Written by Laura Diegel, BS, OTR, Clinical Consulting Manager, McBee
Therapy that is often associated with regaining abilities after surgery, an injury or an illness is known as restorative therapy, where the primary goal is improvement. For individuals living with chronic or progressive health conditions, the goal can be different. Maintenance therapy focuses on preserving current abilities and slowing any decline, helping maintain quality of life. This blog explores the key elements of maintenance therapy, how it differs from restorative therapy and why it plays a vital role in patient care.
What Is Maintenance Therapy?
Maintenance therapy is skilled care provided by a physical, occupational or speech therapist. Unlike restorative therapy, which focuses on improving or regaining lost abilities, maintenance therapy is intended for individuals with chronic, progressive or stable conditions who may not be improving but still require a therapist’s expertise to remain safe, mobile and independent, and to reduce the risk of functional decline.
It may include:
- Gentle exercise to support strength and balance
- Training in safe movement to reduce fall risk
- Assistance with changes in speech or swallowing
- Strategies for completing daily activities such as dressing, cooking or bathing
- Education for caregivers on safe support techniques
Maintenance vs. Restorative Therapy: What’s the Difference?
| Feature | Restorative Therapy | Maintenance Therapy |
| Goal | Improve or restore function | Maintain function; prevent or slow functional decline |
| Focus | Progress and recovery | preserve function and prevent deterioration |
| Frequency | Higher, short term | Lower, long term |
| Population | Acute recovery | Chronic, progressive conditions |
| Documentation | Highlights progress, improvement | Justifies the ongoing need to maintain function, prevent decline |
Clinical Examples
- Multiple Sclerosis (MS): Skilled therapy to maintain strength and flexibility and ensure safe transfer and mobility within the home.
- Chronic Arthritis: Safe weight-bearing exercises to prevent joint stiffness and maintain independence in self-care.
- ALS: Aid in adaptive techniques for self-care tasks, provide strategies for speech and swallowing difficulties
- Alzheimer’s Disease or Dementia: Cognitive and physical exercises to maintain function
In these cases, the focus is on stability and prevention of decline, rather than measurable improvement.
Documentation and Compliance
Proper documentation is essential to justify the need for maintenance therapy and ensure Medicare compliance. This includes:
- Initial assessments using standardized tools (e.g., TUG, MOCA, Katz Index)
- Progress notes detailing interventions and patient response
- 30-day reassessments to evaluate continued need
- Clear articulation of ongoing medical necessity
A Multidisciplinary Approach
Maintenance therapy often involves collaboration across disciplines:
- Physical Therapy: Mobility, strength, fall prevention
- Occupational Therapy: ADLs, home safety, caregiver training
- Speech Therapy: Communication, cognition, swallowing
Final Thoughts
Maintenance therapy focuses on protecting the abilities that matter most. For those living with chronic or degenerative conditions, it can be the key to staying safe, holding onto independence, avoiding unnecessary hospital visits, and feeling more confident and comfortable at home.
By understanding the value of maintenance therapy and ensuring proper implementation and documentation, healthcare providers can make a lasting impact on their patients’ well-being.
Ready to Deepen Your Knowledge?
Explore the McBee Post-Acute Academy and take your expertise to the next level with our Case Management Series—including a comprehensive course on Maintenance Therapy. Learn how to identify skilled need, document effectively and ensure compliance in home health settings.
Visit McBee Post-Acute Academy to enroll today and empower your care team with the tools to deliver exceptional outcomes.
About the Author
Laura Diegel, BS, OTR, Clinical Consulting Manager
Laura Diegel is a Clinical Consulting Manager at McBee with a Bachelor of Science in Occupational Therapy. With more than 30 years of experience in the homecare industry, she has held leadership roles spanning patient care, program development, staff management, quality oversight, ICD-10 coding, OASIS review, and clinician education.
She applies evidence-based best practices to drive process improvement and collaborates with clients to strengthen clinician education, accountability, and patient-centered care planning. Dedicated to empowering clinicians and fostering excellence, Laura helps organizations deliver high-quality, outcome-driven care across the home health continuum.
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