Jody Benson

Accomplished Occupational Therapist licensed in both Illinois and Wisconsin with 25+ years of experience across home health, inpatient, and outpatient settings. Expert in developing tailored rehabilitation plans for diverse populations, ages 13-100. Proven track record as a preceptor, mentoring new staff and enhancing team performance. Skilled in DME/AD assessments, interdisciplinary collaboration, and holistic, evidence-based patient care.

Home Health Occupational Therapist and Resource Coordinator at LHC Illinois home health/Optum Home Health (2025-12 – Present)

• Provide skilled OT Evaluations, treatments and Start of Care evaluations as part of goal-based treatment for adult and geriatric patients residing in homes, memory care and Assisted/Independent living environments.
• Deliver OT individualized sessions based on identified care plans with consideration on patient specific needs, personal goals and safety based session to optimize patients physical needs.
• Work closely with patients and families, when possible, to build assessments, DME needs and coordinating necessary training and resources to improve physical status of patient.
• Perform assigned duties with accuracy and prescribed targeted stretches and exercises, supporting recovery for patients with injuries and pain management techniques as needed.
• Develop and implement plans to optimize patient independence and safety at home, addressing tasks, resources, and skills for ages 21 to 100.
• Perform custom manual and electric wheelchair assessments for patients with complex mobility challenges and for patients that are diagnosed with progressive neurological diseases, on-going orthopedic weaknesses and/or chronic diseases.
• Fluent in Homecare Homebase as part of documentation requirements.

Home Health Occupational Therapist and Case Manager at Advocate Aurora Health (2023-01 – 2025-02)

• Collaborate with patients and families, as able, to create individualized plans with emphasis on safety and prior level of function for Orthopedic, Neurological, cardiac, and general medical patients.
• Deliver OT evaluations, treatments, re-evaluations based on patient progress and complexity of case and completed DME and AD assessments, coordinating resources to improve patient independence.
• Implement custom treatments based on patient needs and home environment with promoting safe mobility, transfers (car, bed, commode, tub/shower, shower, toilet), dressing, bathing, IADL and ADL management.
• Perform assigned duties with accuracy and prescribed targeted stretches and exercises, supporting recovery for patients with injuries
• Develop and implemented plans to optimize patient independence and safety at home, addressing tasks, resources, and skills for ages 18 to 100
• EMR Epic Home Health as part of documentation requirements.

Pediatric Occupational Therapist at NSSEO (Timber Ridge Day Therapeutic School, Palatine High School and Conant High School) (2022-01 – 2023-12)

• Support students (Kindergarten through High School) requiring additional assistance to participate successfully in their educational environment.
• Guide students to achieve optimal job roles and environments through assessments and observations
• Promoted independence in Activities of Daily Living and Pre-Vocational skills, enhancing student self-sufficiency
• Collaborate with interdisciplinary teams to help students become more independent learners.
• Formulate IEP programs, objectives, and strategies, improving classroom performance.
• Focus on team goals with other disciplines to best meet student needs.
• Utilize ongoing assessments to support academic and non-academic outcomes, emphasizing fine motor, visual motor, and sensory motor development.
• Evaluate and updated functional skills through training, adaptations, and specialized equipment to deliver expected results.
• Participate in development and implementation of educational plans with teachers, counselors, and parents.
• Enable appropriate therapy interventions through accurate evaluation of rehabilitative needs, providing optimal therapy services.

Occupational Therapist at Addus HomeCare (2021-01 – 2023-12)

• Work closely with families to create a plan of care to optimize patient independence, safety and ability to remain in their home environment including Orthopedic, Neurological, Cardiac and general medical patients.
• Perform OT evaluations, treatments, re-assessments and safety assessments as part of creating and providing goal-centered therapy sessions.
• Provide caregiver instruction as able and make any needed DME and AD recommendations to optimize patient independence and for more ease with caregiver assist as able.
• Fluent in Homecare Homebase as part of documentation requirements.

Home Health Occupational Therapist and Preceptor at Amita Ascension Home Health (2016-01 – 2022-12)

• Serve as a Preceptor with Agency to help on-board and train new staff with clinical and EMR management.
• Evaluated and treated various Orthopedic, Neurological, medical and cardiac patient populations from young adult to geriatric population with multi-ethnic backgrounds and provided DME and Adaptive Devices as needed.
• Provided individualized treatment sessions, relative to goals, promoting independence and safety instruction in their home settings to optimize both safety and independent function to the best of patient ability.
• Caregiver instruction, as able to provide demonstration on safe transfers, bathing, I/ADL management and functional mobility with related DME and AD as recommended for safety and increased independence.

Rehab Occupational Therapist and Preceptor at AMITA HEALTH (2013-01 – 2016-12)

• Treated various Orthopedic, Neurological, cardiac and post-operative conditions for population ranging from young adults to geriatric with multi-ethnic backgrounds.
• Provided family and/or care giver instruction as needed to help keep patients safe in their home setting and identified needs and concerns to be addressed on a regular basis.
• Delivered treatment sessions based on goals and informed patients on progress and toward goals.
• Identified DME and AD needs for patients as appropriate and complete wheelchair evaluations.

Master of Science in Occupational Therapy – RUSH UNIVERSITY (1998-05 – 2000-07)

Bachelor of Science in Psychology – KANSAS UNIVERSITY (1985-08 – 1990-05)