Physical therapist takes the therapy to the patients

SPARTA — Lesly Albuquerque had an idea. As a physical therapist who specialized in working with the geriatric population, she started to notice a need for home care. "Some of my clients had trouble getting a ride to therapy and others kept having accidents in their homes," she said. "Hmmm," thought Albuquerque, "Why not go to them?" Last May, she started Caring Home Therapy Services, LLC and now she visits elderly patients in their homes to not only provide therapy, but help them learn to deal with obstacles in their home — such as stairs or other obstructions — that could lead to a fall.

Albuquerque graduated from the University of Vermont with a Masters in Physical Therapy. Her clinical experience includes working with the geriatric population in a variety of different settings ranging from hospital and sub-acute rehabilitation centers to private homes, and her areas of specialty include gait disturbances, balance disorders and senior safety.

Caring Home Therapy Services provides physical therapy to seniors and adults with disabilities in their home environments. The agency is approved by Medicare to provide services in the comfort of the patient's home. "A patient does not need to be home-bound to qualify for services," Albuquerque said, "My goal is to assist patients obtain their maximal independence level incorporating family members and/or caregivers in the rehabilitation process." She treats patients with a wide variety of ailments including osteoporosis, Parkinson's, dementia, arthritis, post-joint replacement cases, neuropathy, muscle/joint pain, decline in mobility. "There are great advantages to seeing patients in their home including being able to make environmental modifications to maximize functional mobility and prevent falls."

Albuquerque said that there is a general decline in all the body systems with aging. "Research shows that physical activity throughout the lifespan can have a protective effect to a great degree from the negative effects of aging." She makes it her job as a healthcare provider to properly design physical activity for this population. "Studies confirm that exercise is important to decrease pain from arthritis, improve balance and strength, decrease fall risk, decrease blood glucose levels, enhance quality of life and may relieve symptoms of depression."

To this end, Albuquerque has become an ambassador of movement and actively promotes exercise and fall prevention for older adults by volunteering to teach balance classes at Knoll View Assisted Living in Sparta.

Caring Home Therapy Services serves the greater Sussex County area, and Albuquerque is presently hiring a new therapist so she can expand into Warren County. She also continues to work per diem at several therapy centers. "It's exciting to have this business," she said. When it comes to her business and mission, Albuquerque is truly underscoring the adage, "If you can't take Mohammed to the mountain, take the mountain to Mohammed." She goes into the field to help seniors be more comfortable and overcome obstacles in their homes where they are most of the time.

For further information about Caring Home Therapy Services, phone 862-812-6433 or e-mail caringhometherapyservices@hotmail.com.

— By Laurie Gordon