Over the past 20-plus years, I have had the opportunity to treat numerous patients in the comfort of their own homes.

Many of these patients would have a sign on the wall that stated, “Home is where the heart is.” Given my many years of experience as a home health physical therapist, I would craft a sign that simply states, “Home is where the healing is.”

There is no better place for you to recover from a recent medical setback than in the comfort of your own home. By working with you in your home environment, the home health physical therapist doesn’t have to simulate what you might have to do in that environment – it’s right in front of them, and they can work with you in optimizing the particular functional skill that might need improvement.

You may need help learning how to walk up your driveway (with a slight grade) with a rolling walker to access your mailbox, or to get in and out of your car or truck safely. Physical therapists can help.

Is home health physical therapy the right choice for you, a family member, neighbor, or friend?

Here are four reasons why receiving physical therapy in a home health setting may be right for you:

1. 1. Being surrounded by your family and friends while recovering and rehabilitating provides the most advantageous environment to improve your medical condition and functional status.
   2. A physical therapist will be able to assess and address the specific challenges you will face in your home environment. For example, you might need balance training or a lower extremity strengthening program to be able to maneuver safely around your home or yard.
   3. Your physical therapist will have access to your family and/or caregiver to provide hands-on education regarding how best to assist you.
   4. Physical therapists will involve the patient in setting goals. They will discuss what you want to be able to do again–something that you might not be able to do since your recent decline in medical condition and/or functional status, or what you may need to adjust to be able to do a modified version.

These are just four among the many reasons why home health physical therapy can work for you. I encourage you to learn all you can about this option for maintaining your independence and quality of life.

October is National Physical Therapy Month. Better health is within your reach. Choose more movement. Choose physical therapy. Visit choosept.org to learn more. #ChoosePT #PTmonth