Frequently Asked Questions

How to begin the referral process: 

The process begins when you or your primary care physician feels that you would benefit from Occupational Therapy services. You can call us at (207) 548-5913, briefly describe your problem  We can contact your doctor and request a referral, directly from them for you. If your provider is recommending Occupational Therapy services, they can fax us a face sheet with the referral request and demographic information to (207) 337-9281. We strive to be easily accessible and can be reached by calling, texting, fax, and the contact button on the Contact Me page. 

Providers can fax their prescriptions to (207) 337-9281.

What is a mobile OT practice?    

We are an outpatient mobile therapy practice providing occupational therapy services by traveling 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 traditional Occupational Therapy 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 using a mobile OT practice be right for me?  

There are many reasons you may prefer to have a mobile 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.  We will assess and provide a program with a focus on safety, strength, endurance, coordination, cognition, 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 repetitive practice doing daily living activities in the environment 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.   
8. We provide wellness programs that you can continue after discharge from therapy services to maintain your progress and prevent decline later.

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, Functional Home OT LLC will help you attain a signed prescription from your physician.  Once you have a signed prescription for Occupational Therapy 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, and any service 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 am currently registered with Medicare as an outpatient service. I am not affiliated with commercial insurance carriers currently. However, if your commercial insurance has out of network benefits, then they may cover your outpatient occupational therapy with Functional Home OT.  Functional Home OT will assist you with verifying insurance coverage for your therapy services prior to starting your therapy.

Does Medicare pay for mobile occupational 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 their 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 help them achieve your occupational goals.

What qualifies as a change in medical status?

Medicare considers a change in medical status as any change in strength, endurance, balance, coordination, cognition, and safety that affect your ability to take care of yourself or your home. The change can be an improvement or decline. Contact me if you feel that you  have had a change that qualifies for initiation of occupational therapy in your home.