Home-Based Occupational Therapy Services
Occupational therapists and occupational therapy assistants help people of all ages participate in the things they want and need to do through the therapeutic use of everyday activities (occupations). OT helps people function in all of their environments (e.g., home, work, school, community) and addresses the physical, psychological, and cognitive aspects of their well-being through engagement in occupation.
Continuum Therapy provides home-based occupational therapy services. Clients do not need to be homebound to receive services in their home and home-based services are considered outpatient. What is the difference between home-based therapy and homebound therapy services? Medicare Part B covers the skilled services of Occupational Therapists provided at home for non-homebound clients who have the potential to achieve significant and functional goals. These goals may include increasing independence, improving safety, learning techniques and strategies to manage chronic health conditions, or reducing risk of injuries or complications. Therapy occurs in the natural environment so patients do not have to generalize skills that they may learn in an artificial clinic setting. In a patient's home, therapists can assess the actual environment where the client must perform activities to identify risks and barriers to full participation.
People are often surprised by the variety of situations where occupational therapy can be helpful. The following are informational pages on OT's role across the lifespan:
Continuum Therapy provides home-based occupational therapy services. Clients do not need to be homebound to receive services in their home and home-based services are considered outpatient. What is the difference between home-based therapy and homebound therapy services? Medicare Part B covers the skilled services of Occupational Therapists provided at home for non-homebound clients who have the potential to achieve significant and functional goals. These goals may include increasing independence, improving safety, learning techniques and strategies to manage chronic health conditions, or reducing risk of injuries or complications. Therapy occurs in the natural environment so patients do not have to generalize skills that they may learn in an artificial clinic setting. In a patient's home, therapists can assess the actual environment where the client must perform activities to identify risks and barriers to full participation.
People are often surprised by the variety of situations where occupational therapy can be helpful. The following are informational pages on OT's role across the lifespan:
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Brain Injury
Cognitive Disorders Dementia Dysphagia (swallowing difficulty) Posttraumatic Stress Disorder Stroke/CVA |
Activity coach program
Continuum Therapy’s Activity Coach Program promotes participation in meaningful and fun activities, designed to complement and reinforce recommendations from your healthcare providers. When people have acute or chronic health conditions, it can be overwhelming to keep up with all the various recommendations that are provided to improve health, wellness, and quality of life. Classic recommendations can be boring, repetitive, and complicated. The Activity Coach is a companion who provides motivation and encouragement to ensure recommendations are being integrated into daily life while having fun!
During the initial visit, an occupational therapist (OTR/L) and an activity coach will meet with the individual to develop an Individualized Activity Plan (IAP). The individual may invite other interested parties to this planning meeting such as caregivers, case managers, and team members. Recommendations from healthcare providers will be discussed and a plan will be created with specific activities. The occupational therapist will provide direct training to the Activity Coach, ensuring proper technique and safety for all involved. The occupational therapist will perform a visit at least quarterly, more frequently if there is a change in recommendations, to assess safety and review proper technique as well as provide training as needed.
Continuum Therapy’s Activity Coach services do not provide a second opinion or in any way attempt to alter the treatment plans or therapeutic goals/recommendations of your personal physician. It is our role to partner with you to provide ongoing support and accountability as you create an action plan to meet and maintain your health and wellness goals. The Activity Coach program is not a covered service under most insurance policies.
During the initial visit, an occupational therapist (OTR/L) and an activity coach will meet with the individual to develop an Individualized Activity Plan (IAP). The individual may invite other interested parties to this planning meeting such as caregivers, case managers, and team members. Recommendations from healthcare providers will be discussed and a plan will be created with specific activities. The occupational therapist will provide direct training to the Activity Coach, ensuring proper technique and safety for all involved. The occupational therapist will perform a visit at least quarterly, more frequently if there is a change in recommendations, to assess safety and review proper technique as well as provide training as needed.
Continuum Therapy’s Activity Coach services do not provide a second opinion or in any way attempt to alter the treatment plans or therapeutic goals/recommendations of your personal physician. It is our role to partner with you to provide ongoing support and accountability as you create an action plan to meet and maintain your health and wellness goals. The Activity Coach program is not a covered service under most insurance policies.
Caregiver training and education
Continuum Therapy offers professional training to care providers of all skill levels. Trainings are provided by Amanda Miller, a licensed occupational therapist with many years of experience working with individuals with intellectual and developmental disabilities and their caregivers in the community setting.
The current trainings offered are listed below. The length of the training is fully customizable, based on the number of caregivers, specific topics, and number of hands-on experiences. Estimated times are provided for each training below.
Assisted Mobility (typically 3-4 hours for all topics)
Customized trainings can be arranged by contacting Jennifer at jennifer@continuumtherapy.org or 608-709-7073.
The current trainings offered are listed below. The length of the training is fully customizable, based on the number of caregivers, specific topics, and number of hands-on experiences. Estimated times are provided for each training below.
Assisted Mobility (typically 3-4 hours for all topics)
- Body Mechanics
- Gait Belts
- Repositioning
- Transfers: sitting, standing, sitting pivot, standing pivot, vehicle transfers
- Walkers and Wheelchairs
- Assisted Ambulation
- Falls and How to Get Back Up
- Normal Swallowing
- Types of Dysphagia (swallowing disorders)
- What is aspiration? What are the signs?
- Food Preparation: Dysphagia diets (pureed, diced, advanced, and normal)
- Fluid Preparation: thin liquids, nectar-thick, honey-thick, pudding-thick
- Types of Thickeners
- Positioning to Maximize Safety
- Adaptive Equipment
- Dependent Feeding Techniques
- The Sensory Systems
- Sensory Processing Systems
- Types of Sensory Disorders
- Sensory Based Motor Disorder
- Sensory Discrimination Disorder
- Sensory Modulation Disorders
- Sensory Defensiveness
- Sensory Strategies
- Education
- Professional Treatment Options
- Sensory Diet
Customized trainings can be arranged by contacting Jennifer at jennifer@continuumtherapy.org or 608-709-7073.