After 15 years working in private physiotherapy practices in Stone, Jason Curtis is bringing treatment to people who might otherwise struggle to get to a clinic, as well as those who simply find an appointment at home more convenient.
Jason, who has more than 20 years’ experience in NHS and private healthcare, founded Active Life PhysioCare to help older adults who were finding it difficult to access physiotherapy. The service now covers a wider range of patients, including people recovering from operations and those with back pain, joint problems or injuries.
The business provides appointments in people’s own homes and in residential and nursing care homes across Stone, Stafford and surrounding areas.
For Jason, the starting point was seeing how easily people could miss out on treatment when getting to an appointment was itself a problem.
He said:
“I wanted to create a service that goes to people, rather than expecting everyone to come to it.”
Helping people manage at home
Supporting older adults remains an important part of the work. Some patients have lost confidence after a fall or illness. Others are recovering from a stay in hospital or finding that tasks they once managed easily are becoming harder.
The physiotherapists work with individuals on things they need to do each day, whether that means standing up from a chair, walking around the house, managing steps or getting outside. Sessions can include exercises to improve strength and balance, alongside advice aimed at reducing the risk of falls.
Those needs can also be different from one home to another. Someone living alone may want to feel safer moving between rooms, while a care home resident may need support with getting out of bed or walking short distances.
Jason said:
“Sometimes it’s the things we take for granted, like being able to stand up from a chair, walk to the bathroom or get outside into the garden, that make the biggest difference to someone’s quality of life.”
The service works with people in residential and nursing homes too, with treatment intended to help residents maintain as much movement and independence as possible.
Rehabilitation following an operation
Active Life PhysioCare also provides physiotherapy after orthopaedic surgery, particularly hip and knee replacements.
The early stages of recovery can make travel difficult. People may be dealing with pain or swelling, using walking aids or still getting used to moving around after their operation. A home appointment means those practical difficulties can be considered as part of their rehabilitation.
Treatment can focus on rebuilding strength, improving movement and working towards everyday activities. Rather than practising only in a treatment room, patients can work on the stairs or spaces they actually use at home, within the guidance given for their recovery.
Jason explained:
“What’s particularly useful about home visits is that we can work on the things patients actually need to do, whether that’s managing the stairs, getting around the kitchen or progressing from walking aids towards independent mobility.”
The business also supports rehabilitation after other orthopaedic procedures and injuries, with programmes adapted to the individual and their stage of recovery.
More than older adult physiotherapy
While the service began with a focus on older people, appointments are also available to adults of different ages with muscle and joint problems. These include back and neck pain, joint stiffness, sports injuries and problems affecting everyday movement.
For some patients, a visit at home is a necessity. For others, avoiding a journey to a clinic makes it easier to arrange treatment around work or family commitments. Assessment, advice and rehabilitation exercises can all form part of a home appointment.
The business has also introduced occupational therapy home assessments. This is a separate type of support which looks at how someone manages daily activities, rather than focusing mainly on strength or movement.
An assessment might consider whether equipment, adaptations or changes to the way tasks are carried out could make it easier for someone to wash, dress, use the bathroom or move safely around their home. It can be particularly relevant following a hospital stay or where relatives are concerned about a family member’s ability to manage independently.
Jason says the business has grown into a team of physiotherapists as more people have sought home appointments, but its approach remains based on individual visits and treatment plans shaped around each patient’s needs.
Arranging an appointment
Active Life PhysioCare covers Stone, Stafford and surrounding areas. People can contact the business to check whether their address is within its visiting area and discuss the type of support they need.
The prices currently advertised on its website are £75 for a private home physiotherapy visit and £65 for a visit in a care or residential home. Anyone enquiring about occupational therapy should confirm availability and pricing directly.
For more information, visit Active Life PhysioCare’s website, call 07377 549860 or email activelifephysiocare@mail.com.
See more A Little Bit of Stone in Google
Add A Little Bit of Stone as a Preferred Source to make our stories more likely to appear when you search Google.
