HOME BASED PHYSIOTHERAPY

HOME BASED PHYSIOTHERAPY

Over 75% of people requiring home care are seniors who require assistance in managing physical and cognitive limitations.1 Physiotherapy provided in the home lowers mortality rates related to falls and the risk and rate of falls in older adults, reduces number of nursing home admissions and hospitalizations, and decreases hospital length of stay (LOS).

Role of Physiotherapy in Home-based Services

                               Home-based physiotherapy services provide assessment and treatments to Canadians in their homes and communities for many conditions, including, stroke, heart failure, Parkinson’s disease, and recovery from hip-replacement surgery.

                Home-based physiotherapy improves overall physical wellbeing, enhances social functioning, ensures routine monitoring of isolated clients, and reduces the rate of re-hospitalization and future health care service utilization. Telerehabilitation programs, as an accessible alternative to home-based physiotherapy services in rural and remote communities, also produce positive health outcomes.2 Telerehabilitation is “the provision of rehabilitation intervention, education, training and support using technology across distances”.

 Home-based physiotherapy programs help ensure continuity of care and facilitate the transition from hospital to home.

 Impact on Patient Experience

          Home-based physiotherapy increases independence, teaches self-management and promotes empowerment.

 • Home-based services with regular visits from health care professionals, consistent monitoring and follow-up ensures continuity of care in the community.

• Patient satisfaction is high for both home-based physiotherapy and Telerehabilitation programs.

• Home-based physiotherapy enables patients to live in the community longer and more safely.

Impact on Population Health

 Home-based physiotherapy programs for patients with balance and mobility problems, improves functional abilities and quality of life (QOL).

 • Implementation of a home-based muscle strengthening and balance retraining program decreases the rate and risk of falls in seniors living in the community.

 • Physiotherapy interventions focused on functional improvements reduce mortality rates.

• Home-based physiotherapy improves physical and social function and QOL.

Impact on Health Care Costs

 Home-based physiotherapy programs are highly cost-effective, reduce hospital LOS and prevent hospitalization. 

 • Early discharge home with rehabilitation services reduces hospital LOS for stroke patients.

 • Home-based physiotherapy for rehabilitation from hip replacements surgery, results in a cost-effectiveness gain of 40%.

 • Home-based physiotherapy services reduce health care costs by keeping people independent in their homes, preventing falls and providing a safe environment within the home.