Physiotherapy at home
Visits from a physiotherapist for mobility, strength and recovery after a stroke, fracture or surgery.
What it is
Home physiotherapy is a series of visits, not a live-in arrangement. A qualified physiotherapist assesses the person, sets goals — standing, walking to the bathroom, using stairs — and teaches exercises that the attendant or family then support daily.
The distinction from attendant care is simple: the physiotherapist plans and progresses the rehabilitation; the attendant makes sure it happens on the days between visits. Without the second part, visits alone rarely move the needle.
Home visits also expose problems a clinic hides: loose rugs, a bathroom without grab bars, a bed at the wrong height. A good physiotherapist fixes the environment as well as the person.
Who it is for
- After a stroke, where early and repeated movement improves outcomes.
- After a fracture or joint replacement, to regain walking safely.
- Seniors with weakness, dizziness or repeated near-falls.
- Someone with Parkinson’s or similar conditions needing balance work.
- Anyone whose walking has deteriorated and who has stopped going out.
What the caregiver does and does not do
Should be able to
- Assessment and a written exercise plan with clear goals.
- Supervised sessions, usually two to three a week to start.
- Transfer and gait training — bed to chair, chair to toilet, stairs.
- Home safety advice: grab bars, lighting, bed height, rug removal.
- Teaching the attendant or family to continue between visits.
- Progress review, with changes written into the plan.
Must not
- Diagnose or change medical treatment.
- Force movement through pain the person reports sharply.
- Substitute for nursing care or for the doctor.
- Continue a plan that is not working without reassessment.
Typical qualifications and training to ask for
- Ask for the physiotherapy degree and council registration, and verify it.
- Ask what experience they have with the specific condition — stroke, hip replacement, Parkinson’s.
- Ask for the number of visits expected and the goal for each phase.
- Confirm the visit fee and whether travel is included.
Typical cost range
Physiotherapy is priced per visit, not per month. Indicative placeholder bands are about ₹400–₹1,200 a visit depending on city and distance, usually three visits a week at the start, tapering as independence returns. Add this on top of attendant care.
| Hours | Smaller town | Tier-2 city | Tier-1 city | Metro city |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| a few hours a day | ₹8,000–₹13,000 | ₹9,000–₹15,000 | ₹10,000–₹18,000 | ₹12,000–₹20,000 |
| 8–12 hours a day | ₹15,000–₹25,000 | ₹18,000–₹30,000 | ₹21,000–₹35,000 | ₹24,000–₹40,000 |
| 24x7 live-in | ₹30,000–₹42,000 | ₹35,000–₹50,000 | ₹40,000–₹58,000 | ₹45,000–₹65,000 |
Indicative price. Placeholder bands pending a provider survey. Prices vary by agency, experience, language and urgency. Last updated 10 October 2026.
Warning signs that a higher level of care is needed
- New chest pain, breathlessness or dizziness during or after exercise — stop and call the doctor.
- A fall during a session or between sessions.
- Swelling, redness or new pain in a limb.
- No measurable progress after three weeks of regular sessions.
- The person has stopped the exercises because they hurt — that needs a plan change, not guilt.
If several of these appear together, the need has usually moved to Dementia / high-dependency caregiver. The matcher will confirm it from your answers.
How to hire safely
- Verify the qualification and registration.
- Get the exercise plan in writing, with pictures if possible.
- Name one person who supervises the daily exercises — otherwise they will not happen.
- Agree the number of visits and the review point before starting.
- Pair visits with attendant care so the plan is executed between visits.
The full hiring checklist and the questions to ask an agency go deeper on verification, references and replacement terms.
FAQ
Common questions about physiotherapy at home
How many physiotherapy sessions are needed?
It depends on the goal, but most home programmes start with two to three visits a week for a few weeks, then reduce as the person becomes independent. A physiotherapist should give you a review point rather than an open-ended plan.
Can the attendant do the exercises instead?
The attendant can and should prompt and assist with the daily exercises as taught, but assessment and progression belong to the physiotherapist. Supervised practice plus daily repetition is what works.
Is home physiotherapy as effective as clinic visits?
For many seniors it is more effective, because the exercises happen in the environment where the person actually moves — the same bathroom, the same stairs. It also removes the travel burden that stops people attending.
Next step
Is this the level your family needs?
Six questions, about two minutes. You will see the care level, a fair price range for your city, and what the caregiver may and may not do.