33 Questions to Ask a Physical Therapist About an Older Parent

Taking an older parent to physical therapy can feel overwhelming, especially when you are trying to remember symptoms, medications, falls, exercises, and everything the therapist says during a short appointment.

You do not need to ask every question on this list.

Instead, use it as a menu. Pick the questions that match your parent’s biggest problems and write down the answers. The goal is to leave the appointment knowing what your parent is working toward, what they should do at home, what they should avoid, and when to call the therapist or doctor.

A good PT plan should connect treatment to real-life function. The American Physical Therapy Association recommends goals that are measurable, functional, and time-limited rather than vague goals such as simply "get stronger." :contentReference[oaicite:5]5

Preparing for the Physical Therapy Appointment

The most useful information you can bring is not a long medical history. It is a clear picture of how your parent is functioning at home.

Instead of saying:

"Mom seems weaker."

Try:

"She used to stand from the living-room chair without help, but for the last month she has needed to push with both arms and sometimes needs two attempts."

Specific examples help the physical therapist understand which activities are difficult and what goals may be meaningful.

What to Bring

The 5 Most Important Things to Understand Before You Leave

A successful PT appointment does not mean asking dozens of questions.

Try to leave with clear answers to these five areas:

1. What is limiting my parent right now?
2. What are we trying to improve?
3. What should my parent do at home?
4. What should my parent avoid or modify?
5. How will we know whether treatment is working?

The questions below expand those five areas into a complete caregiver checklist.

33 Questions to Ask a Physical Therapist About an Older Parent

Category 1: Understanding the Problem

Start by making sure you understand what the therapist sees.

1. What do you think is the main reason my parent is having difficulty right now?

This helps separate the symptoms you see at home from the movement, strength, balance, pain, or functional problems identified during the evaluation.

2. Which movements or activities are most limited?

Ask the therapist to connect the findings to everyday activities such as standing, walking, climbing stairs, getting dressed, or getting in and out of bed.

3. Which muscle groups or movement patterns are contributing most to the problem?

The answer can help you understand what the exercises are designed to accomplish.

4. Is there anything you found during the evaluation that we should discuss with my parent’s doctor?

A physical therapist may identify findings that warrant communication with another member of the healthcare team.

5. Does my parent need any additional evaluation before starting or progressing exercise?

This is especially important if there are new symptoms, significant pain, repeated falls, major weakness, dizziness, or a recent surgery or injury.

6. What is the biggest functional problem you want to address first?

This keeps treatment focused on something meaningful rather than simply collecting exercises.

Category 2: Goals and Expected Progress

Good rehabilitation goals should describe meaningful changes in function and should be measurable and time-limited. :contentReference[oaicite:6]6

7. What should success look like for my parent?

Ask for an answer that relates to daily life.

For example:

• Standing from a chair more independently
• Walking safely to the bathroom
• Climbing a specific number of stairs
• Getting dressed with less assistance
• Walking outside with the appropriate mobility aid

8. What are our short-term goals?

Ask what improvement would reasonably be expected during the early phase of treatment.

9. What are our longer-term goals?

This helps you understand where the treatment is ultimately heading.

10. How will you measure progress?

The therapist may use functional tests, strength or mobility measurements, walking ability, balance tests, pain reports, or other clinical measures.

11. How often will you reassess the goals?

Goals can change as your parent improves, encounters setbacks, or develops new needs.

12. What would tell you that the current plan is working?

Ask for observable signs rather than a general answer such as "they should feel stronger."

Category 3: Questions About the Treatment Plan

13. How often do you recommend therapy?

Ask how frequently your parent should attend and whether the schedule may change as progress occurs.

14. What will we work on during the sessions?

Ask how much of the plan involves therapeutic exercise, balance, walking, functional training, education, or other interventions.

15. What should my parent practice between appointments?

This is one of the most important questions for turning a clinic visit into a home routine.

16. How hard should the exercises feel?

Ask the therapist how your parent should distinguish expected effort from excessive pain, fatigue, dizziness, or other warning signs.

17. When should an exercise be stopped?

Do not assume that every uncomfortable sensation means the exercise should be abandoned—or that every painful sensation should be pushed through.

Ask the PT what is acceptable for each specific exercise.

18. What should we do if my parent misses a session?

Ask whether the home program should change or whether the missed appointment simply needs to be rescheduled.

Category 4: Home Exercise Program Questions

A home exercise program should be practical enough for your parent to follow safely.

19. Can you demonstrate each exercise one more time before we leave?

Ask your parent to perform the exercise back to the therapist when possible. This can reveal misunderstandings before you get home.

20. Can you give us written instructions or pictures?

Written instructions can make it easier to remember the sequence at home.

21. How many repetitions and sets should my parent do?

Ask for the exact starting amount rather than guessing.

22. How often should each exercise be performed?

Some exercises may be prescribed daily while others may be scheduled differently.

23. How should we modify the exercise if it becomes too difficult?

This is particularly useful when pain, fatigue, balance, or limited strength affects performance.

24. How will we know when it is time to make the exercise harder?

Ask what signs should trigger an increase in repetitions, resistance, walking distance, or another aspect of the program.

25. Which exercises are the highest priority if we have limited time?

If your parent cannot realistically complete a long program, ask the PT which exercises matter most.

Category 5: Safety and Fall Prevention

Fall prevention should be individualized to the person's risks, environment, medications, mobility, and health conditions. CDC's STEADI program uses a broader approach that includes screening, assessment, and intervention rather than relying on a single exercise or device. :contentReference[oaicite:7]7

26. What is my parent’s biggest fall risk right now?

The answer might involve balance, weakness, medication effects, footwear, a mobility aid, the home environment, or another factor.

27. Which activities should my parent avoid for now?

Ask about specific situations rather than accepting a general instruction such as "take it easy."

28. Does my parent need a cane, walker, or another mobility aid?

If so, ask which type is appropriate and why.

If a walker is recommended, you can also review our guide to Best Walkers for Seniors.

29. Is my parent using the mobility aid correctly?

A device can be useful only if it is correctly fitted and used safely.

30. Are there changes we should make at home?

Ask whether the PT recommends changes to flooring, lighting, furniture placement, stairs, bathroom equipment, or other parts of the home.

You can also review What Home Modifications Improve Safety.

Category 6: Special Conditions and Recovery

31. Are there any precautions related to my parent’s medical conditions?

Ask specifically about conditions such as osteoporosis, recent fractures, neurological conditions, heart problems, or other diagnoses.

For osteoporosis, the appropriate exercise plan depends on fracture risk and individual circumstances. Exercise can be beneficial, but people at higher fracture risk may need to avoid certain spinal flexion and forceful twisting movements. Ask the PT for specific instructions rather than assuming that all exercise is unsafe. :contentReference[oaicite:8]8

32. What should we do if my parent has pain, dizziness, unusual fatigue, or another new symptom during the program?

Ask which symptoms should simply be reported at the next appointment and which require a call sooner.

33. What is the best way to contact you or the clinic between appointments?

Before leaving, know whether questions should go through the therapist, clinic front desk, patient portal, nurse, or another member of the care team.

Helping Your Parent Participate in the Appointment

A caregiver can provide valuable information, but your parent should remain involved in decisions whenever possible.

Before the appointment, ask:

"What is the one thing you most want to be able to do better?"

The answer might be very different from the caregiver's priority.

A caregiver may be most concerned about falls.

The older adult may care most about:

• Walking to the garden
• Getting up from a favorite chair
• Going shopping
• Attending church
• Playing with grandchildren
• Getting dressed without help
• Walking outside independently

These goals matter because physical therapy is intended to improve function and participation, not simply produce better numbers on a test.

APTA guidance emphasizes developing functional goals in collaboration with the patient and, when appropriate, family or caregivers. :contentReference[oaicite:9]9

During the Appointment

Try this simple approach:

1. Let your parent answer first.
2. Add observations when they are helpful.
3. Tell the PT about problems that happen specifically at home.
4. Avoid turning the appointment into an argument about who remembers events correctly.
5. Ask the PT to clarify disagreements or uncertainty.

For example:

"Dad says he is comfortable using the walker, but I notice he often leaves it several feet away before standing. Could you watch how he uses it and tell us whether there is anything we should change?"

That gives the therapist useful information without embarrassing your parent.

A Simple 4-Step PT-to-Home Plan

Adapting Physical Therapy for an Older Adult With Dementia

Physical activity can still be useful for people living with dementia, but the activity should match the person's abilities and safety needs. NIA recommends adapting activities, helping the person get started, watching for frustration, and making activities manageable and enjoyable. For some people, several shorter periods of activity may be easier than one long workout. :contentReference[oaicite:10]10

Ask the PT:

• Should instructions be given one step at a time?
• Would demonstrations work better than verbal instructions?
• Does my parent need supervision during the home program?
• Which exercises are easiest to remember?
• Can we use familiar daily activities to reinforce movement?
• What should we do if my parent becomes frustrated?
• How can we keep the routine safe without taking away too much independence?

Do not assume that dementia means physical therapy is no longer useful. The appropriate level of assistance depends on the person's cognitive and physical abilities.

Questions to Ask About Osteoporosis

If your parent has osteoporosis, ask for individualized precautions.

Useful questions include:

• Should my parent avoid bending forward at the waist?
• Are twisting movements safe?
• Which strengthening exercises are appropriate?
• Are there exercises that should be modified because of a previous fracture?
• How should we handle lifting household objects?
• Is my parent safe to get down to the floor and back up?
• Does the home environment need changes to reduce fall risk?

The International Osteoporosis Foundation notes that exercise can be beneficial for people with osteoporosis, including progressive resistance exercise, but certain movements may need to be avoided or modified in people at higher fracture risk, especially those with spinal fractures. :contentReference[oaicite:11]11

Do not create a universal "osteoporosis exercise blacklist." Ask the PT which movements are appropriate for your parent's specific condition.

Questions to Ask After Surgery

Recovery after surgery is highly procedure-specific.

Instead of asking:

"When should all older adults start PT?"

Ask:

• When should my parent begin physical therapy?
• Is weight bearing restricted?
• Which movements are temporarily restricted?
• How much walking is appropriate?
• Should therapy begin in the hospital, at home, or in an outpatient clinic?
• What symptoms should prompt a call to the surgeon?
• When can the PT progress the program?

For example, rehabilitation after a knee replacement follows a different plan from rehabilitation after a hip fracture or spinal surgery. Do not use another person's timeline as a substitute for the surgeon's and PT's instructions.

Understanding Medicare Physical Therapy Coverage

If your parent has Original Medicare, Medicare Part B helps cover medically necessary outpatient physical therapy.

Importantly, Medicare currently states that there is no annual limit on how much Medicare pays for medically necessary outpatient physical therapy, although the Part B deductible and coinsurance still apply. :contentReference[oaicite:12]12

Therapy must still meet Medicare's medical-necessity and documentation requirements. CMS guidance requires documentation supporting the skilled nature of therapy, the appropriate type and frequency of treatment, objective information about progress when applicable, and the clinical rationale for continued treatment. :contentReference[oaicite:13]13

So instead of asking:

"How many visits will Medicare allow?"

Ask the PT:

• What goals are we trying to achieve?
• How will you measure progress?
• What will you document during treatment?
• What would indicate that the current plan needs to change?
• What happens when my parent reaches the treatment goals?
• If my parent still needs exercise after skilled therapy ends, what home or community options would you recommend?

Coverage can vary depending on the specific situation and insurance arrangement, so confirm costs and coverage with Medicare, the plan, or the provider.

Making the Home Exercise Program Easier to Follow

The goal is not to create a second job for the caregiver.

Instead, ask the PT whether selected exercises can be connected to existing routines.

For example:

• Practice a prescribed chair-rise exercise at an appropriate time.
• Perform prescribed ankle exercises while seated.
• Practice a balance exercise only when the PT has confirmed that it is safe and the appropriate support is available.
• Keep the written exercise program somewhere visible.
• Use the same routine each day if consistency helps your parent remember it.

Do not automatically add exercises to daily activities simply because they seem easy.

For example, single-leg standing while brushing teeth can be unsafe for someone with poor balance. Only use that type of routine if the PT specifically considers it appropriate and provides a safe setup.

NIA recommends adapting physical activity to the person's abilities and health condition rather than assuming one routine works for everyone. :contentReference[oaicite:14]14

Weekly PT Integration Plan

What to Do If the Home Program Is Not Working

Tell the physical therapist if:

• Your parent consistently refuses an exercise.
• The exercise causes pain.
• Your parent becomes dizzy.
• The exercise seems too difficult.
• The exercise seems too easy.
• Your parent cannot remember the instructions.
• You cannot safely set up the exercise at home.
• The exercise takes much longer than expected.
• Your parent is becoming increasingly afraid of movement.
• A new fall or near-fall occurs.

The answer is not always "try harder."

The PT may be able to modify the exercise, change the dosage, change the position, substitute another activity, or explain why the exercise is important.

Questions to Ask at the End of Every PT Appointment

If you only have one minute left, ask these five:

1. What is the most important thing my parent should work on before the next appointment?

2. What should we avoid?

3. What symptoms should make us call you or the doctor?

4. How will we know whether the program is working?

5. Is there anything about my parent's walking, balance, or home environment that concerns you?

These five questions can help you leave with a practical plan instead of a stack of instructions you are not sure how to use.

Related Articles

• What Should Seniors Do After a Fall
• Improve Coordination in Older Adults
• What Home Modifications Improve Safety
• Best Walkers for Seniors
• Best Lift Chairs for Seniors
• Best Hospital Beds for Home
• Download Mobility Tracker

References

1. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC). STEADI — Older Adult Fall Prevention. CDC fall prevention resources for older adults, caregivers, and healthcare professionals.
2. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC). Patient & Caregiver Resources — STEADI. Fall prevention resources and caregiver materials.
3. American Physical Therapy Association (APTA). Documentation: Initial Examination and Evaluation. Guidance on functional, measurable, time-limited physical therapy goals.
4. Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services (CMS). Outpatient Physical Therapy / Therapy Documentation Requirements. Guidance on medical necessity and documentation for outpatient therapy.
5. Medicare.gov. Physical Therapy Services. Coverage information for medically necessary outpatient physical therapy under Medicare Part B.
6. National Institute on Aging (NIA). Exercising With Chronic Conditions. Guidance on adapting physical activity for older adults with chronic conditions and dementia.
7. National Institute on Aging (NIA). Adapting Activities for People With Alzheimer's Disease. Guidance on making activities manageable and appropriate for people living with dementia.
8. International Osteoporosis Foundation (IOF). Exercise for Individuals With Osteoporosis. Guidance on exercise, fracture risk, and movement precautions.