The Role of Therapy in Hospice and Palliative Care | Axxess

▤ Summary

Although physical, occupational, and speech therapy services traditionally focus on rehabilitation or recovery following an illness, injury or surgery, there is an opportunity for therapists to serve a small but important role on a hospice and palliative care team. The occupational therapist may be the team member best-suited to recommend and provide instruction about adaptive equipment for dressing, bathing or self-care for the patient who wants to preserve independence and lessen reliance on caregivers for as long as possible. The physical therapist likely is adept at dealing with balance, positioning, transferring, safety equipment, and perhaps even home modification challenges. Positioning, and frequent repositioning, of a patient in their chair, wheelchair or bed can dramatically lessen the risk of pressure ulcers and contractures. Therapists can support the hospice and palliative care team with the implementation and teaching of tasks related to strengthening, balance/fall prevention and transfer training.

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