You may feel uncertain about your first in-home physical therapy session, and that’s okay. Understanding what to expect can ease any anxiety or anticipation you may feel. Your first appointment is mostly about collecting information, conducting assessments, establishing a prognosis and creating a plan for future sessions.

Comprehensive Health Evaluation

Once your physical therapist arrives at your home, they’ll begin with a thorough review of your medical history, health status and specific issues or injuries. It’s helpful to have a list of your medical conditions, history of problems and medications to give the therapist a complete picture of your current condition.

You’ll discuss your lifestyle and activity level to determine where you’re at and how you want to progress. It’s also important to talk about any pain you experience, including the intensity and location.

Personalized Assessment

The physical therapist will conduct a series of assessments and measurements to evaluate your symptoms and see how your joints and muscles move. You’ll need to wear comfortable clothes and shoes that allow free movement and can be moved and adjusted.

Functional assessments are used to review your:

• Range of motion
• Posture
• Strength
• Balance
• Endurance
• Gait
• Joint flexibility

Physical therapists also check palpation to identify tenderness and abnormalities that could cause discomfort. A pain evaluation is another important component of your in-home therapy assessment. You’ll need to describe your pain on a scale and characterize the intensity.

Goal Setting

Reviewing your goals allows your physical therapist to develop an appropriate treatment plan to help you achieve them. That may include pain relief, increased mobility, better coordination and enhanced independence. Understanding your goals also helps your physical therapist establish a monitoring system to track your progress and adjust as needed.

This portion of your first physical therapy session is also a time to set expectations. Your therapist will talk about what you can achieve through therapy and detail a potential timeline for reaching your goals.

Customized Treatment Plan

The exercises in your physical therapy plan will address your specific condition and rehab goals based on your assessment.

They may include:

Strength training: Working on muscle groups supports your joints and improves your balance.

Flexibility exercises: Stretching is good for joint mobility and can reduce stiffness.

Balance exercises: Your therapist can help you improve your coordination to reduce your risk of falls and further injury.

Functional movements: This type of training helps you learn how to move safely while performing daily functions, such as sitting, bending and lifting.

Posture correction: Practicing good posture while seated or standing can help alleviate pain and body strain, especially if you have a spinal injury.

Daily living exercises: Techniques like gait training can help you learn to walk and climb stairs comfortably. You’ll also work on daily activities such as dressing and cooking.

Education on Condition and Therapy

A physical therapist can teach you how to move safely in your home environment. They also provide patient and caregiver education to ensure you and your loved ones can practice between appointments. That begins with a clear understanding of your therapy plan to ensure you know what needs to be addressed. Learning about your diagnosis and the healing process can help you reach long-term success and achieve your wellness goals.

Safety and Comfort Measures

Your physical therapist will review safety measures during your first session. You may not get to the exercises during that appointment as some therapists focus the time solely on evaluation and education.

It’s important to begin slowly and gradually introduce resistance, intensity and complexity to your routine to avoid unnecessary strain. You’ll undergo supervised movement assessments. Your therapist can also use a gait belt to assist you if necessary. They will set up an open space so you have plenty of room to conduct your therapy session.

Use of Therapy Equipment

Physical therapists can employ assistive equipment such as canes, walkers and braces to help you during training. You may also require supportive devices like cushions, stretch bands and pillows to complete certain exercises or movements. Using therapy equipment can help you ease into your program and regain strength and mobility.

In-Home Physical Therapy from Ohioans Home Health & Hospice

Home is where the heart is. That’s why Ohioans Home Health & Hospice brings comprehensive skilled nursing care to your doorstep. Our expert team can help you recover from illness, injury and surgery and assist in managing chronic conditions. Contact us to learn more about our in-home physical therapy services.

Imagine receiving expert therapy services without having to travel to a facility or hospital. That’s just one of the benefits of in-home therapy services.

In-Home Physical Therapy

You may require physical therapy if you’re recovering from an illness, injury or surgery. Physical therapy is designed to help ease pain, strengthen muscles, improve mobility and boost range of motion.

Physical therapy exercises help you walk, bend, reach, grasp, stand and sit. Your physical therapist could implement techniques including aerobic exercises and stretching. They can also train you to use a cane, walker or prosthesis.

Benefits of In-Home Physical Therapy

• A custom therapy schedule
• Individual attention from a certified physical therapist
• Eliminate the need for transportation
• Increased muscle strength and mobility
• Better quality of life and independence
• Pain management
• Shorter recovery time

Who Should Use In-Home Physical Therapy?

You could benefit from in-home therapy if you:

• Experienced a stroke, heart attack or physical injury
• Have a neuromuscular condition such as Parkinson’s or multiple sclerosis
• Have a condition that causes acute or severe pain or discomfort
• Lack transportation
• Want the privacy of a one-on-one session
• Struggle with mobility

In-Home Occupational Therapy

Occupational therapy helps you adapt to physical and mental changes so you can complete activities of daily living (ADL).

You could receive therapy to handle ADLs such as eating, bathing and dressing. Depending on your condition, you may need to relearn or learn an alternate way to complete chores and participate in leisure activities.

Benefits of In-Home Occupational Therapy

• Personalized evaluations to establish goals
• Relearn skills associated with completing daily activities
• Establish new routines to regain or enhance physical capabilities
• Regain strength
• Boost your confidence
• Improve safety
• Education for family, friends and caregivers

Who Should Use In-Home Occupational Therapy?

Consider occupational therapy if you:

• Have an illness or injury that affects your ability to complete ADLs
• Live with a chronic disease
• Experienced a change in your cognition, including memory loss, dementia or Alzheimer’s
• Have a prosthesis
• Suffered a stroke, traumatic brain injury or paralysis

In-Home Speech Therapy

Speech therapy addresses obstacles that affect talking and swallowing. A speech therapist focuses on articulation to help you speak clearly, especially if you have a structural impairment or paralysis that impacts your mouth movement. Various exercises also focus on problem-solving, memory and conversational tactics

Benefits of In-Home Speech Therapy

• Improve articulation and pronunciation
• Strengthen verbal and nonverbal communication
• Reduce stress associated with socializing
• Personalized attention from a dedicated speech therapist
• The convenience and privacy of receiving therapy in your home
• Better self-esteem
• Easier swallowing
• Continuous assessment and program adjustments as needed

Who Should Use In-Home Speech Therapy?

Speech therapy can be beneficial if you:

• Suffered a stroke or brain injury
• Have oral cancer
• Have structural abnormalities in your mouth, throat or face
• Sustained a facial or head injury
• Developed a swallowing issue as a result of dementia or Alzheimer’s
• Struggle to form or produce words and word sounds

In-Home Therapy from Ohioans Home Health & Hospice

At Ohioans, we bring healthcare to you. We offer physical, occupational and speech therapies to provide you with the supervised treatment you need to improve your quality of life. Each assessment and care plan is designed to address your unique circumstances and help you reach your wellness goals.

Call 855.600.0806 or contact us online to learn more about our in-home therapy services.

Every October is National Physical Therapy Month and a perfect opportunity to raise awareness about the benefits of senior physical therapy. At Ohioans, we offer three types of treatment: physical therapy, occupational therapy, and speech-language pathology. We work with leading local providers to develop treatment plans for our clients and educate our staff on how to help support your individualized treatment plan. This month, we highlight the many ways in which physical therapy can improve you or your loved one’s quality of life.

Physical Therapy

If you are an older adult whose mobility has been limited due to injuries or strokes, senior physical therapy can help you achieve more movement in the body. At Ohioans Home Health & Hospice, we provide the following physical therapy services to help you or your loved one maintain safety and independence at home:

Fall Prevention

Falls are among the top causes of accidents for senior citizens and often result in a bone fracture or other injury. Physical therapists can provide you with the knowledge and equipment to help prevent falls, significantly reducing the likelihood of injury or death.

Balance Training

Physical therapy can help you learn how to maintain stability when mobile—maintaining a level balance while moving can improve your mobility and decrease your risk of falling. If you have already experienced an injury, balance training can also help to prevent re-injury.

Increasing Endurance

As we age, our bodies do not generate the same energy they used to and sometimes even require more energy to keep moving. When you participate in physical therapy exercises, not only can you improve your endurance, but you can also increase your chances of living an active, independent lifestyle for a more extended period.

Reduction of Pain and Stiffness

If you are experiencing pain and stiffness, your discomfort may be stemming from physical causes, such as arthritis or osteoporosis. A customized physical therapy plan can help you reduce general pain and stiffness, offsetting any future symptoms and leading to increased mobility.

Improving Range of Motion

Seniors looking to maintain an active and independent lifestyle should consider practicing physical therapy exercises that support a healthy range of motion. Range of motion plays a critical role in maximizing your movement. Improving it through physical therapy can help increase your mobility to its fullest potential.

Assistive Equipment

After your physical therapy evaluation, your therapist may recommend assistive equipment like canes, walkers, or other devices to assist with your movement. Such devices can help prevent falls and help you maintain your daily activities and routines safely.

Occupational Therapy

Occupational therapists develop plans to help seniors improve their daily functions. In partnership with these providers, the Ohioans team faithfully follows their recommended treatments. These can include:

Wound Care and Dressing

Whether you are suffering from a leg ulcer or recovering from a surgical procedure, it is critical to care for your wounds correctly. An occupational therapist may assist with dressing and cleaning your wounds to promote healthy healing and longevity.

Meal Preparation

Meal preparation often requires bending, reaching, pouring, and recalling – but for those who suffer from ailments such as arthritis, poor vision, or balance issues, it can become challenging and even take twice as long. Occupational therapists are trained to prepare light and healthy meals for those who experience difficulty cooking for themselves.

Transfers From Bed to Chair

Seniors who experience chronic pain, difficulty moving, or recovering from surgery may need help getting out of bed, heightening their chances of falling. Occupational therapists can help you or your loved one safely rise from beds and into a comfortable seated position in a chair and protect them from injury.

Assistive Equipment

Your occupational therapist may also assess the need for assistive equipment, such as mobility devices, grab bars, and elevated toilets. Sometimes called daily living aids, these devices can help you or your loved one accomplish everyday tasks while improving their quality of life.

Speech-Language Pathology

Dysarthria is a common cause of speech difficulties in seniors. Although various conditions can cause it at any age, dysarthria may present itself among seniors following events like a stroke, progression of Parkinson’s disease, head injuries, or dementia. At Ohioans, we work with local speech-language pathologists on treatment plans for our seniors with speech difficulties. These services include:

Swallowing Dysfunction

Individuals who experience a medical episode may need assistance with swallowing afterward. Our team will help you relearn to swallow foods you’ve been experiencing difficulties with by following a professionally developed treatment plan.

Motor Skills and Speech Development

Performing activities that require using the muscles in your hands, fingers, or wrists requires fine motor skills. Likewise, older adults can experience speech changes due to sensory, cognitive, and neurological factors. Our team can assist with performing treatment exercises to help seniors with speech difficulties learn to redevelop their speech and the motor skills necessary to communicate.

Cognitive and Memory Function

Just as exercise physically strengthens our body, cognitive training can stimulate your brain, keeping it active and sharp. As you age, you may have difficulties in memory recall, problem-solving, and other cognitive functions. At Ohioans, we offer mental exercises to help seniors maintain healthy brain function and memory recall.

Physical and occupational therapy, and speech-language pathology can all play instrumental roles in helping seniors maintain an excellent quality of life. To find out more about our therapy services, please feel free to contact us any time.