Frequently Asked Questions

What is a mobile OT practice?    

We are an outpatient occupational therapy service that travels to your home.  We provide your therapy services in the comfort of your home and can address all the things that you'd work on in a clinic including balance, strength, endurance, cognition, and coordination that is affecting your ability to perform your self-care, and home management activities.  Functional Home OT specializes in people who have a dementia diagnosis and their caregivers.

Why might mobile OT practice be right for me?  

There are many reasons you may prefer to have your Occupational Therapy services come to your home, including the following:  

1. We can treat you/your loved one diagnosed with dementia in the comfort and familiar environment of your home.
2. We will be able to assess and make recommendations that enhance the living environment of you and/or your loved one to support safe and successful participation in daily living activities that are important to them and you.
3. We work with family members to enhance interactions and improve the quality of life for everyone in the household.
4. We use our knowledge of person, environment, and task to create “just right” activities that can support maximal independence and participation in current, and previous, occupations at your loved one’s current stage of dementia which can assist with the management of behaviors and add purpose to you and your loved one's lives. 
5. We can work with you, or your loved one to stay at home avoiding a hospitalization or skilled placement.  With a focus on safety, strength, endurance, and balance  A change in environment due to hospitalization and a skilled nursing placement can increase the risk of cognitive decline and impact the cognitive health of your loved one.  
6. We minimize the stress of arranging transportation and getting to an outpatient clinic for weekly sessions. 
7. Improved carry over of strategies learned during therapy sessions because they are completed in a familiar environment with their own familiar things at home.  People with dementia need to practice the activities they are doing where they occur in order to learn it.  A toilet transfer in a clinic is not ideal for a person with dementia because it is not the environment that they actually use the toilet.  

Do I have a choice?  

You can choose what therapy practice you want to use for your outpatient needs.  Your physician may recommend a practice that they are familiar with, but you always have the ability to research and make the best decision for your therapy needs.  I always recommend researching the therapy services in your community and pick the one that fits your needs and problems.  

What do I need?   

In order to begin therapy with Functional Home OT you will need a signed order from your physician.  Once I have an order from your physician, we will need to check with Medicare and any secondary insurance carriers for coverage.  If you have out-of-network benefits it may assist with the cost not covered by Medicare.  

Can I pay Cash?   

You have the option to select cash-based services for non-medically necessary needs.  Medicare considers most preventative services as not medically necessary.  This may include weekly fitness that maintains your strength/endurance, home modifications for aging in place, any services where the person covered by medicare will not be directly present and part of the sessions.  I have cash based options for these circumstances that may be a good fit for you and your loved one.

Do you take insurance?     

I offer cash-based and Medicare services.  I am currently not in-network with commercial insurance, however your commercial insurance may pay for my services out of network.  

Does Medicare pay for mobile home therapy services?  

Medicare pays for medically necessary health needs.  What this means is that the person wanting to access their medicare must have had a change in medical status that causes a change in function.  This will be determined through a comprehensive evaluation.  My evaluation will assess cognitive abilities, strength, endurance, balance, coordination, and how it affects the ability of your loved one to function in daily life.  From this, I will make recommendations to achieve your goals.