These everyday activities can take on new significance after an illness, injury, or hospital stay. For a home care physical therapist, helping patients work toward the activities that matter to them is at the heart of each day.
In recognition of Physical Therapy Month, we’re sharing a look at the work of home care physical therapists and the difference they can make for patients and families.
When someone you love begins to struggle with daily tasks, your natural instinct is to step in and do everything for them. It comes from a place of love, and you want to save them energy, protect them from injury, and make their day just a little bit easier.
However, well-meaning help can sometimes inadvertently strip away a person’s sense of autonomy. Staying involved in daily routines, even in small ways, helps our loved ones maintain their self-esteem, dignity, and a sense of purpose.
Finding the sweet spot between offering assistance and preserving independence isn’t always easy, but it is one of the greatest gifts you can give a family member. Here are a few practical ways to support your loved one’s independence at home while ensuring they stay safe and supported.
During difficult days, Jamie brought flowers to his wife’s mother to brighten her time at the Community Hospice House. Now he brings large bouquets every Monday morning to thank the staff and brighten other patients’ days, handing off to another volunteer who arranges them into vases and distributes them throughout the House. He will keep up deliveries in those tall Folger’s buckets while blooms last in his remote cutting garden.
If you have seen the flowers, you understand that Jamie is a serious horticulturalist. When friends moved to town, he asked and was quickly given a sunny plot to work his magic. He began with 90% vegetables and then in recent years migrated away to mostly flowers. He says harvesting is his least favorite activity, but he will always grow tomatoes and paprika peppers.
Walking to the garden, you are struck by the riot of colors and tremendous height of the plants. He grows most of the plants from seed in his basement. He protects the plot with his “little Fort Knox” electrified wire fence and inner chicken barrier to keep out groundhogs and rabbits. He regrets that some fat groundhogs, protected by well-fed bellies, manage to flop over the wire.
Just inside the gate, he plucks a sweet pea flower to share the scent. Much of the height comes from several trellises conserving space and giving vines lots of territory. A beautiful purple vine drapes across the back of the garden and is dripping with pea bean pods. His amazing zinnias, taller than the gardener, occupy a large section. His wife gave away his pinching back technique to achieve more blooms. Another surprising flower is his unique dahlias. He recruits his niece and nephew to name them. Currently they are working on a yellow group, the Banana collection: Banana Fee, Banana Fi, Banana Faux, and Banana Fum.
Jamie enjoys sharing flowers with loved ones. He brings flowers to dinner parties. If you are lucky enough to be on his Christmas list, you may receive his home-made smoked paprika.
Thank you, Jamie, for sharing your gardening joy and the nostalgia of home-grown summer bouquets with us at Community Hospice House.
One of the most common questions we receive is, “How do I get started?”
Whether you’re recovering from surgery, managing a chronic illness, or exploring hospice care for a loved one, knowing the first step can feel overwhelming. The good news is, you don’t have to figure it out alone.
Here’s what to expect.
June is Alzheimer’s & Brain Awareness Month, a time to raise awareness about Alzheimer’s disease and related dementias while recognizing the unique needs of those living with memory loss and the families who care for them. Read More
“You may think you need all kinds of equipment and training to volunteer, but what you really need is a servant’s heart and the ability to stand with people in their pain.”
During Volunteer Month, we celebrate the individuals who bring this spirit to life every day at Home Health & Hospice Care. Our volunteers are at the heart of what we do: enhancing our clinical care with compassion, connection, and presence. Read More
How often do you see people arriving at a medical appointment with smiles on their faces? That is exactly how clients show up to the foot clinic. After checking in and paying for the service, many remark that it’s a bargain for what they happily call a “medical pedicure.” Nurses then guide them to stations for foot soaking and offer assistance with shoes. Read More
No two days are ever the same for a hospice social worker. Their work often involves visiting patients and families in their homes, care facilities, or at the Community Hospice House. During these visits, they focus on meeting patients where they are emotionally and physically. Read More
For many people living with heart disease, the biggest fear isn’t just the diagnosis, it’s the worry of suddenly ending up back in the hospital. Often, those hospital visits begin with small changes that are easy to miss: a little extra swelling, feeling more tired than usual, a few pounds gained in a couple of days, or shortness of breath that seems to quietly sneak in.
During Heart Month, we’re reminded that caring for the heart isn’t only about major medical events. It’s about the everyday ones.
Home Health Care
Palliative Care
Hospice
Bereavement
Community Hospice House
