What is physiotherapy for older adults?
It's physiotherapy focused on the changes that can come with age, illness or time in hospital. You may also hear it called geriatric physiotherapy, elderly care physiotherapy or domiciliary physiotherapy. Domiciliary simply means it happens in the person's home.
A physio looks at how someone gets through their day: getting out of bed, rising from a chair, walking to the kitchen, managing the front step. They work out what's making those things harder, then build a plan around what matters to that person, whether that's getting to the shops, gardening or having the grandchildren round.
It isn't only for people who are very frail. Plenty of people book because they want to stay active and deal with a problem early.
Why physio at home can suit older people
- No tiring journey. Getting to a clinic can use up the energy someone needs for the exercises. It can also mean a relative taking time off work.
- Advice that fits the real home. Your physio can see the stairs, the chair height, the rugs and the bathroom, and suggest changes that suit them.
- Family can be involved. A partner, son, daughter or carer can sit in and learn how to help safely.
- Familiar surroundings. Many people feel more settled and talk more openly in their own home, and that helps your physio understand the problem.
- Time to go at the right pace. Home visits last around an hour, so nobody is rushed.
Home visits aren't right for everyone. Someone may also need hospital equipment, a community rehabilitation team or a group exercise class, and your physio will tell you if that's the case.
What can physio help older adults with?
These are common reasons families and older adults get in touch.
Falls, unsteadiness and fear of falling
Strength and balance exercises are a recognised part of falls prevention. Read about falls prevention physiotherapy at home, or try the 30-second chair test with your parent.
Getting stronger after a hospital stay
A stay in hospital can leave someone weaker and less sure of themselves. Our guide explains how to rebuild strength after a hospital stay.
After a joint replacement or fracture
Your physio will follow any instructions from the surgical team. See post-surgery physiotherapy at home.
Arthritis and joint pain
Pain can make people move less, and moving less can make them weaker. See knee pain, back pain and shoulder pain.
Stroke, Parkinson's and other neurological conditions
Stiffness and loss of mobility
Gentle, regular movement often matters more than intense exercise. See these mobility exercises and chair exercises.
Not on the list? Ask us, or browse the conditions we treat.
Falls and balance: what a physio looks at
A fall can knock someone's confidence even when they aren't badly hurt, and moving less afterwards can make them weaker. A physio will usually look at:
- leg strength, and how easily someone gets up from a chair
- balance when standing, turning and walking
- walking aids, and whether they're being used in the best way
- footwear, stairs, rugs and lighting
- what to do after a fall, including how to get help
Your physio may suggest equipment such as grab rails, or suggest asking your GP or council about an occupational therapy assessment.
Falls need more than exercise, so keep your GP informed too. The NHS advice on falls explains how a GP can check balance, and that a GP or pharmacist can check whether medicines might be affecting it. We can't promise that physio will stop every fall, but it can work on the things that make a fall more likely.
Worried about falls? Book a home visit and tell us what's been happening.
What happens on the first visit
A conversation
Your physio asks about health, medicines, any recent falls, what has become difficult and what the person would like to be able to do. A relative can join in.
An assessment at home
They watch how the person moves, such as getting up from a chair, walking and using the stairs if that's safe.
Treatment and exercises
They start at a level that's safe for that person, and adjust as they go.
A written plan
You're left with a written exercise plan and practical advice, in plain language.
An honest view of next steps
Your physio will say how many visits are likely to make sense, and whether someone else should be involved, such as your GP.
Read more about what to expect from a home visit.
Booking for a parent or relative
Families often book on behalf of someone they're worried about. These things help:
- Use the right address. Enter the address where the visit will happen, and tell us who we should contact to arrange it.
- Talk to your relative first. They need to agree to the visit and to any treatment, so it helps to explain who's coming and why.
- Mention memory problems or dementia. Tell us when you book, so the physio can plan and someone who knows your relative can be there.
- Be there if you can. You're welcome to sit in, especially on the first visit. Your physio can show you how to help safely. Our guide for carers covers looking after your own back too.
- Ask for a female or male physio if it matters. Tell us when you book or message us on WhatsApp, and we'll try to arrange it, subject to availability.
- Care homes and sheltered housing. Ask us before you book, so we can check whether it can be arranged with the home.
For more detail, read our plan for busy families and the complete guide to physiotherapy for the elderly at home.
Who will come to the home?
Letting someone new into the house is a fair concern, especially for a person who lives alone.
- Checked before they visit. Every FlexAura physiotherapist is HCPC-registered, holds an enhanced DBS check and carries professional insurance. We verify these before anyone visits a patient.
- You know who's coming. Your confirmation by email and WhatsApp includes your physiotherapist's name and profile.
- You can check for yourself. Search the HCPC register to confirm a name. Your invoice shows your physio's HCPC number.
What physio for older adults costs
The prices are the same as for any other FlexAura home visit:
| Option | Price |
|---|---|
| Online video consultation (30 minutes) | £45 |
| First home visit (60 minutes) | £110 |
| Follow-up home visit (60 minutes) | £99 |
| Five-visit package | £450 (£90 each) |
Travel and equipment are included, and each visit comes with a written exercise plan. There's no call-out charge and no cancellation fee. If you need to rearrange within 24 hours, message us on WhatsApp. You pay after the visit, by card, bank transfer or cash to your physio. Many private health insurance policies cover physiotherapy from HCPC-registered practitioners, so check yours and keep your invoice, which shows your physio's HCPC number.
Strength and balance usually build with regular practice, so the five-visit package can be worth considering. See the pricing page.
Can you get this physiotherapy on the NHS?
It's worth asking. NHS physiotherapy is free, and your GP, the hospital discharge team or local community services can tell you what's available in your area. The NHS advice on falls says you might be able to refer yourself to some services without seeing a GP.
FlexAura is a private service that you pay for. Some families use it while they wait for NHS support or alongside it. If your relative is already under an NHS team, let your physio know so advice stays joined up.
When to call 999 or NHS 111
Where you can find physio for elderly people near me
FlexAura has local pages for eight UK cities:
Living elsewhere? See all the areas we cover or ask us. Availability depends on the area and on which physios are on the platform, and we'll give you a straight answer.