Physio – What You Should Know

Physiotherapist work closely with ALL staff to ensure that the Staff and Residents are safe, healthy and optimising their performance.

When new staff memebers enter a Facility they might be overwhelmed by all of the information to absorb.  So we have tried to summarise how best to undertsand and interact with the Physiotherapist and their notation.  If you need further explanation please ask the Physio.

1. Physiotherapist produce a Care Plan for each Resident which has

  • Transfers and Mobility Status (so you know before you try and hurt yourself),
  • Pain Status,
  • Health Problem List,
  • List & Instructions for Exercises, Positioning, Splinting, Suggested Activities, Pain Management Strategies, Falls Management, Precautions, Evalutaion of recent Progression.
  • You should consult this Care Plan until you are familiar with it and the Resident

(If want more detail regarding their condition and physical status please see the Initial Physiotherapy Assessment)

2. In the Residents Room there are Exercises, Reminders for the Resident, Transfer Summary,
3. Physiotherapists help assess and modify manual handling issues
4. Physiotherapist carries out regular Presentations on Manual Handling and other topics so please ask them about these or other related topics.
5. Physiotherapist normally runs various exercise classes. If you feel a Resident would benefit from this please suggest to Physio & Resident.
6. There is a Physiotherapy Folder which contains information regarding Education Topics, Various Procedural Forms. Please familiarise yourself with these.
7. If you feel the Residents Physical health has changed significantly please notify the Physiotherapist so we can update their Plan
8. Physiotherapy / Rehabilitation has a far better outcome when ALL staff work together to encourage, demonstrate, supervise, listen to and review the Residents regime