Gillian P. Rush

Physical Therapy Assistant

Physical therapist assistants are skilled health care providers who are graduates of a physical therapist assistant associate degree program accredited by an agency recognized by the Secretary of the U.S. Department of Education or Council on Postsecondary Accreditation, who assists the physical therapist in providing physical therapy. The supervising physical therapist is directly responsible for the actions of the physical therapist assistant. The PTA performs physical therapy procedures and related tasks that have been selected and delegated by the supervising physical therapist. Duties of the PTA include assisting the physical therapist in implementing treatment programs, training patients in exercised and activities of daily living, conducting treatments, and reporting to the physical therapist on the patient's responses. In addition to direct patient care, the PTA may also perform such functions as patient transport, and clinic or equipment preparation and maintenance. Currently more than half of all states require PTAs to be licensed, registered or certified. (2) An individual who works under the supervision of a physical therapist to assist him or her in providing physical therapy services. A physical therapy assistant may, for instance, help patients follow an appropriate exercise program that will increase their strength, endurance, coordination, and range of motion and train patients to perform activities of daily life.

Geriatric Physical Therapist

Ms. Gillian P. Rush is a Geriatric Physical Therapist in Louisville, KY with special training and skill in targeting conditions that affect aging adults' physical health, activity, and independence. As a Geriatric Physical Therapist, Gillian P. Rush performs physical therapy to lessen pain and to restore, improve, or maintain strength, fitness, endurance, sensation, balance, flexibility, and mobility in older adults. Geriatric Physical Therapy is physical therapy for the physical health, fitness, and function of the elderly. Significant diseases and conditions treated by Geriatric Physical Therapists include incontinence, obesity, rheumatoid arthritis, osteoarthritis, osteoporosis, injury, multiple sclerosis, Parkinsonu2019s disease, Alzheimer's disease, stroke, and cancer. Medical tests, procedures and therapies provided by Geriatric Physical Therapists include patient evaluation, exercise protocol development, patient education and assistive device training, home adaptation advising, and program observation.

A licensed physical therapist, including but not limited to an individual who is a Board Certified Specialist in Geriatric Physical Therapy, who has demonstrated specialized knowledge and skill in the comprehensive biopsychosocial assessment and evidence-based management of movement in aging adults. This includes, but is not limited to, specialized knowledge in and consideration of normal age-related changes and pathological manifestations across all systems; cognition and mental health; polypharmacy; fall risk mitigation; bone health; healthy and active aging, and socioeconomic and health policy issues affecting aging adults. The geriatric physical therapist is an integral part of the interdisciplinary geriatric team and serves as an advocate for the highest level of well-being for the older adult.