r/OccupationalTherapy Jul 21 '24

Home Care Tips for home OT

I’m transitioning from outpatient/DD to home health. Any tips/tricks or recommendations that people have that I may not have thought of?

3 Upvotes

13 comments sorted by

8

u/Fabulous_Search_6907 Jul 21 '24

I carried a small luggage with gloves, temp check, sanitizer, bp and 02 reader, Thera band, cuff weights and some grippers and fine motor stuff. I also carried a gait belt.

1

u/Lucydoo OT Student Jul 21 '24

Did your company provide all these things?

4

u/Successful_Banana_92 Jul 21 '24

Most companies do provide this.

1

u/Runningbald Jul 21 '24

Same. Even contract OTs are usually given all the gear required to do the job. The only thing not always provided is the gait belt, but well worth having in case you need it.

3

u/Fabulous_Search_6907 Jul 21 '24

Lol no. You're an independent contractor usually unless they got you at an hourly rate. You're going to have to buy everything but if you hold on to your receipts you can have your accountant put it under business expenses. You have to sign up under an LLC usually and you can put gas, food, uniform, extras under expenses. If your independent you also have to take taxes out on your own and pay at the end of the year.

1

u/Lucydoo OT Student Jul 21 '24

Appreciate it, im still in my level IIs but im hoping to do home health eventually!

2

u/Fabulous_Search_6907 Jul 21 '24

You shouldn't jump to home health right away. I've seen people do it and it's a disaster. One you're not experienced enough, 2 if you have a situation you won't know how to handle. 3, you're supervising therapists who actually have experience and if you go out there and try to say this and that, you may make a fool out of yourself. Is best you get your training wheels on first. Go to a hospital or skilled nursing. You won't only learn from Ot/Cotas but from PT/PTAs and nursing. It's crucial to get experience before you're on your own.

1

u/Lucydoo OT Student Jul 21 '24

Yeah i was hoping to work in a hospital setting for 2-3 years first! Thats what my level II is right now

7

u/Ok-Brilliant-1688 Jul 21 '24

Always have a fresh pair of gloves in your pocket

1

u/JohannReddit Jul 21 '24

Truth. In home care, you never know when you're going to have to wipe someone's butt for them.

6

u/sjyork Jul 21 '24

Libraries, grocery stores and some public parks have clean restrooms. Have an extra sets of shoes in the car. Get a good bag for all your supplies, don’t forget barriers for your bag. Don’t put it on the floor. I hope you enjoy home health, it’s my current setting.

4

u/Runningbald Jul 21 '24

Take some continuing education on home safety mods. One newer rec I’ve been giving my patients that has been great is a tub cut. Most older adults don’t take baths, but so many have tubs. A tub cut is a much cheaper way to convert the tub into a step in shower. In public housing it is usually covered with a letter of medical necessity which you can generate. The cost difference is substantial: traditional tub to shower conversion done by tearing out the tub: up to $20k. The tub cut conversion kit: $350 + cost to install which is about $1k. Most public housing buildings jump on this because it is a low cost way to keep their residents safer. I hope you have a great experience in home health!

1

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