Whether you are recovering from surgery or coping with a serious medical condition, performing daily tasks at home can feel like an impossible task. Many patients who are struggling with activities of daily living (ADLs) can receive occupational therapy in the comfort of their own homes to overcome their physical limitations.
To perform occupational therapy at home, occupational therapists or certified occupational therapy assistants teach you how to move and function to regain the ability to do things that used to be easy for you, such as getting dressed or brushing your teeth. In this article, we’ll discuss everything you need to know about home health and occupational therapy in Utah.
Active Offers Occupational Therapy in Utah
No matter your reason for needing occupational therapy in Utah, Active Home Health, Hospice & Personal Care is a Utah hospice and home health company that brings expert care to your home. We offer a personalized and convenient approach to occupational therapy services, providing a dedicated team that tailors a recovery plan to fit your unique environment and individual needs. Our goal is to empower our patients to do daily activities with greater ease and safety. Contact us today to get started on your journey to recovery.
What is occupational therapy?
Occupational therapy is a form of treatment that helps patients overcome emotional, social, and physical challenges. It allows patients to improve how they perform daily tasks and helps them move through their environment more safely. Many patients need occupational therapy after an injury or trauma, but some also need it to manage symptoms from a disability or chronic condition.
What does occupational therapy do in home health?
When combined with other home health care services, occupational therapy provides an important role in helping patients recover. Occupational therapy in Utah aims to help patients live as self-sufficient as possible. An occupational program can help you the ability to readapt and use tools at school, work, and home. It will help you do specific skills, such as:
- Bathing, eating, and dressing
- Improving memory, concentration, and executive functioning
- Provide fall prevention, home safety, and accessibility
- Planning and making daily routines
- Using adaptive equipment to accomplish daily tasks
- Returning to work, school, or leisure activities
- Improve mobility
- Encourage healthy lifestyle habits
For many patients, in-home occupational therapy is an integral part of their home healthcare recovery plan.
Is occupational therapy included in home health?
Yes, in-home occupational therapy is included in home health services. It is a primary service covered by Medicare and many other insurance providers under a home health service. Medicaid covers occupational therapy as a home health service when a healthcare professional deems it medically necessary. It’s important to note that private insurance coverage can vary by provider. At Active, we’ll check with your insurance provider to understand the extent of your coverage and any potential out-of-pocket costs.
How does occupational therapy work in home health?
While getting started with occupational therapy at home may seem daunting, it’s easy when you contact Active. We’ll get to work performing the initial assessments necessary before services begin. This includes an at-home evaluation to help understand the individual’s needs and discuss their goals. The occupational therapist will assess the individual’s ability to perform daily activities, such as dressing, bathing, cooking, and managing household tasks. They also evaluate physical skills, such as coordination and strength, and cognitive functions, such as memory and problem-solving.
Based on the initial assessment, the occupational therapist works with the patient to reach achievable goals based on their evaluation. These goals are tailored to the individual’s needs, lifestyle, and priorities and aim to enhance independence and daily quality of life. For example, if a person struggles to reach items above shoulder level, an occupational therapist could provide exercise routines that strengthen shoulder muscles for easier reaching.
Improving Education and Home Environment
In addition to helping patients perform daily activities in the safety of their home, occupational therapists can make changes to a patient’s environment to keep their home running smoothly. This includes positioning and organizing often-used items to be well within reach and teaching techniques to improve the safety of getting around your home.
Occupational therapists have a trained eye to spot potential safety hazards and educate patients about how to correct them. For example, stairs present a substantial safety hazard for many elderly patients. An occupational therapist could suggest adding visual interests to stairs, such as brightly-colored tape, to boost a patient’s security and confidence while going up and down stairs. Removing cords on the ground, moving or removing rugs, and elevating sitting surfaces are other suggestions an occupational therapist may make to make a home environment safer. Occupational therapists can also provide adaptive equipment to use around the home, such as sock aids, reachers, and long-handled shoe horns. Other services provided by occupational therapists include:
- Energy conservation work
- Body mechanics
- Restoring muscle control
- Strengthening and endurance training
- Fall prevention programs
- Basic skills evaluation
- Adaptive equipment training
No matter if you have a specific goal in mind or can just benefit from generalized safety and strengthening skills, occupational therapy can help.
How do I get occupational therapy at home?
Knowing how to begin receiving home health services can be difficult if you’re unfamiliar with the process. In many cases, patients will need a referral from a physician before receiving treatment. You may need to schedule an appointment to receive the referral. Patients who hope to receive occupational therapy home health services should also:
- Review insurance – Whether you have Medicare, Medicaid, or private insurance, you’ll want to determine if you are eligible for services. Contact your Medicare or Medicaid provider to verify occupational therapy coverage. Ensure that you understand any limitations, requirements, and any additional co-pays. Contact your insurance company to understand coverage and review the authorization process if you have private insurance.
- Find a home health agency – To find a home health agency, start by searching online and consulting various community resources. You can also ask your physician or family members for a referral. Review the license and qualifications of the company to ensure they have the proper staff to provide occupational therapy. Schedule an assessment once you’ve found an agency that works for you.
- Begin receiving services – The home health agency will arrive to perform an initial assessment. During the evaluation, the occupational therapist will discuss your specific goals and challenges. Based on the information gathered at your assessment, the therapist will create a plan that aligns with your needs.
- Follow treatment plan – After the therapy plan is established, the occupational therapist will visit your home frequently to work on your goals and ensure you receive support. As your home health treatment progresses, the therapist will regularly review your progress and monitor how well you’re achieving goals. Throughout this process, ensure you share any concerns or difficulties with your therapist so they can adjust your treatment plan as needed.
What are the benefits of occupational therapy in home health?
Receiving occupational therapy in a home health setting has many benefits, including:
- Comfort and Convenience – Because therapy takes place in the patient’s home, it provides a familiar setting which reduces anxiety and the additional stress of traveling to a clinic or hospital. It’s also convenient for patients with mobility issues because it eliminates the need for transportation to therapy sessions.
- Personalized Care – Occupational therapy services are tailored to address the needs and goals of the patient, taking into account their home and daily routines. The therapist provides one-on-one attention and strategies to improve the patient’s challenges and goals.
- Assessment and Treatment in Current Living Conditions – The therapist can assess the patient in their home, which allows for practical and relevant interactions that are more likely to be effective. Any modifications and adaptations can be tested in real time based on current living conditions.
- Improved Independence – Perhaps the most significant benefit of occupational therapy is improved independence in the home by improving the patient’s ability to perform essential daily tasks. Therapists can also install modifications to enhance safety, such as grab bars, improved lighting, and rearranging furniture to help prevent falls.
- Emotional Benefits – Occupational therapy improves overall patient outcomes, leading to improved quality of life. In addition, receiving treatment in one’s own home enhances motivation and engagement in therapy.
- Collaborative Care – Because occupational therapy services are received in the home, family members are more engaged in the therapy process. Family members can be trained to support the individual by following the treatment plan and helping them use adaptive equipment.
- Flexible Scheduling – Home health services, including occupational therapy, can often be scheduled at convenient times for the patient and their family.
- Cost-Effective Treatment – Receiving treatment in the home reduces the need for traveling and any potential expenses related to clinic or hospital visits. Preventative occupational therapy care has also been shown to prevent the need for hospitalization and more intensive care.
- Constant Monitoring and Adjustment – Continual treatment from an occupational therapist allows for regular monitoring and immediate adjustments to a therapy plan as needed, based on the individual’s feedback and changes in their health.
