Physical Therapy can provide ...
- Gait training
- Therapeutic exercises
- Range of motion
- Strengthening
- Balance Coordination
- Endurance or functional ability training
- Safe and effective maintenance program
- Hot packs
- Ultrasound treatments
- Establish a home exercise program
- Prosthetic training
- Fabrication of temporary devices
- Muscle reeducation
- Activities of Daily Living (ADL) training
- Spasticity reduction
Some diagnoses that often benefit from Physical Therapy intervention include:
Post hip/knee-replacement, rotator cuff repairs, gait disturbance, general weakness of the upper extremities, arthritis, stroke, cardiac diagnosis, closed head injury, burns, COPD (emphysema), new prosthesis, brace, sling, or cast, or a decline in function after an illness or hospitalization.
Occupational Therapy can provide ...
- Techniques for sensory integration, energy conservation, work simplification, and joint protection
- Design, fabricate, and fit orthotic and self-help devices
- Teach compensatory techniques to improve the level of independence in ADL's.
- Teach therapeutic activities designed to restore physical function
An Occupational Therapist might construct a device that will allow a patient to hold a utensil so they can feed themselves. Occupational Therapists can often assist a patient in regaining independence in the activities of daily living (ADL) such as dressing, bathing, and meal preparation. By doing so, the patient can be maintained in the home rather than in an assisted living or skilled nursing facility.
Speech Language Pathology (Speech Therapy) can provide treatments for ...
- Speech voice production
- Voice disorders
- Difficulty with speech (aphasia)
- Difficulty with swallowing (dysphagia)
- Special communication techniques
Types of patients that may benefit from Speech Therapy are those with a diagnosis of head and neck cancers, amyotrophic lateral sclerosis (ALS), Parkinson's disease, vocal cord nodules, multiple sclerosis, or any debilitating neuro-muscular disorder. Patients with new tracheostomies or post laryngectomies also often require the skills of a Speech Pathologist.
Home Health Aide
You may be eligible for home health aide services if you need assistance with personal care while being treated at home by a nurse, physical therapist, and/or speech language pathologist. Home health aide services are provided on an intermittent basis. The services the aide provides will be determined by the nurse in accordance with your physician and based on your specific needs.
The primary function of the home health aide is to provide assistance with personal care and limited household functions. Such assistance may include:
- Helping the patient bathe and dress
- Assisting the patient in and out of bed
- Assisting with mouth and hair care
- Helping with exercise
- Changing the patient's linens
- Assisting with training in self-care techniques
- Preparing a light lunch or breakfast
- Laundering or drying essential items as time permits
- Light cleaning and straightening of the patient care area
Medical Social Health
Social services can provide the patient and family with assistance in many areas, including but not limited to:
- Assistance with the rental or purchase of medical equipment
- Counseling for long-range planning and decision making such as nursing home placement or life care communities
- Community resource planning and referrals such as locating private hourly care funded through state or county programs, prescription assistance, or initiating meals-on-wheels
- Assistance with understanding medical bills or other financial account management
