care

Stroke rehabilitation: sitting, standing, transfers, walking, balance and use of affected limbs
Parkinson's rehabilitation: movement, posture, walking, turning and transfers
Other neurological conditions: maintaining function and adapting mobility (MS, motor neurone disease, ataxia)
Dementia-sensitive physiotherapy: familiar activities, simple cues, repetition and a supportive environment
Caregiver coaching for consistent approaches that suit the resident
Reviewing equipment, positioning and assistance as needs change

Dementia-sensitive physiotherapy supports physical function and comfort; it does not reverse dementia.

Seating, positioning & equipment

For residents with limited mobility, the right seating, positioning and equipment make a real difference to comfort, function and skin health.

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What this can include

Seating and posture assessment for support, comfort and functional sitting
Wheelchair assessment and adjustment to suit the person
Bed positioning advice for comfort and movement
Pressure-injury prevention input alongside nursing and occupational therapy
Joint range maintenance with active or assisted movement
Contracture management: realistic positioning and movement strategies
Transfer equipment assessment and wheelchair mobility training

Complex seating and funded-equipment applications may require additional assessor credentials and pathway-specific eligibility.

Caregiver education & facility support

Good physiotherapy continues between visits. We help your team and whānau support residents well, and we contribute to how your facility manages mobility and falls across the board.

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Caregiver & whānau support

Teaching staff to support individual exercise programmes
Training activity staff to run suitable exercise groups
Delegating and supervising appropriate tasks to rehabilitation assistants
Educating caregivers on mobility changes that need reassessment
Showing whānau how to support movement and participation
Clear written exercise and mobility guidance for consistent care across shifts

Facility-level support

A coordinated facility falls-prevention programme
Physiotherapy input into falls review meetings
Mobility documentation systems: clear records of assistance, equipment and reviews
Multidisciplinary care meetings with shared rehab goals
Clinical outcome reporting on function, participation and progress
Equipment advice and input into mobility, falls and handling policies

These are potential contract deliverables, not a promise of accreditation or audit compliance.

Programmes are matched to each resident's ability and health. Dementia-sensitive physiotherapy supports physical function and comfort; it does not reverse dementia.

Where we work

Care that comes to your facility

We deliver older adult physiotherapy on-site across the Waikato, wherever your residents are cared for.

  • Rest homes & aged residential care
  • Retirement villages & independent living
  • Hospital-level & dementia care
  • Respite & transitional care
  • In residents' own homes
  • Community & day programmes
An older adult working on balance and strength with a physiotherapist

Older Adult Physiotherapy

Support your residents to stay mobile and independent

Talk to us about older adult physiotherapy, falls prevention or staff training for your facility, delivered on-site across the Waikato.

Enquire about our services Call 07 847 4974