You move through your home without second-guessing every step. You don’t avoid the stairs or skip activities you love because you’re afraid of losing your balance. Your family stops calling twice a day to check on you.
That’s what effective fall prevention looks like. Not just exercises on paper, but real improvement in how you feel moving through your day.
When you work with a physical therapist trained in fall prevention, you’re addressing the actual reasons falls happen—weak legs, poor balance, environmental hazards, medication side effects. The therapy is built around your specific risks, not a generic program. You get stronger. Your balance improves. Your confidence comes back.
Research shows that physical therapy within three months of a fall risk assessment lowers your chance of falling by 86%. Patients report significantly fewer falls up to 12 months later. That’s not luck—it’s targeted intervention that works.
We’ve been providing in-home physical therapy across Nassau and Suffolk County for over a decade. We specialize in fall prevention for older adults who need care but can’t easily leave their homes.
Woodbury has one of the largest senior populations on Long Island—over 21% of residents are 65 or older. We know this community. We understand that getting to appointments isn’t always realistic, especially when mobility is already a concern.
Our therapists are trained in Otago fall prevention protocols, which means you’re getting evidence-based care, not guesswork. We accept Medicare and most commercial insurance. And we treat you like family, because that’s how care should feel.
First, a licensed physical therapist comes to your home and completes a full fall risk assessment. They look at your strength, balance, gait, medications, and your environment. They’re checking for trip hazards, lighting issues, and whether your current setup is helping or hurting.
Then they build a personalized program. This might include balance exercises for seniors, strength training, gait training, and modifications to your home. Everything is tailored to your specific risks and abilities.
You’ll typically have sessions once or twice a week, depending on your needs. Each visit builds on the last. Your therapist tracks your progress and adjusts the program as you get stronger. You’re not just doing exercises—you’re retraining your body to move safely and confidently.
In New York, you can start physical therapy without a prescription, though you’ll need one after 10 visits or 30 days. Most patients see measurable improvement within the first few weeks. The goal isn’t perfection—it’s progress you can feel.
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You get a comprehensive fall risk assessment that identifies exactly why you’re at risk. Your therapist evaluates muscle strength, joint stability, coordination, and proprioception—your body’s ability to sense where it is in space.
From there, you receive a customized exercise program that might include senior balance exercises, strength training for your legs and core, and flexibility work. These aren’t generic moves. They’re chosen based on what your body needs to stay upright and stable.
Your therapist will also assess your home for hazards—loose rugs, poor lighting, clutter, bathroom safety. You’ll get recommendations for adaptive equipment if needed, like grab bars or walkers. And if medications are affecting your balance, that gets flagged too.
In Woodbury and across Nassau County, falls send thousands of older adults to the ER every year. The cost of fall-related injuries hit $80 billion nationally in 2022. But here’s the thing: falls aren’t inevitable. With the right program, your risk drops significantly. That’s what you’re investing in—your independence, your safety, and your ability to stay home.
Most people see measurable improvements within 4 to 6 weeks, but the timeline depends on your starting point and how consistently you work the program. Research shows that physical therapy started within three months of a fall risk assessment can reduce fall risk by 86%.
The exercises work by rebuilding strength in your legs, improving your balance, and retraining your body to react when you start to lose stability. Early sessions focus on assessment and building a baseline. By week three or four, you’re typically noticing that you feel steadier on your feet.
Long-term results matter more than quick fixes. Patients who stick with their program report significantly lower fall rates even 12 months after starting therapy. Your therapist will track your progress at every visit and adjust your plan as you improve.
Yes. Medicare Part B covers physical therapy when it’s medically necessary, and fall prevention absolutely qualifies. You’ll need a doctor’s prescription after your first 10 visits or 30 days, but in New York, you can start therapy without one.
Medicare typically covers 80% of the approved amount after you meet your deductible. You’re responsible for the remaining 20%. If you have a Medicare Supplement plan, that often covers the difference. We accept Medicare and nearly all commercial insurance plans.
Before your first session, we verify your coverage so there are no surprises. If you have questions about what you’ll owe, ask during scheduling. Most patients find that the cost of therapy is far less than the cost of a fall-related ER visit or hospital stay.
In-home therapy lets your therapist see exactly where you live and move every day. They can spot hazards you’ve stopped noticing—a rug that slides, a dark hallway, a step you’ve learned to avoid. That’s information you can’t replicate in a clinic.
You also don’t have to worry about transportation. For older adults in Woodbury and across Long Island, getting to appointments can be a barrier. Twenty percent of seniors have mobility limitations that make leaving the house difficult. In-home care removes that obstacle entirely.
And frankly, you’re more likely to stick with therapy when it comes to you. Compliance improves when the process is easier. Your therapist works with you in your actual environment, using your furniture, your stairs, your bathroom. The exercises are practical because they’re designed for the space you live in.
The Otago Exercise Program is an evidence-based fall prevention protocol developed in New Zealand and backed by decades of research. It’s been proven to reduce falls and fall-related injuries in older adults by up to 35%.
The program includes strength and balance exercises tailored to your ability level, plus a walking plan. It’s progressive, meaning it gets more challenging as you get stronger. A physical therapist trained in Otago knows how to assess your risk, prescribe the right exercises, and adjust the program based on your progress.
What makes Otago different from generic balance exercises is the structure and the evidence behind it. It’s not guesswork. It’s a system that’s been tested in clinical trials and recommended by the CDC. When your therapist is Otago-trained, you’re getting care that’s proven to work, not just a list of stretches.
If you’ve fallen in the past year, you’re at higher risk. If you feel unsteady when you walk or worry about falling, that’s a red flag. Other signs include difficulty getting up from a chair, needing to hold onto furniture when you move around the house, or avoiding certain activities because you’re afraid of losing your balance.
Certain medications—especially those for blood pressure, sleep, or anxiety—can increase fall risk. So can vision problems, foot pain, or chronic conditions like arthritis or diabetes. Age is a factor too. One in four adults over 65 falls each year, and the risk goes up as you get older.
A physical therapist can complete a formal fall risk assessment that measures your strength, balance, gait, and reaction time. They’ll also review your medications and home environment. If you’re on the fence about whether you need help, get the assessment. It’s covered by Medicare, and it gives you a clear picture of where you stand.
First, tell your therapist right away. Falls during therapy aren’t uncommon, especially early on, and they’re important data points. Your therapist will reassess what happened—where you were, what you were doing, whether it was a balance issue, a strength issue, or an environmental hazard.
Then they adjust your program. Maybe you need more focus on a specific muscle group, or maybe there’s a home modification that needs to happen sooner. The goal is to learn from the fall and reduce the chance it happens again.
Falling doesn’t mean therapy isn’t working. It means your therapist has more information to work with. The program is designed to be flexible and responsive. Progress isn’t always linear, but every session gets you closer to moving safely and confidently. Your therapist is there to guide you through setbacks and celebrate improvements.
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