Alzheimer’s disease and related dementias represent a significant and growing health care burden in the United States. This article describes the implementation of a rehabilitation-driven, interdisciplinary care model and its impact on antipsychotic medication use and emergency department visits among individuals with dementia in skilled nursing facilities.

Physical therapy for balance targets one or more of the three balance systems: visual, vestibular, and somatosensory. The somatosensory system is responsible for giving your brain information about your body’s position in space. It relies heavily on feedback from your feet and ankles, which constantly monitor the firmness, texture, and stability of the surface beneath you. When this system is strong, you can adapt quickly to uneven ground, shifting surfaces, or unexpected changes in terrain.

Clinic Director, Dr. Erica Parazo, has been selected by the Texas Physical Therapy Association (TPTA) to receive the Ruby Decker Award.