You shouldn’t have to choose between getting the care you need and the hassle of getting there. In-home physical therapy removes that barrier entirely.
Most people in Shinnecock Hills who start therapy at home notice real improvements within four to six weeks. Balance gets steadier. Walking feels more confident. Daily tasks that used to feel risky—getting in the shower, going down stairs, reaching for something overhead—start feeling manageable again.
Falls aren’t just scary. They’re expensive, disruptive, and often preventable. Balance training supervised by a physical therapist has been shown to reduce fall rates by 23%. That’s not a small number when you consider what one fall can cost—not just financially, but in terms of independence and peace of mind. You get a personalized treatment plan based on what your body actually needs, not a generic protocol someone printed off last year.
Medcare Therapy Services has been serving Long Island for over a decade, and we’ve built our reputation on showing up—literally and figuratively. We bring licensed physical therapists and occupational therapists directly to your home in Shinnecock Hills, so you don’t have to worry about driving, parking, or whether you’ll have the energy left to actually do the work once you get there.
In a town where 33% of residents are over 64 and nearly a quarter are on Medicare, access matters. We accept Medicare and work with most major insurance plans because care shouldn’t come down to logistics. Our team knows the area, understands the needs of older adults, and treats every patient like family—not because it sounds nice, but because that’s how we’d want our own parents treated.
First, we schedule an initial evaluation at your home. A licensed physical therapist will assess your mobility, balance, strength, and any pain or limitations you’re dealing with. This isn’t a quick look-over. It’s a thorough exam that helps us understand what’s going on and what’s realistic to improve.
From there, we build a treatment plan specific to you. That might include gait training if walking feels unsteady, balance and proprioceptive training to reduce fall risk, therapeutic exercise to rebuild strength, or neuromuscular re-education if you’re recovering from a stroke or injury. If you’ve had surgery—hip, knee, shoulder—we handle pre and post surgery rehabilitation too.
Sessions typically happen one to three times per week depending on your needs and your doctor’s recommendations. Each visit lasts about 45 minutes to an hour. We’ll work with you on exercises, manual therapy, and functional movements, and we’ll give you a home exercise program to keep progressing between visits. Most people see maximum benefit after eight to twelve weeks, though some improve faster and others need more time. It depends on where you’re starting and what you’re recovering from.
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You’re not just getting someone to walk you through a few stretches. In-home physical therapy covers a wide range of treatment approaches depending on what you need. That includes fall prevention programs, joint pain treatment, resistance and strength training, injury rehabilitation, and stroke rehabilitation. If you’re dealing with a neurological condition like Parkinson’s or MS, we provide neurological rehabilitation tailored to those challenges.
For Shinnecock Hills residents, fall prevention is especially relevant. With a median age over 56 and a third of the population over 64, the risk is real. But falls aren’t inevitable. Multi-component exercise training—the kind a physical therapist designs—has been proven to reduce medically-attended falls and improve lower extremity strength and balance. One study showed balance measures improved between 16% and 42% compared to baseline. Another found that choosing physical therapy for fall prevention saves over $2,000 per person when you factor in emergency visits, hospital stays, and rehab costs.
We also support people recovering from surgery or managing chronic conditions. Whether it’s a knee replacement, rotator cuff repair, or ongoing arthritis, the goal is the same: help you move with less pain and more confidence. Everything is personalized based on your evaluation, your goals, and what your insurance covers.
Yes. Medicare Part B covers outpatient physical therapy when it’s medically necessary and prescribed by a doctor. That includes therapy provided in your home.
You’ll need a referral or prescription from your physician, and the therapy has to be delivered by a Medicare-certified provider—which we are. Medicare typically covers 80% of the approved amount after you’ve met your deductible, and you’re responsible for the remaining 20%. If you have a supplemental plan, it may cover that portion.
There are annual caps on therapy services, but exceptions can be made if your condition requires continued care. We handle the billing and work directly with Medicare, so you’re not stuck figuring it out on your own. If you’re unsure about your coverage, we can verify your benefits before your first visit.
Most people start noticing improvements within four to six weeks. That’s when balance feels steadier, pain starts to ease up, and movement becomes less effortful.
Maximum benefits usually show up after eight to twelve weeks of consistent therapy. But that timeline isn’t universal. If you’re recovering from a major surgery or stroke, it might take longer. If you’re dealing with a minor injury or recent balance issues, you might improve faster.
What matters more than the timeline is consistency. Showing up for your sessions and doing the home exercises between visits makes a measurable difference. Research shows that 79% of patients report significant pain reduction after physical therapy, and success rates range between 68% and 79% depending on the condition. The people who improve fastest are the ones who stay engaged with the process.
Your first visit is an evaluation. The physical therapist will ask about your medical history, current symptoms, medications, and what’s been limiting you day-to-day. Then they’ll assess your movement—how you walk, your balance, your range of motion, and your strength.
They’ll also test specific areas related to your condition. If you’re recovering from a fall, they’ll check your balance and gait. If you’ve had surgery, they’ll assess the joint and surrounding muscles. If you’re dealing with chronic pain, they’ll identify where the restrictions are and what’s contributing to it.
After the evaluation, they’ll explain what they found and outline a treatment plan. That plan will include how often you’ll need therapy, what types of exercises or interventions will help, and what your goals should be. You’ll usually start some light treatment during that first visit, so it’s not just paperwork and questions. The whole appointment takes about an hour.
Yes, and the research backs it up. Balance exercise programs supervised by a physical therapist have been shown to reduce fall rates by 23%. Multi-component training that includes strength, balance, and gait work reduces medically-attended injurious falls even further.
Falls aren’t a normal part of aging, even though 25% of older adults fall each year. Most falls happen because of weakness, poor balance, medication side effects, or environmental hazards—all things that can be addressed. Physical therapy focuses on improving the physical factors: strengthening your legs, training your balance system, and teaching you how to move more safely.
In Shinnecock Hills, where a third of residents are over 64, fall prevention isn’t just smart—it’s essential. One fall can lead to a hospital stay, surgery, rehab, and a loss of independence. Preventing that fall in the first place saves an average of $2,144 per person and keeps you out of a cycle that’s hard to recover from. If you’ve already fallen once, your risk of falling again is higher, which is exactly why early intervention matters.
In New York, you can see a physical therapist without a referral for up to 10 visits or 30 days, whichever comes first. After that, you’ll need a prescription from a physician to continue treatment.
That said, if you’re using Medicare or most insurance plans, they require a doctor’s prescription from the start. So while you technically have direct access under state law, the practical answer is: yes, you’ll likely need a referral to get your therapy covered.
Getting a referral is usually straightforward. Call your primary care doctor, explain what’s going on, and ask them to send over a prescription for physical therapy. If you’ve recently had surgery or been hospitalized, your surgeon or specialist may have already written one. We can also coordinate with your doctor’s office if needed to make sure everything’s in place before your first visit.
Physical therapy focuses on improving your movement—strength, balance, mobility, and pain management. Occupational therapy focuses on helping you perform daily activities—dressing, bathing, cooking, and other tasks that make up your routine.
There’s overlap, and sometimes people benefit from both. If you’re recovering from a stroke, a physical therapist might work on your ability to walk and climb stairs, while an occupational therapist helps you relearn how to button a shirt or use utensils. If you’ve had a hip replacement, physical therapy addresses the joint and surrounding muscles, while occupational therapy might focus on how to get in and out of bed safely or adapt your home setup.
We offer both services, and during your evaluation, we’ll recommend what makes the most sense for your situation. Some people only need one. Others benefit from a combination, especially if they’re recovering from something major like surgery, a stroke, or a serious fall. The goal is the same either way: get you back to doing what matters with less pain and more confidence.
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