Physical Therapists Improve Quality of Life
Joshua Howe, a physical therapist with Redwood Coast PACE, enjoys helping improve people’s confidence in their own abilities so they can continue doing things that matter to them.
Physical therapists (PTs) work with people who have injuries or illnesses that affect their movement and range of motion. They help restore function or relieve pain through exercises, stretches, hands-on therapies, specialized equipment and other methods. In most healthcare settings, patients are referred by their physicians for therapy.
At Redwood Coast PACE — a Program of All-inclusive Care for the Elderly at Humboldt Senior Resource Center (HSRC) — Joshua is part of an interdisciplinary care team that provides comprehensive health and supportive care for participants based on their unique needs. The goal is to help people remain in their own homes for as long as possible despite chronic conditions or disabilities that put them at risk for placement in skilled nursing facilities.
“I love working at PACE because of how it utilizes a patient-centered model, where each provider is part of the care planning,” Joshua said. “This is different than most PT settings I have worked in where there was a wall between disciplines and communication was difficult.
“In a PACE setting, having contact with each team member associated with a participant’s care is invaluable in promoting positive outcomes and helping people maintain their independence.”
Joshua meets with each new participant when they join PACE to learn about their preferences and daily routines, which allows him to make recommendations for their overall well-being and continued independence. Joshua can develop an individualized PT plan including balance training, exercises or pain management, as well as recommendations for mobility aids such as canes or walkers.
In PACE, Joshua works with participants to assess what PT therapies may be of benefit versus being limited to the problems in a physician’s referral. “I can screen and find balance issues, a shoulder impingement or back pain, and be able to make goals to treat them,” Joshua said.
Because the PACE program serves as both insurer and payor, “it is also great getting to spend more time thinking about the participants than thinking about billing, which helps improve the quality of care,” he said.
Joshua can treat participants both at the PACE clinic or at their homes. “So I can assess participants in their own environment and get a deeper understanding of where they are struggling,” he said. “I also like being able to follow up with participants who are discharged from the hospital and collaborate with their rehab teams and PACE home care to get them home faster.”
Joshua believes that everyone’s longevity benefits from being able to keep doing their hobbies as long as possible, and says movement is an essential part of living that contributes to overall mental wellness. “It is very satisfying to see how small suggestions can sometimes make a large impact in a person’s life,” he said.
Redwood Coast PACE has centers in Arcata, Eureka and Fortuna. The program currently has an opening for a physical therapist, in addition to other positions. Visit humsenior.org for more information or call 707-443-9747. New enrollments are also being accepted at all centers.
René Arché is HSRC’s director of marketing and communication.
Email: rarche@humsenior.org.
