Choosing Between In-Home Or On Site Physical Therapy

Residents of Maquoketa and surrounding areas who have been told that they need physical therapy don’t always know where to start. Luckily, the service can come right to them!

Clients of Above and Beyond Home Health Care have the option of receiving physical therapy from a provider in the community or receive it in their own homes from a group of skilled physical therapists and physical therapy assistants.

Each option has its own pros and cons that can vary from patient to patient, but generally, there’s a lot more appeal to a physical therapist actually being excited to “make a house call,” which is something that is becoming more of a rarity in today’s busy world.

Though it used to be common for medical personnel like doctors to visit patients, the delivery model has shifted so now patients are encouraged to come to visit their doctor at his or her office. Nurses, however, are known to provide home health care services.

For those who are wondering about options for physical therapy, here are some comparisons of visiting someone’s office or having someone visit your home.

Office

Visiting an office for on-site physical therapy can have some advantages.

• All equipment is on-site. Some physical therapists may have different tools, machines and larger exercise equipment that would be difficult to move.
• Familiarity/habit. Someone who has had physical therapy before likely visited a physical therapist’s office so they may be comfortable with this process.
• An outing. Someone who isn’t able to go outside much might like the experience of going somewhere else, even if it’s a medical visit.
  Comfortable therapist. Since the traditional model of physical therapy is in-office, most providers are likely used to their set-up as far as their staff, equipment, and facilities.

In-home

Advantages of receiving physical therapy at home are pretty much the opposite of receiving them at an office.

• No travel needed. Clients unable to drive or find a ride to the physical therapist’s office will appreciate a visit from one at a schedule that works for them. This can be ideal for patients in rural areas as well who may not want to go into the city.
• Easier process. Someone receiving physical therapy might have a significant injury or health condition that could make it difficult, uncomfortable or even painful for them to travel to a provider’s location. Improvement may be shown as therapy progresses, but at the beginning, these substantial injuries/condition can keep them from traveling far or long.
• Comfortable patient. Exercises and related therapy can take place in a patient’s home, among furnishings they’re used to. Sometimes, having the presence of family members or caregivers in the same home can also reassuring, especially for someone who doesn’t like to go out much. People receiving home health care, especially seniors, look forward to regular or occasional visits from different providers, and the providers also enjoy the experience.
• Portable equipment. Physical therapists who travel have found the right items and tools to make it easier to bring things in and out.
• Easy to assess. After seeing someone’s home, a physical therapist may be able to suggest customized exercises a patient can do in their own space using available furnishings or tools.
• Other services. Home health agencies like Above and Beyond Home Health Care can also provide access to a variety of specialists who can offer additional assistance to patients in specific areas. Along with a physical therapist, patients can be connected to an occupational therapist, massage therapist, and other therapists. A physical therapist’s office may only have them and their staff and no other complementary services.
• More attention. A physical therapist coming to meet with a patient will be able to focus only on the patient. In an office setting, there is likely to be all sorts of interruptions from staff, patients, or other day-to-day needs of a busy workplace. There’s always a possibility of a patient having to wait extra long if a physical therapy is behind schedule or needs to take care of another patient emergency. If someone is running late to visit a patient’s home, the patient won’t likely mind because they’ll still be in their own comfort zone.

Overall

When your health care provider says “you need physical therapy,” one of the first questions that may come up is “Where do I need to go to get that?” especially if you’re not familiar with local therapists.

They may present you with a variety of options in the Maquoketa community and surrounding area, but in many cases, there are quite a few more advantages to staying at your own home and letting these experts pay you a visit.

Because Above and Beyond Home Health Care has been working with patients in Eastern Iowa since 2004 we’re familiar with many of the physical therapists. But we’re especially familiar with the physical therapists and physical therapists that are part of our team.