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Sierra Therapy Services is an assigned Medicare Part B Provider of Physical and Occupational Therapy services.
Our therapists are highly experienced in their various fields.
Sierra Therapy Services clinics provide physical and occupational therapy services to patients on an out patient
basis at our freestanding clinics as well as in patients’ homes. Sierra Therapy Services is NOT a Home Health Agency;
if the patient needs long term nursing and therapy services, and is home bound, please refer the patient to a Home
Health Agency for services.
We accept referrals from physicians, private insurance case managers, patients, caregivers, and family members. An
effective plan of care is developed and carried out under the supervision of the patient’s physician.
Charges for our services will be based on the Medicare Fee Schedules for Part B and other arrangements for the
specialty programs. Sierra Therapy Services provides outcome-based programs at convenient, cost effective and
efficient Wellness Centers within freestanding clinics in the community as well as in assisted and independent
living communities.
ADVANTAGES OF SIERRA THERAPY SERVICES CLINICS IN RETIREMENT COMMUNITIES
- Transportation – this creates problems for the assisted living and retirement center, and for the patient. The cost to the patient and facility, timeliness, and regularity to meet appointments may cause the patient to miss appointments
- Convenience – having to get ready to go away from the home base is generally inconvenient for the patient, as this requires quite a bit of preparation
- The need for therapy services within familiar surroundings is evident. Frequently taking the cognitively impaired resident from their familiar environment has a negative effect on their functional level.
- Invariably, a lot of time is spent in traveling and waiting at the off site clinic, which usually has a negative impact on the physical well being of the patient
- Frequently taking the cognitively impaired resident from their familiar environment has a negative effect on
their functional level. The need for therapy services within familiar surroundings is evident.
- Invariably, a lot of time is spent in traveling and waiting at the off site clinic, which usually has a negative
impact on the physical well being of the patient.
- Prevention – Sierra Therapy Services’ therapists will be available to respond quickly to changes in the functional levels of the resident and, when referred, intervene appropriately to prevent further functional deterioration or falls.
- On a consulting basis, Sierra Therapy Services uses its expertise to assist in wellness program development within the facility.
- Consistency – residents in the community get to know the therapists in the Wellness Center and the therapists are able to build rapport with them. The therapists are therefore able to give input into the care of the residents for continued wellness. Residents can go to any other out patient clinics for services; Sierra provides convenience and on-site knowledge!
- Sierra Therapy Services seeks to form a relationship with the facility so that a cohesive multi-disciplinary approach will be achieved in the management of the resident’s care and well being.
This company’s focus and specialty is out patient rehabilitation services THAT ENCOURAGE
INDEPENDENCE AND WELLNESS. Our centers and programs reflect this philosophy.
IN-SERVICE TOPICS FOR THE RETIREMENT COMMUNITIES
PRINCIPLES OF ASSISTED LIVING
Discussing the caregivers’ role in the assisted living environment and how they can make a difference in the resident’s lives and how they can assist in improving their quality of life.
PRINCIPLES OF RESTORATIVE/REHABILITATIVE CARE
Purpose is to learn about restorative and rehabilitative care and how they as caregivers can assist the resident during a period of rehabilitation. Emphasize that their efforts as a caregiver can help the resident’s maintain their health and independence for as long as possible.
ACTIVITIES OF DAILY LIVING GUIDE FOR ASSISTED LIVING/PART I
This two part series of In-services is an opportunity for the caregiver to practice their skills through discussion and practicing techniques in ADL care giving. They will learn new approaches in assisting a resident to increased independence as well as how to observe and assess residents for changes in their health status. (REVIEW: mouth care, denture care, bath and/or showers, and shampooing.)
ACTIVITIES OF DAILY LIVING GUIDE FOR ASSISTED LIVING/PART II
The second part of this series’ purpose is the same as above in Part I but the topics reviewed are different. (REVIEW: grooming, hair care, shaving, fingernail care, dressing, meal prep, eating and drinking.)
GROSS MOTOR ACTIVITIES OF DAILY LIVING FOR ASSISTED LIVING
Educate the caregivers in the importance of early and consistent intervention in the area of functional gross motor skills to enhance the resident’s longevity and overall health. This in-service will review the three levels of aging and why 3 residents the same age are all different physically and emotionally.
EMPATHY TRAINING
The focus of this in-service is to place the caregivers in the elderly person’s shoes with and without disease, so that they too can experience first hand the obstacles that face the elderly.
ARTHRITIS
Educate the caregivers in the disease processes of arthritis. Assisting in recognizing contraindications in the care of those with arthritis. The caregiver will learn how to improve the resident's quality of life by advocating for a lifestyle that decreases pain.
AMYOTROPHIC LATERAL SCLEROSIS
Educate the caregivers in the disease process of ALS. Assisting in recognizing contraindications in the care of those with Amyotrophic Lateral Sclerosis. How to improve the quality of life by advocating for a lifestyle where the focus is improved comfort, decreased pain and the patient’s abilities’.
CVA’S AND TIA’S
Educating the caregivers in how to recognize the signs, symptoms and differences in Cerebral Vascular Attacks vs. Transient Ischemic Attacks and how to effectively assist the resident before, during and after an episode.
DIABETES/HYPOGLYCEMIA AND HYPERGLYCEMIA
Educating the caregivers in how to recognize the signs, symptoms and differences in hyperglycemia vs. hypoglycemia and how to effectively assist the resident in the prevention of .
JOINT REPLACEMENT/PRE AND POST SURGICAL CARE
Educate the caregivers in a brief overview of the varying surgical procedures of joint replacements and the benefits of pre and post rehabilitative care.
WHEN TO CALL FOR HELP
Educating the caregivers in the changes in a resident’s physical, physiological and emotional condition by becoming more aware of the signs and symptoms specific to certain conditions.
DOCUMENTATION
Educating the caregivers in the appropriate ways to fill out daily documentation and incident reports. They will leave this in-service with a better understanding of the legal ramifications when documenting information. This in-service also reinforces the importance of taking vital signs.
BODY MECHANICS/FUNCTIONAL SAFETY
Educate the caregiver in the four basic rules of proper body mechanics. Also review the mechanical reasons through theories in physics to justify functional safety. Practical applications are presented.
FALL PREVENTION
Reviews environmental, physical and medical reasons that place a resident at high risk for falls. Encourages the caregivers to become better at recognizing and reporting residents at risk to fall and how to respond.
ALZHEIMER/DEMENTIA COMMUNICATION BEYOND WORDS
Educate the caregivers in types of communication other than verbal. Assist the caregivers in becoming more aware of how and what they communicate with residents as well as how and what resident’s communicate with you. This is to enable them to be better equipped to identify the help a resident may need when the resident is unable to verbally communicate.
CHALLENGING BEHAVIORS/ Agitation, Aggression and Verbal Outburst
The caregivers will learn about the different types of challenging or difficult behaviors that they may see with confused residents. Becoming more aware of the behaviors – as well as how to handle and prevent them – will help both caregivers and the residents. Educate the caregivers in how to relate to and provide care to residents more effectively. (FOCUS: Agitation, Aggression and Verbal Outbursts)
CHALLENGING BEHAVIORS/ Paranoia, Wandering and Depression
The caregivers will learn about the different types of challenging or difficult behaviors that you may see with confused residents. Becoming more aware of the behaviors – as well as how to handle and prevent them – will help both caregivers and the residents. Educate the caregivers in how to relate to and provide care to residents more effectively. (FOCUS: Paranoia, Wandering and Depression)
DEMENTIA
Educate the caregiver in becoming more aware of what dementia is so that they will be better able to work with and relate to the residents more effectively.
ALZHEIMER
Educate the caregivers in Alzheimer and that it is a type of dementia and not a general diagnosis for all dementias. Reviewing the specific’s of the disease process and how they can recognize some of the clinical signs and how they can more effectively and efficiently respond to the resident’s needs.
MULTIPLE SCLEROSIS
Educates the caregivers to have a better understanding of the disease process of multiple sclerosis and how to raise a residents’ quality of life through this understanding. Practical applications are provided.
OSTEOPOROSIS
Educates the caregivers to have a better understanding of the disease process of osteoporosis. The risk factors are reviewed as well as the most appropriate treatments. Practical applications for the caregivers in rendering care are given to assist in raising the residents’ quality of life.
PARKINSONS
Educates the caregivers in Parkinson’s disease and the varying effects it can have on a resident. Practical techniques are taught in how to successfully assist a resident with Parkinson’s in their activities of daily living.
RESPIRATORY CONCERNS
Educating the caregivers in how to recognize respiratory concerns and how to discern the serious disease episodes from the uneventful respiratory concerns. A review of how to take respiratory vital signs is presented as well as the anatomical and physiological reasons for breathing.
SWALLOWING CONCERNS
Educating the caregivers in how to recognize the multiple signs concerning a resident’s ability to swallow. This in-service will review the swallowing anatomical system and how to respond in questionable situations.
URINARY INCONTINENCE
Educating the caregivers in the anatomical, physical, emotional, social and medical reasons that a resident may be incontinent. Review of the varying types of intervention that are utilized today in treating urinary incontinence. They will be able to recognize residents that can be helped beyond medications.
ETHICS
Educating the caregivers in the importance of patient privacy and how it affects them in their job performance.
RULES AND REGULATIONS OF THE STATE OF GEORGIA/PERSONAL CARE
Reviewing the specific rules and regulations for personal care homes for the state of Georgia. This class allows the caregivers to have a better understanding and respect for their role in the assisted living/personal care home environment.
WHAT MAKES A GOOD CAREGIVER?
This recognizes that caring for an individual involves more than just meeting the physical needs but also the emotional and spiritual needs as well. It brings to light the qualities that make a good caregiver.
CARE WITH DIGNITY
This in-service acknowledges that all human hearts long for security, basic comforts, affection and respect, age and abilities do not change this need. How we as caregivers meet the challenge of fulfilling these needs will make all the difference to those in our care. Is our care respecting their dignity.
ABUSE AND NEGLECT; HOW TO PREVENT IT
These defines clearly what constitutes abuse and neglect. This in-service touches on the situations, that may risk abuse, residents’ behaviors to caregiver responses. The prevention ultimately lies in caregiver self-awareness as well as the ongoing, continuous skilled training.
CAREGIVER STRESS
This recognizes that care giving is a stressful job but the stresses we find ourselves under are not only the result of resident behaviors or the progression of the disease. Stress comes from many factors.
UNDERSTANDING BEHAVIORS ASSOCIATED WITH DEMENTIA
This in-service shows that Alzheimers Disease directly affects the way the mind works. Understanding the relationship between the brain and behaviors can help caregivers respond more reasonably to the challenges behavior changes bring to providing the best care.
WHAT IS ALZHEIMERS DISEASE?
We begin at the beginning. This in-service defines the illness and shows the correlation between symptoms and brain area involvement from one stage of the disease to the next.
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