Patient’s Age: 77-years-old
Admission Date: 10/20/20
Admitted from: St. Catherine of Sienna Hospital
Discharge date: 01/29/21
Discharged to: Home with home care services
Length of stay: 100 days
Reason for Stay: Dehydration, hypertension episodes, and respite from family care
How did the patient hear about St. James? CMS rating in hospital


Details of Experience:
Mrs. Carmela is a 77-year-old, previously living in Smithtown, New York. Carmela lives alone in her own apartment within a 55+ community. She is supported by her family in the community and maintains frequent contact. Carmela was hospitalized at St. Catherine of Sienna Hospital due to dehydration, episodes of hypertension, and respite from family care. While in the hospital, Carmela and her family were given a list of local nursing facilities, and the choice to stay at St. James Rehabilitation and Healthcare Center was determined by its proximity to her home and positive online reviews.

Mrs. Carmela was admitted to St. James on October 20, 2020. Within an hour of arrival, she was evaluated by the unit nurse and within the next 24 hours, met the entire interdisciplinary staff, including Physical and Occupational Therapists, Social Work and Case Management Departments, Integrative Therapy, and Therapeutic Recreation teams. Each department worked efficiently to develop an individualized care plan to meet Carmela’s specific needs. The Physical and Occupational Therapy team’s initial evaluation determined that Carmela’s goals were to increase bilateral strength in her legs to improve mobility, balance, ambulation, transfers, and safely ambulate distances. In addition, improve the ability to manage activities of daily living such as hygiene, grooming, toileting, dressing, and bed mobility tasks. Carmela’s main focus and goals were to work hard with the rehab team so she could return home and get back to being mom and grandma to her family.

Carmela’s work with the rehab team showed immediate and continued improvement throughout her time at St. James. Her Physical Therapist, Linda, was impressed by her determination and willingness to participate. She made steady progress with Physical Therapy, as she improved her strength in both legs, graduating to modified independence with functional transfers, increasing ambulation to over unlimited distances without the use of a rolling walker, and improved balance, so that she could maintain standing without constant support. Linda notes that Carmela also gained much-needed confidence in her mobility and transferring. Most important, her work with Physical Therapy determined that she was at much lower risk of future falls. Carmela’s Occupational Therapist, Haley, was confident that her patient would do well in treatments with the right encouragement. She focused on Carmela’s determination and guided her through her treatments. Haley’s focus was to help Carmela maintain her proficiency during her stay. Carmela was impressed with the quality of the care the rehab team was able to provide, sharing that the rehab staff was wonderful and a great help.

Through the duration of her stay at St. James, Carmela was actively supported by the Therapeutic Recreation and Social Work Departments. She utilized both departments often when meeting with her family visits and video/phone calls. She was always happy that she was able to maintain her connection to home and her family through these visits. She participated in coffee and snack hour, most days, and connected with the therapeutic staff.

Upon discharge, Carmela mentioned she truly valued her time working with her therapists both in physical and occupational therapy. She mentioned that not only did they help her build strength physically but, “they helped me with my confidence” and mental strength, building up her resiliency and mindset of positivity. Carmela was impressed by their enthusiasm and professionalism. Carmela noted that ” Everyone was so good to me!” She added that they were, “…very patient.” Carmela became a popular person on the units she stayed on and was often found visiting roommates chatting and checking in on how everyone was progressing. She made friends with several people on her unit and shared some impactful and touching words with everyone as she was being discharged.

St. James wishes Carmela Brown well, as she continues on her healing journey.