Hands On
Altenheim Senior Living, has just expanded its rehabilitation services to include additional outpatient physical and occupational therapy.
by Ken McEntee
Occupational therapists help people who suffer from painful chronic conditions, or who have recently undergone surgery, to return to participating in their normal everyday activities.
“We help people get back to their lives,” summarizes Nancy Nebenzahl, licensed occupational therapist and certified hand therapist, while celebrating National Occupation Therapy Month.
Nancy’s 15-year-old practice, Hands-On Physical Therapy, recently became a part of Altenheim Senior Living, a not-for-profit life plan community, expanding Altenheim’s rehabilitation services to include additional outpatient physical and occupational therapy services.
“Previously we provided inpatient and outpatient therapy services to residents on our campus, and we provided home-based therapy in patients’ homes. With Nancy and her team on board, we now provide additional top-quality services to folks of all ages who are mobile and able to come in for an office visit,” says Paul Psota, Altenheim’s CEO.
Occupational and physical therapy are prescribed for headaches, neck and shoulder pain, carpal tunnel, tennis elbow, back pain, hip and knee replacement and many other conditions. Nancy’s certification in hand therapy is a misnomer—the specialty involves the treatment of not only the hands, but the arms, elbows and shoulders as well. 
“It’s significant for us to be able to offer hand therapy because there are so few specialists in that field,” Paul says. “It’s unique for a senior living community to be able to offer such a wide range of inpatient, outpatient and home-based occupational and physical therapy.”
Later this year, Altenheim is scheduled to open a brand new, state-of-the-art Therapy Rehab Center on its campus at Shurmer and Pearl Roads, in Strongsville. The center, which will host the outpatient unit for occupational, speech and physical therapy, will feature a 4,000 square foot gym, a full training kitchen and bathroom occupational therapy facilities and the first HydroWorx300 series underwater treadmill in Northeast Ohio, says Melodie Roach, who oversees rehabilitative therapy at Altenheim. The new center will serve patients who are recovering from orthopedic, cardiac and neurological conditions that require therapy.
Until the new center opens, outpatient occupational and hand therapy will be performed at Hands-On’s offices on Pearl Road.
“By joining up with Altenheim, we’re able to provide the same services to patients, but with expanded resources,” Nancy says.
You can learn more about Altenheim’s rehabilitative therapy services by calling 440-238-3361. You also can get more information by visiting Altenheim.com. Visit the Hands On Physical Therapy website at HandsOnPTS.com. The phone number is 440-238-0300 and the address is 11925 Pearl Road, #202, in Strongsville.