Therapy Services
Physical Therapy
The physical therapist's role in home care is to evaluate, treat, estimate prognosis, assist in diagnosis, encourage and teach patients. The PT will assess, establish and assist in progress to reach goals and become independent. If independence is not the goal, they will train caregivers to safely care for the pt and meet their daily needs. The PT is also a Case Manager which includes responsibility of communication between the MD, pharmacy, family and other team members to ensure safety and implement the skilled services needed for maximum medical and functional improvement. PT's evaluate the patient's condition, determine barriers and develop a plan of care to work towards goals.
- Treatment for balance problems that can lead to falls including vestibular rehab
- Treatment to improve walking and mobility
- Recovery / rehab after knee or hip replacement
- Strength and joint mobility
- Improve transfers and bed mobility
- Treatment to reduce pain and increase independence
- Wheelchair fitting and management
Occupational Therapy
The focus of Occupational Therapy is improving one's quality of life by maximizing their function, safety, and independence in activities of daily living. These activities vary for everyone and include anything from basic selfcare and housework to work and leisure activities.
- Treatment to improve self care including increase independence and safety in bathroom, dressing, cooking and cleaning
- Increase upper body range of motion and strength for functional tasks
- Training in energy conservation techniques
- Treatment to improve fine motor skills including writing and grasping
- Functional mobility and balance
- Home modifications and equipment
Speech Language Pathology and Swallowing therapy
Speech Language pathologists (SLPs) work with people to improve their quality of life through improved communication and cognitive skills. SLPs also work with patients to improve their ability to safely eat and swallow.
- Treatment for cognition and memory
- Treatment to improve language and word finding
- Treatment to improve swallow and reduce risk of aspiration
- Treatment to improve voice and speech intelligibility
Medical Social Worker
Medical Social Work (MSW) services are multi-faceted and assess Home Health patients for many different things. The goal of social work is to provide non-medical services and resources to further a patient's ability to stay safe in their home and reduce rehospitalization. The social worker collaborates with the nurses and therapists to ensure coordinated care. Social work is not just for the patient but is guided under a holistic approach involving family members, Powers of Attorney, caregivers, and other community case workers.
A typical Social Work assessment looks at basic needs; such as access to food/meals, medicine, transportation, and caregiving. There can be assistance in finding more in-home custodial care or assisted living/adult family home placement. The medical social worker can assist in accessing community resources and/or helping with applications, advocacy, and linkage to other case management. Social work services are individualized for each patient's needs.
A typical Social Work assessment looks at basic needs; such as access to food/meals, medicine, transportation, and caregiving. There can be assistance in finding more in-home custodial care or assisted living/adult family home placement. The medical social worker can assist in accessing community resources and/or helping with applications, advocacy, and linkage to other case management. Social work services are individualized for each patient's needs.
- Assessment of economic factors impacting the patient's quality of life and care
- Community planning using and assessing resources
- Interventions for caregivers, patients and families
- Counseling and long-term care planning