Physical Therapy in Hospice
The value of physical therapy in hospice
Hospice care aims to enhance the quality of life for a terminally ill person who has forgone all other medical treatments. These patients typically have a life expectancy of approximately six months or less; a hospice program can help bring the patient to terms with dying. In addition, it is intended to be a comforting, caring atmosphere for the patient who has been through comprehensive medical treatment and whose treatment team has made it possible for them to live comfortably for a bit longer.
Hospice physical therapy - what it looks like
Physical therapy for hospice patients can maximize their ability to navigate their surroundings safely. Unlike physical therapy for those in the peak of life, physical therapy for hospice patients concentrates more on delivering ease for their physical issues at the end of life. One way hospice patients benefit from physical therapy by providing therapeutic measures to treat pain, such as massage or applying heat or cold treatments.
Physical therapists work in our multidisciplinary setting with hospice workers, including physicians, nurses, social workers, spiritual care counselors, and trained volunteers. Therefore, the physical therapist must be a team player with well-developed clinical skills and effective communication to facilitate team interaction. In addition, they must be compassionate and transparent in their role on the patient’s treatment team in their final months of life.
How physical therapists assist a hospice team
Pain control
Equipment suggestions
Aid in breathing and digestion
Home transformations
Therapeutic exercise
Energy conservation techniques
Positioning to prevent bedsores
Edema management
How does physical therapy help as health declines
The hospice patient will have additional requirements as their health worsens. For example, a physical therapist may need to help a patient with a fall risk learn how to walk with a cane and teach family members how to help with their balance. Later, the patient may need a walker as they progress to a bed or wheelchair. As the patient’s health declines, the physical therapist will treat the patient with the dignity and consideration they deserve to calm them and provide them pain relief.
If you have questions about therapy while in hospice, please call us.
