Celebrating National Physical Therapy Month: The Heroes of Movement and Recovery!
Every October, we celebrate National Physical Therapy Month—a time to recognize the contributions of physical therapists (PTs) and physical therapist assistants (PTAs) within Brio Living Services. These dedicated professionals work tirelessly to help our residents, clients, and participants regain mobility, improve function, and help with overall quality of life.
Physical therapy is a branch of rehabilitative care that focuses on restoring movement and function following injury, surgery, illness, or chronic conditions. PTs use a variety of techniques—including fitness, education, and specialized treatments—to support recovery and prevent future issues. Brio Living Services is fortunate to have these knowledgeable team members at several locations, including Chelsea Retirement Community, Porter Hills Home Health Care, and our Programs of All-Inclusive Care for the Elderly (PACE®) across the state.
Designated by the American Physical Therapy Association (APTA), this years’ National Physical Therapy Month’s theme is “Moving Better, Living Better.” This year’s theme reflects the core mission of physical therapy. Movement is essential not just for physical health, but for mental and emotional well-being. Linda Skinner, who is a physical therapist at LifeCircles PACE in Holland, loves that particular aspect of her job and says, “Therapists take as much delight in our participants' successes as they do. Getting someone walking again who was told they never would or having someone get out of the house for the first time in years are always highlights.”
It is especially apparent how much the PTs and PTAs of Brio Living Services love their job and the services they provide. Marie Eberle, a team member of Porter Hills Home Health Care shares, “I absolutely love the Home Care setting with Brio! Implementing ways for patients to get around more efficiently and safely in their homes is a big part of my job. Being in their home and seeing what they're struggling with daily helps me create their strength goals. It also determines which exercises we do, so that patients can see a functional improvement. I am grateful for my fellow team members; our therapy managers are very supportive, and everyone is knowledgeable and fun to work with.”
Our team members chose the physical therapy realm as a career for a variety of reasons, from having athletic backgrounds, to watching family members struggle during recoveries. Katie Moore, a PTA at Chelsea Retirement Community, says her reason was, “Because I love seeing people accomplish their goals. A big part of my job is providing encouragement when a resident does not feel they can complete a task or reach a goal. I find great satisfaction when they find that they can complete that task to improve their function or daily life.”
Physical therapists and physical therapy assistants serve as motivators, problem-solvers, educators, and in Brio’s case, as friends. Our team members pride themselves on helping achieve our vision of “A world in which we are all empowered to age well” in their daily work, and we encourage you to help celebrate them this National Physical Therapy Month! Write a handwritten thank you note, nominate someone for a POM (Promoting Our Mission) Award, or simply take time to tell them how much they are appreciated.
Brio Living Services has career opportunities of all kinds to make an impact in others lives. If you are interested in a career where you make a difference, check out our openings at our Careers Website.