Occupational and Physical Therapy

Occupational Therapists

Global Care LLC’s Occupational Therapists evaluate and treat people who have injuries, illnesses, or disabilities. They help our clients meet goals to develop, recover, improve, and maintain skills needed for daily living and working.

Occupational Therapists Typically Do the Following:

Evaluate clients' conditions by reviewing their medical history, interviewing them, and observing them perform various tasks
Develop and implement treatment plans that have specific activities to help clients work toward their goals
Help clients relearn and perform daily living tasks, such as teaching a person who has had a stroke how to get dressed
Demonstrate exercises such as stretching the joints for arthritis relief, to help relieve clients’ pain
Evaluate a client’s home to identify potential accessibility improvements, such as labeling kitchen cabinets for an older person with poor memory
Educate a client’s family about how to accommodate and care for them
Provide tips to patients with new injuries or limited mobility
Recommend special equipment, such as mobility aids and eating aids, and instruct clients and families on how to use it
Assess and record clients’ activities and progress for client evaluations, billing, and other purposes

Occupational Therapists typically work with people who have permanent disabilities and may need help with daily tasks. They recommend options and show clients how to use appropriate adaptive equipment, such as walkers, wheelchairs, and eating aids. These devices help clients live their lives more independently. Therapists can work with older adults to help clients live independently and improve their quality of life. They assess clients’ abilities and environment and make recommendations to improve their everyday lives. Therapists assist and educate clients on improving skills such as managing time, using public transportation, and doing household chores. In addition, therapists may work with individuals who have problems related to depression, or trauma.

Our Occupational Therapists work as part of a home health team, along with Registered Nurses, and other types of therapists, including Physical Therapists. They may work with patients who have chronic conditions, such as diabetes or arthritis, or help rehabilitate a patient recovering from a stroke or spinal cord injury. Occupational Therapists also oversee the work of Occupational Therapy Assistants.

Physical Therapists

Global Care LLC’s Physical Therapists help injured, or ill people improve movement and manage pain. They are also an important part of preventive care, rehabilitation, and treatment for patients with chronic conditions, illnesses, or injuries.

Physical Therapists Typically Do the Following:

Review patients’ medical history and referrals or notes from doctors, surgeons, or other healthcare workers
Diagnose patients’ functions and movements by observing them stand or walk and by listening to their concerns
Develop individualized plans of care for patients, outlining the patients’ goals and the expected outcomes of the plans
Use exercises, stretching maneuvers, hands-on therapy, and equipment to ease patients’ pain, help them increase their mobility, prevent further pain or injury, and facilitate health and wellness
Evaluate and record a patients’ progress, modifying the plan of care and trying new treatments as needed
Educate patients and their families about what to expect from the recovery process and how to cope with challenges throughout the process

Physical Therapists, sometimes called PTs, care for people of all ages who have functional problems resulting from back and neck injuries; sprains, strains, and fractures; arthritis; amputations; neurological disorders, such as stroke or cerebral palsy and other conditions. Physical Therapists use a variety of techniques to care for their patients. These techniques include exercises; training in functional movement, which may include the use of equipment such as canes, crutches, wheelchairs, and walkers. They also teach our clients special movements of joints, muscles, and other soft tissue to improve mobility and decrease pain.

The work of Physical Therapists varies by type of patient. For example, a patient working to recover mobility lost after a stroke needs care different from that of a patient recovering from a sports injury. Many Physical Therapists also help patients maintain or improve mobility by developing fitness and wellness programs that encourage healthy, active lifestyles. Physical Therapists work as part of a healthcare team, overseeing the work of Physical Therapist Assistants and aides and consulting with physicians, surgeons, and other specialists.