What type of assistance is provided to a patient under therapist observation?

The type of assistance described as being provided to a patient under therapist observation is known as supervision. In this context, supervision refers to the therapist actively observing and guiding the patient's activities, ensuring safety and facilitating learning and skill development. This approach not only allows the therapist to assess the patient's progress and adjust interventions as necessary but also empowers the patient to perform tasks with a level of independence while still receiving support and feedback.

In contrast, modified independent assistance implies that the patient can perform tasks on their own, potentially with some adaptive equipment or environmental modifications, but without the direct, ongoing oversight of a therapist. Minimal assist and maximal assist refer to specific levels of physical support provided during activities, where minimal assist indicates just enough help for safety, and maximal assist indicates the therapist providing most of the physical support needed. These forms of assistance focus on the hands-on support rather than the observational and guiding role inherent in supervision.