Home Therapy
A common question people have is: "What is the difference between occupational therapy and physical therapy?" While there are similarities between these two therapies, each has a different focus. Physical therapy focuses more on movement dysfunctions and mobility and directly treats injuries, while occupational therapy focuses more on activities to improve life skills. An occupational therapist will:
- Identify functional limitations and diagnose condition of each patient.
- Target the fine motor skills that are debilitating to daily functions for the patient and create exercises to optimize independence.
- Demonstrate the use of equipment for those with permanent disabilities and make sure the patient feels comfortable and confident at home and at work.
The ultimate goal of an occupational therapist is to help individuals of all ages participate in everyday activities as fully as possible by providing the exercises and equipment necessary and always having a positive attitude to instill encouragement and confidence. If you still are not sure whether physical or occupational therapy is the route for you, please contact one of our offices, and we will evaluate your situation to identify the best plan of action for you.
At UnityPoint at Home, the goal of our physical therapy team is to provide care and coaching to help patients restore optimal levels of function and mobility. A physical therapist will:
- Identify functional limitations and diagnose the condition of each patient.
- Develop a personalized treatment plan to restore maximum movement and prevent further disability.
- Provide encouragement to help patients achieve their optimal quality of life, not only from a physical perspective, but also with every patients' confidence and well-being in mind.
Our physical therapy team will be with you every step of the way, working with you to help you reach your goals. For more information on the difference between our physical therapy programs and our occupational therapy programs, and to understand which one is right for you, read more information about occupational therapy.
UnityPoint understands that after a hospitalization, surgery, or injury, the path to recovery is not always easy or simple. That is why UnityPoint at Home offers in-home rehabilitation therapy, providing a support system as you make your way back to achieving health and independence.
Rehabilitation therapy services include:
- Physical Therapy - develops, maintains, and restores maximum movement and functional ability.
- Occupational Therapy - helps people of all ages and conditions participate in everyday activities as fully as possible.
- Speech Therapy - helps strengthen and improve speech production, vocal production, swallowing difficulties and language needs.
Your rehabilitation therapist will target the issues that interfere with your day-to-day functions and develop a personalized plan to maximize your recovery from the comfort of your own home. The ultimate goal is to enable individuals to achieve optimum level of mobility and function.
A UnityPoint respiratory therapist evaluates, manages and cares for all types of patients from premature infants whose lungs are not fully developed to elderly patients who are suffering from lung-related diseases. Respiratory care services provide temporary relief to patients with chronic lung conditions, as well as emergency care. Services are provided for but are not limited to:
- Asthma
- Bronchitis
- Emphysema
- COPD (Chronic Obstructive Pulmonary Disease)
- Sleep apnea
- Airway management
- Mechanical ventilation
A respiratory therapist is a vital part of the clinical staff at UnityPoint at Home and works closely with physicians and nurses to develop a plan of care that will help the patient achieve optimal health. They are dedicated to providing quality care and service to make sure all the needs of the respiratory patient are met.
The purpose of speech therapy is to help strengthen and improve speech production, vocal production, swallowing difficulties and language needs of an individual. Speech therapists are trained to diagnose and treat a variety of speech, voice and language disorders. A speech therapist will:
- Assess speech limitations and develop a plan to recover communication skills.
- Retrain patients to effectively communicate after a stroke, tracheotomy, laryngectomy or other medical events that may affect muscles associated with speech.
- Counsel and support individuals and families with the emotional stress that speech-related problems can cause.
Speech therapy is more than just a plan to regain confidence in communication skills. It is a collaborative effort between you, your speech therapist, and other health care specialists to help you achieve the best quality of life.