Hospice Physical Therapy In Lincoln Village City, California
October is National Physical Therapy Month, a time to recognize the contributions made by rehabilitation professionals, physical, occupational, and speech therapists, as well as other staff members such as hospice caregivers, who assist patients in becoming stronger with each step they take. According to the Indian Journal of Palliative Care, physical therapy plays an important part in hospice care not only in San Mateo but also in other parts of the country and the world. This is because it helps patients maximize their functional ability and comfort in order to improve their quality of life; it also ensures the safety of both the patient and the caregiver; and it offers support for the physical, emotional, and spiritual challenges that patients face as they approach the end of their lives.
What is a Physical Therapist?
According to the American Physical Therapy Association, “physical therapists are movement experts whose job it is to enhance the quality of life of a person through prescribed exercise, hands-on care, and patient education.” [Citation needed] Physical therapists can help improve a person’s quality of life through a combination of “hands-on care,” They educate patients on how to avoid or control the symptoms of their condition in order to achieve long-term improvements in their health. Physical therapists create individualized treatment plans for hospice patients, with the goal of improving the patient’s overall quality of life during the time they have left.
Physical therapists devise strategies that involve the application of treatment methods in order to enable patients to move more freely while simultaneously reducing pain, restoring function, and preventing further disability.
Value of PT in Hospice
Physical therapy for patients receiving hospice care has these common goals:
- Symptom control
- Comfort Control
- Maximize remaining functional abilities
- Provide caregiver education
- Contribute to interdisciplinary team communication
Physical therapists help patients in hospice care maintain their sense of self-identity, achieve a level of comfort, and make the best use of the abilities they still have as the patient’s functional abilities, roles, and expectations gradually diminish over time.
A physical therapist can assess a patient’s ability to move around in a safe manner within the context of hospice care. This involves determining the challenges the patient faces when moving around, as well as providing assistance with walking and getting into and out of bed.
They are able to assist the individual in moving safely from a chair to a bed, from a wheelchair to a bedroom, or from a wheelchair to a vehicle. These therapists first determine the patient’s level of pain, then administer treatments that aid in the patient’s recovery from pain. It is possible that some treatments will involve strengthening exercises; however, this will vary from one individual to the next.
Role of the Therapist
When someone is receiving hospice care, a physical therapist has a very different function than when they are working as part of a rehabilitation team. In order to better tailor their services to the hospice care industry, physical therapists will need to make significant adjustments to the roles they play. According to the findings of a study conducted by the National Institutes of Health (NIH), physical therapists contribute to the care of hospice patients by shifting from a controlling role to a role of problem solver and listener.
Therefore, therapists are able to:
- Help the patient keep their functional abilities for as long as they possibly can, with your assistance, of course.
- Lessen a load of caregiving for everyone involved, including close friends and family members who are also providing care.
- Help with the management of pain.
- Offer hospice nurses helpful assistance in caring for their patients so that they can do their jobs more effectively.
When it comes to providing direct patient care, physical therapists play a significant role as part of the hospice care team. They provide a variety of important services, including the following:
- Pain management and relief
- Positioning to avoid contractures, lessen pain, and prevent pressure sores, as well as assist with breathing and digestion.
- Practices that build stamina and save energy are referred to as endurance training.
- Instruction in gait, transfers, safety and stair climbing are all included.
- Exercises designed to treat ailments
- The treatment of edema, which is a condition that is characterized by an excess of water in the body Recommendations for equipment, training, and modifications
- Home modifications (if necessary)
Assuming the role of the educator is likely one of the more significant aspects of working as a PT in a setting that provides hospice care. It is possible that education will involve not only instructing the patient on how to move effectively and safely but also instructing the patient’s caretakers so that they can become familiar with the routine. Physical therapists, like many other members of the hospice care team, may also take on the role of counselor and bring powerful communication skills to each interaction they have with patients. In point of fact, a good number of PTs have mastered the skill of active listening.
Yes, physical therapists are able to prevent injuries, eliminate potential dangers, and provide their patients with pain relief. However, they also have another job to do, which frequently involves helping their patient regain a sense of who they are as an individual. The ability to face the end of one’s life with dignity and respect for oneself and others can make a significant improvement in one’s quality of life, while also reducing the number of nursing and social worker visits and lowering the risk of injury. As a result of this, physical therapists frequently work to improve their patient’s dignity as well as their quality of life in the hopes of promoting a healthy life up until the time of death.
Contact Melodia Care Hospice
At Melodia Care hospice, we provide comprehensive caregiving teams, and one of the members of these teams can be a physical therapist if necessary. Each of our patients has access to an interdisciplinary team of healthcare professionals that is led by a registered nurse (RN), with that support staff including physicians, aides, social workers, and pharmacists. This team also provides care for our patients. Get in touch with us at this number (1-888 635-6347) to learn more about the hospice services that we offer and the ways in which we can improve the quality of life for your loved one as they draw closer to the end of their life.
