Physical Therapy in the Rooms You Actually Live In

The hallway to the bathroom. The two steps down to the garage. The low sofa that is so hard to get out of. A physical therapist at home works on the exact places that matter, instead of a clinic hallway that looks nothing like your house.

If your doctor orders it and you qualify, Original Medicare covers physical therapy at home at no cost to you.

What physical therapy looks like at home

Mrs. Chen had her knee replaced on a Tuesday and was home by Thursday. The hospital sent her off with a walker and a sheet of exercises. The sheet went on the fridge. The walker went in the corner. On the first visit, her therapist watches her get up from her own chair, walk to her own bathroom, and stand at her own kitchen counter. He adjusts the walker height, which was wrong, and shows her the three exercises that matter most this week. He writes them down in big letters and tapes the page where she sits.

Across town, Mr. Grant has not fallen, but he has caught himself twice. His therapist checks his balance, his leg strength, and his shoes, and finds that a dim hallway and a wobbly nightstand are doing most of the damage. They practice turning in the hallway with the light on and a hand on the wall.

What the physical therapist does

• Checks how you move. Strength, balance, walking, getting in and out of bed and chairs, and the stairs you use every day.
• Builds a plan for your home. Exercises you can do in your living room, with a chair and a wall, not gym equipment.
• Fits and teaches your equipment. Walker, cane, or crutches set to the right height, and how to use them on steps, curbs, and carpet.
• Works on the risky moments. Standing up, turning, reaching, the shower, and the front steps.
• Manages pain and swelling after surgery with movement, positioning, and ice or heat as your doctor orders.
• Teaches your family how to help without doing it for you, and when to step back.
• Reports progress to your doctor and adjusts the plan as you get stronger.

What the first visit looks like

The first visit usually happens within 24 hours after your doctor or the hospital sends the order. The therapist asks what you want to be able to do again, watches you move through your home, measures your strength and balance, and starts the plan that day. You get one named coordinator who knows your case. We call before every visit, and we send the same therapist whenever we can. If someone else must come, we call first.

When to call

Call 911 for chest pain, trouble breathing, a fall with a head injury, or a leg that is suddenly swollen, hot, and painful. Call your therapist or nurse for new or worse pain, a near fall, dizziness when you stand, or an incision that looks different. Soreness after exercise is normal. Sharp pain is not.

What family can do

• Clear the path. Rugs, cords, and clutter between the bed, the bathroom, and the kitchen.
• Light the way. A night light in the hallway and the bathroom.
• Let them do the work. Sit nearby while they do their sets. Cheer. Do not lift.
• Keep the schedule visible. Exercises on the fridge, and a check mark when they are done.

Cost and who qualifies: with Original Medicare, covered home health is $0 if you qualify, and your doctor decides. See what Medicare covers, who qualifies, and what is not covered.

Our team speaks English, Spanish, Armenian, Russian, and Tagalog. Speak another language? Call (818) 579-4012 and ask whether we have staff who speak it. If we do not have staff who speak your language, we arrange a free interpreter.