Laura Beltramo

Caring.com Expert

About

Laura Beltramo, a physical therapist who specializes in geriatrics, graduated with honors from the University of California at San Francisco in 2000. She earned her undergraduate degree in comparative literature from the University of California, Davis, graduating Phi Beta Kappa. She most recently worked as the Director of Rehabilitation and sole physical therapist at a premier life-care facility in San Francisco. Beginning her career in pediatrics, Laura soon found her niche working with seniors and has experience in all levels of care, from hospital to home care. She has written articles and lectured extensively on fall prevention and other issues relevant to the aging experience. As a registered yoga teacher, she teaches yoga, meditation, and other mindfulness techniques to seniors -- helping them expand their repertoire for coping with stress, pain, and illness in the later years.

She now lives in Menlo Park with her husband and new baby daughter, Emily Viola--named after Laura's grandmother. Although she continues to teach and consult, for the time being she is focusing on raising her daughter. Laura was very close to both of her grandmothers and feels that their love and support continue to inspire her and to motivate her to care for seniors as if they were her own family.

Recently Published on Caring.com

  1. Tuesday November 29, 2011

    1. What can I do to motivate my mother to get up and exercise?

      Answer - Oh, I am so sorry. This sounds like a difficult situation and is understandably discouraging and frustrating for you. Since your mom was in the NH for 3 months, it would be interesting to talk with the rehab team there to get some insight into how they were able to motivate your mom...

  2. Thursday September 08, 2011

    1. If a Medicare patient is readmitted to the hospital, does she have to be discharged from PT/OT?

      Answer - If a patient is receiving outpatient PT and gets admitted to the hospital then the PT must write a D/C note and discharge that patient from therapy because the patient's status has changed. Once the patient is discharged from the hospital and if they require continued outpatient therapy--they must get...

    2. Will dad ever get his strength back, and is the physical therapy worth doing?

      Answer - Your question is "Will he get his strength back?" Yes, muscles do continue to respond to strength training throughout the lifetime. But functional outcomes such as walking, bathing, dressing require a lot more than pure strength. For example, balance, motor control, muscle flexibility and length, vision, safety awareness, mental capacity and motivation etc...

  3. Wednesday July 14, 2010

    1. Can physical therapy help arthritis pain?

      Answer - Yes! Yes! Yes! There is a lot that physical therapists can do to help alleviate and prevent exacerbation of pain from arthritis. In fact, as a geriatric physical therapist, this is one of the most common diagnoses that we see. I would highly recommend that your mother seek the advice of a physical therapist who specializes in geriatrics...

    2. What can I do to help my hunched back?

      Answer - It sounds unusual that you lost so much weight and muscle mass as a result of the hip replacement surgery. Were there complications to the surgery and did you happen to be sedentary for a long time after as a result? Or is there something else going on medically...

  4. Wednesday March 04, 2009

    1. How can we help my mother with pain from a broken hip?

      Answer - It is certainly best to get a personalized assessement from a physical therapist so she can talk to you about your mom's specific situation. Generally, therapists try to get patients up as much as possible (raising the head of the bed, spending time up in a chair etc)--this is helpful to their overall health and wellbeing...

    2. Why is exercise important for seniors?

      Answer - Exercise enables us to remain as healthy and engaged in a meaningful life as possible. As we age, our muscles weaken; our bones weaken; our cardiovascular and circulatory systems are not as efficient; our balance lessens; our eye sight worsens. All our systems begin to decline...

  5. Monday February 02, 2009

    1. What is the treatment for broken hips in the elderly?

      Answer - Surgery and rehabilitation are the usual treatments for a broken hip.

    2. What are some good excercises to help rehabilitate a broken hip?

      Answer - The appropriate type of exercises for a broken hip depend much upon what stage of recovery you are in. First, I would recommend seeking the help of a physical therapist who can give you therapeutically appropriate exercises to meet your specific needs...

  6. Wednesday December 10, 2008

    1. What are some yoga exercises that a person with Parkinson's and Alzheimer's could do?

      Answer - The appropriate yoga exercises for people with Alzheimers and Parkinsons vary widely depending on what stage of the disease the person is in. I can, however, offer you a few tips. First, people with Parkinson's gradually develop a rigidity to their movements and a difficulty initiating movments...

  7. Friday October 24, 2008

    1. What sort of recovery can my mum expect after breaking her hip?

    2. How do you treat swollen legs in the elderly?

  8. Thursday October 23, 2008

    1. How can I encourage my mom to be more active after a knee replacement?

  9. Monday September 29, 2008

    1. Could a cognitive condition hamper broken hip recovery?

      Answer - A broken hip requires major surgery which can tax an older person, affecting their overall health and well being.

    2. How soon after broken hip surgery can someone climb stairs?

      Answer - When you can use stairs after hip surgery depends on your individual health and condition.

  10. Friday September 26, 2008

    1. How do I deal with a husband with Parkinson's who has problems with urination but refuses to wear diapers or even underwear?

      Answer - When an elderly person has difficulty making it to the toilet on time, consulting with various medical experts is advised.

  11. Wednesday September 03, 2008

    1. How can I overcome my father's resistance to hiring a home health care aide to bathe my mother?

      Answer - Tips on helping an elderly father share the responsibility for bathing his wife.

  12. Sunday August 03, 2008

    1. Is there an adult crib that will prevent my father from getting out of bed and reinjuring his broken hip?

      Answer - There are ways to prevent adults from slipping out of bed, but you need to approach this with a doctor.

  13. Thursday July 31, 2008

    1. How do I get my mother to do her physical therapy?

      Answer - Ideas for encouraging your parent to do her physical therapy.

    2. What's the physical therapy for a broken hip with a pin in it?

      Answer - How to get your parent started on physical therapy after surgery for a broken hip.

  14. Saturday June 14, 2008

    1. How do I get my great grandfather to wash his body?

      Answer - When I hear of this type of situation, my first thought is that your great grandfather probably needs more skilled support, either to help him bathe or to re-teach him bathing skills. Activities like showering are considered "activities of daily living," and an occupational therapist is very skilled...

  15. Sunday May 04, 2008

    1. What can I do to encourage my elderly parent to use a walker or cane?

      Answer - I know how difficult this can be. Using an assistive device for walking often symbolizes regression in an elderly person's mind -- a visible sign of losing independence. It's important to listen to, acknowledge, and empathize with your father's concerns. But, there are several things you can do to encourage him to use a walking aid...

  16. Wednesday April 23, 2008

    1. How do we deal with my mother, who requires oxygen 24/7, while enduring air travel?

      Answer - Advice if your parent is on daily oxygen and plans to travel by airplane.

  17. Tuesday April 01, 2008

    1. Are there any mobility devises that don't look like walkers?

      Answer - Suggestions for walkers that don't look like the standard metal models. 1 Comment

  18. Tuesday March 11, 2008

    1. Could you please give me suggestions on how to treat pressure sores?

      Answer - Advice on treating and preventing bed sores.