April is National Occupational Therapy Month

April is national Occupational Therapy month and the perfect time to promote the occupational therapy services your home health agency provides.

Many patients recovering from surgery or struggling with chronic illnesses have difficulty carrying out the activities of daily living (ADLs). Home health care provides occupational and physical therapists who help patients better manage their daily routines. Occupational therapists evaluate a patient’s home environment along with their physical capabilities to identify activities that might be difficult for them to accomplish. The therapists then create a program instructing patients in performing these daily tasks safely, which is especially useful for seniors who need to minimize fall risk.

Occupational therapists aren’t just concerned with functionality, they also provide emotional support. Therapists encourage patients to be kind to themselves and to accept that managing ADLs differently is okay. They teach energy conservation techniques to minimize joint stress, pain, and fatigue. Practicing energy conservation reduces the frustration of running out of steam by balancing rest and activity.

Energy Conservation tips:

  • Plan ahead by scheduling difficult tasks for when you have the most energy.

  • Take frequent short rest periods and lie down whenever possible.

  • The amount of rest you need and the amount of activity you can do will be different from day to day.

  • Avoid activities that cannot be stopped immediately if they become too much.

  • Sit to work whenever possible and rest before you feel tired.

  • Plan a balance of rest and activity, spreading the more draining tasks throughout the week.

  • Delegate responsibilities to others.

Here are ideas on how your agency can celebrate Occupational Therapist month:

  • Throw an OT party and invite former patients to share their success stories and take lots of photos to share on social media.

  • Highlight individual therapists in your social media posts. Have them share fun facts about themselves and give a short ditty about why they chose to become an occupational therapist.

  • Host a lunch & learn for your referral sources to point out all of the services you offer your patients and to seek feedback to improve your business.

  • Organize an OT get-together after work to facilitate team building and discuss the patients that have touched your heart.

Check out our online web store for materials to help promote your wellness message…

Brain Injury Awareness & Home Health

Focus your attention on neurology this March by highlighting Brain injury awareness month. It is an opportunity to share how home health, private duty, and hospice services benefit those suffering from brain injury. Each March the Brain Injury Association of America leads the charge to raise awareness about the lasting effects that brain injuries have on patients and their families.  

Home care agencies routinely care for patients who have experienced brain damaging events. Many of these patients can make partial or nearly full recovery with proper care. These case treatments require a multifaceted team effort. Select print media that highlights the many ways that home health and hospice assist patients and their families struggling with brain injury:

  • Improved quality of life

  • Pain Management

  • Speech Therapy

  • Physical Therapy

  • Occupational Therapy

  • Patient Education

There are multiple benefits for referring physicians too:

  • Reduced readmissions

  • Reduced emergency room visits

  • Up to date clinical assessment

  • Better case management

  • Streamlined care plans

  • Increased revenue through care plan oversight billing

Mild brain trauma affects brain function temporarily where as more serious injuries can result in physical damage to the brain leading to disability or death. Injuries which cause extensive loss of brain function with a deteriorating condition likely to result in loss of life within six months can receive quality end of life care with a hospice provider.

Lasting effects from serious brain injury:

  • Cognitive Deficiency

  • Motor or Perceptual Sensory Deficiency

  • Language impairment

  • Epilepsy

  • Death

Supply the neurological specialists in your service area with print media that highlights the advantages of including home health, private duty, and hospice as part of the brain injury team. Visit Tagwebtore.com for all your home care print media.