There are a wide variety of safety measures put in place during the HOP-UP-PT program to assure older adults, families, therapists, and referring providers that the older adult will remain safe during this program.
Licensed physical therapists trained in the HOP-UP-PT program comply with practice and licensing regulations required by the state in which they practice. Additionally, HOP-UP-PT strongly supports the Center for Disease Control and Prevention recommendation of standard precautions for infection control including COVID-19.
Many safeguards are incorporated into HOP-UP-PT and include training on a thorough evidence-based cognitive screen (Mini Cog and Trail Making Test) and exercise safety screen (American College of Sports Medicine exercise preparticipation health screening). If an older adult does not successfully pass the screens or the HOP-UP-PT therapist identifies other reasons why safe participation may not be immediately appropriate, the therapist will refer the older adult back to their primary care physician for further medical assessment or testing. All interventions and assessments performed by the HOP-UP-PT clinicians are strongly backed up by decades of research. Vital signs are checked before each exercise session and a gait belt is used during any balance activities for safety during exercise performance.
Older adults can be referred to the HOP-UP-PT program in several main ways. A key component of the program is the open referral process. In short, anyone can refer an older adult (with their permission, of course!) Due to this open pathway, older adults can refer themselves into the program or community center staff members can refer the older adults. As a part of the evidence-based protocol, the HOP-UP-PT therapist may require the older adult to get medical clearance before starting the program.
In order to get this medical clearance, the HOP-UP-PT therapist will contact the older adult’s primary care physician to obtain this authorization or prescription. If you receive this request, rest assured that your patient has already gone through a rigorous safety and medical screening to determine that they are safe for the program and it is safe to provide this authorization. If you are concerned or have questions about this, feel free to reach out.
If you know an older adult who would benefit from the program and you have their permission, you can provide a referral by calling us at 248-897-9922 or email us for more information on referring to the HOP-UP-PT therapist. We will be glad to provide you with periodic updates about your patient’s status and the progress they have been making in the HOP-UP-PT program.
Although the HOP-UP-PT program is at the cutting edge of healthcare, there is already a substantial body of evidence providing proof of its efficacy through a series of peer reviewed research articles and publications. This program has been featured in the widely read journal BMC geriatrics, as well as the Cardiopulmonary Physical Therapy Journal of and Home Health Care Now.
The estimated cost of the HOP-UP-PT program is $1,200-1,500 and one injury fall without hospitalization is $3,000 – The cost of one hospitalization after a fall is $30,000!
