Just about every patient who spends time on the rehab floor has a therapist accompany them to their house prior to discharge to see what, if any, changes need to be made and to verify that the patient knows how to safely navigate their home environment. The first home eval I went on was for a patient recovering from a hip replacement. In order for the muscles around the hip to heal properly, the patient is not to bend that hip past 90˚. As part of therapy we help patients figure out how to do everything from putting on their pants and socks to getting out of a chair without bending too far. On the home visit, we also make sure the patient can get things from the bottom of the refrigerator or cupboard and are able to feed their pets without breaking their precautions.
Almost every home visit I've been on involves getting rid of a rug or two. They are considered a fall hazard which is a big deal since most of our patients are over 80. We usually suggest a grab bar or two in the bathroom which provide extra security in the shower or tub. I also learned this week that part of an OT's job description is moving furniture around. In one case this week we pushed the bed over about 3 inches so there was room for a walker without scratching up the wall. The patient also was quick to agree that the glider rocker was not a good choice for her because it was far to hard to get out of at this point. Her family agreed and they will put another chair in that spot before she comes home. Besides making sure the patient is safe at home, these short visits are often eye opening for the patient as they realize how much energy it takes to be there and what they still need to work on.
After working two weekends in a row, I am taking advantage of 3 days off to head to my parents. The original plan was to switch out my winter things for spring and summer things. The current weather makes it seem a bit early but I will leave most of my sweaters behind and I have my bike tuned up for whenever I can actually get out on the roads.
