Many home health care clients require Physical Therapy. Whether you are recovering from a surgery, have had an acute injury, have had a recent onset of a new debilitating disease, or have long-term health problems that may have physically weakened you, Physical Therapy can help. It may be appropriate and beneficial for Home health care clients that are receiving other home health care services to, in conjunction, receive Physical Therapy.
Physical Therapy in the home care setting is a type of rehabilitative medical science that is intended to remediate impairments and promote mobility, function, and enhance the quality of life of home health care clients through examination, diagnosis, prognosis, and physical treatment determined by the Physical Therapy Plan of Care.
In a nutshell, Physical Therapy in the home is a home health care service that helps clients recover or strengthen their physical abilities. In most cases, if a client’s doctor feels that a client that is receiving home health care services would benefit from Physical Therapy, that client can receive all services at the same time in their home. There is one caveat, most insurance providers require the client to be homebound. The client is considered “homebound” under Medicare if the client cannot leave home without “considerable and taxing effort”.
Most clients that need physical therapy have had an injury or illness that makes it difficult to leave home; for example, if the client:
- Requires the aid of supportive devices (wheelchair or walker)
- Requires the use of special transportation
- Needs the assistance of another person
- Has a condition that leaving the home is medically contraindicated
- Symptoms of the disease process (such as pain, SOB or confusion) worsen when leaving the home
The client can leave home for medical treatment (such as chemotherapy or dialysis) or for receiving therapeutic and psychosocial treatment (such as through a certified adult day care program).
The client cannot be disqualified from services if they leave home for a non-medical absence if the absence is “infrequent and short in duration”. Some examples include attending a religious service, a trip to the barber, special family event or a walk around the block.
Physical Therapy service in home health care starts with a client obtaining an order from their doctor for Physical Therapy in the home. The doctor must certify that the client is homebound. The Physical Therapist will then come to your home to do an evaluation. Once the evaluation is complete, the Physical Therapist will develop a Physical Therapy Plan of Care with the help of your doctor. The Plan of Care will describe what your physical impairment is and the ultimate goal of your physical state after therapy. It will also list what treatments will be provided and their frequency and schedule.
The Physical Therapist will then come to your home on a regular schedule as designated by the Plan of Care to provide Physical Therapy. The Physical Therapy you receive will include exercises that are specific to improving your particular impairment while taking into account your limitations. If the Physical Therapist feels any changes need to be made to the Plan of Care, the changes will be made with consultation from your doctor. You will be educated about your condition and the exercises that were chosen for you. You will also be educated about other treatments that you can do at home by yourself to improve your condition. Once the outcome for your Plan of Care is complete, the Physical Therapist will educate you on what you need to do to maintain your improved physical state on your own.
Depending on what type of insurance you have, but Physical Therapy as a home health service is usually covered by most insurance plans including Medicare.
To find out more about home health care services, specifically home health care services in Metro Milwaukee, please visit Home Health Services.
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