5 Ways to Create a Safe Environment for Physical Therapy
Safe Environment for Physical Therapy Carmel IN
Physical therapy at home is an essential part of healing from injuries, managing chronic health issues, and improving mobility. The key to success in working with a physical therapist at home is to have a plan and to dedicate a safe space in the home to sessions. Doing so makes it a lot easier to do the actual exercises involved, both during the session and in between. Here are some ideas for putting together a designated area for working with a physical therapist.
Clear Some Space
Part of creating a safe environment for physical therapy sessions at home involves making sure that there is plenty of free space available to move around easily. That doesn’t mean completely clearing out an entire room, but it might mean setting aside some space in the living room or another room specifically for time with the physical therapist. To do this, it might be necessary to rearrange items of furniture a bit or move some items into a different room temporarily.
Remove Tripping Hazards
Something else to consider when clearing space is whether there are any tripping hazards in the house. This can include loose rugs, walkways that are too narrow, uneven flooring, or cords that stretch across walkways. Removing or rearranging anything that could cause a tripping hazard is an important part of keeping the home safe in general and also preparing for visits from a physical therapist.
Check the Lighting
Poor lighting can contribute to fall risk, and it’s something that is relatively easy to fix. Adding additional light fixtures is one solution. Another is to swap out lower-wattage light bulbs for bulbs that are brighter. It’s also important to look at the color temperature of the bulbs in use, too. Bulbs that are described as “warm white” tend to look dimmer than bulbs described as “daylight.”
Gather Necessary Equipment
Depending on the reason for physical therapy, patients might need to have some additional equipment on hand, like hand weights, exercise balls, or resistance bands. These are helpful during sessions, but they’re also useful for “homework” between sessions. Keeping this equipment in the designated area for physical therapy helps to make sessions easier to get started.
Prioritize Appointments with Physical Therapists
Physical therapists are able to evaluate how the patient is doing and put together a plan for making progress depending on the goals for these sessions. Recovering from an injury, surgery, or illness requires time and dedication. Prioritizing physical therapy appointments and exercises in between sessions is going to ensure that the patient gets the best results possible from this type of treatment.
Creating a safe environment for home physical therapy sessions is vital for preventing future injuries and setbacks. Attending appointments on a regular basis gets patients closer to reaching their goals and hopefully getting to a point in which they are as mobile and healthy as they are able to be. Hopefully that leads to greater well-being overall and successfully completing the therapist’s plan for healing.
If you or an aging loved one are considering Physical Therapy in Carmel, IN, please call the caring staff at Home Services Unlimited. Serving the Greater Indianapolis Area. Call for Immediate Info & Assistance: (317) 471-0760.
As a practicing Registered Nurse, Etelka was keenly aware of a void in quality patient care that could be provided in the home. She embarked upon a journey to develop a home health care agency that would exceed all expectations and become a trusted partner to physicians and patients.
A Distinguished Career From Nurse to Director of Nursing to President of Home Services Unlimited
Etelka’s distinguished career followed a logical progression to her position as President of Home Services Unlimited. She graduated as a nurse practitioner with a Bachelor of Nursing (RN) in 1972 from Meshgorya University in the Ukraine, close to where she lived with her family. She married her husband Phil in 1973 and decided in 1977 that they would relocate to the United States to be closer to family and to come to this land of opportunity. With an eagerness to continue her budding career, Etelka sat for and passed her Boards in the U.S. in 1979.
A Love and Talent for Working with the Elderly
Etelka began her nursing career in the U.S. at Colonial Crest, now part of Golden Living, where she was the In-service Coordinator, the Director of Training and Education and Director of Nursing, a position she occupied for several years.
With a group of partners, she co-founded Adept Corporation, which operated group homes for the mentally challenged. The business was successful and in 1996, Etelka sold her share to return to her roots, caring for the elderly.
In January of 1997, Etelka opened Home Services Unlimited as a fully licensed business to provide home health care. In her quest to learn to do better for her patients, she had already obtained a Masters in Healthcare Administration (MHA) in May of 1990 from the College of St. Francis. As President of Home Services Unlimited, Inc., Etelka guides the trusted, experienced care model Home Services Unlimited uses to continue providing excellent home health care.
Giving Back to the Community of Indianapolis
Volunteering for community services is a high priority for Etelka. Her memberships include the Indiana Association of Rehabilitation Facilities, Executive Women in Health Care and the Indiana Association for Home and Hospice Care, where she is a member of the Board of Directors.
Etelka has also served on the Board of Directors with Hooverwood Home, a highly regarded geriatric facility, since 1997 and as the President for 2005-2006. Through her community work, she has received several awards and accolades, including the Nora McFarland award in 2002, from the Indiana Association of Home and Hospice Care.
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