Concierge Director: Daniel Mayer
Patient’s Age: 80 years old
Admission Date: 2/15/21
Admitted From: North Shore University Hospital
Discharge Date: 4/26/21
Discharged To: Home
Length of Stay: 71 days
Reason for Stay: Rehabilitation
How Did the Patient Hear About Glengariff? She was referred to our rehabilitation facility by her orthopedist physician at the hospital.


Details of Experience:
Mrs. Linda Abrams was admitted to the Glengariff Nursing and Rehabilitation on February 15th, 2021. Prior to being admitted to Glengariff, she was admitted to the North Shore University Hospital due to the fact that she had sustained two falls from a chair within 48 hours and sustained trauma to her left knee and right hip.  At the subacute rehab service at the hospital, they recommended subacute, short-term rehabilitation.  Her orthopedist said that Glengariff had top-quality rehab staff.  Mrs. Abrams and her children were informed by the staff about Glengariff and our reputation for rehabilitation. Due to Covid-19, no tour was feasible, but instead, the family chose our community, and arrangements were made for Linda to be transferred to Glengariff. 

When Linda arrived at Glengariff, her family was concerned about her lack of balance, mobility, and strength.  Her family had secured an apartment in an assisted living facility with independent living, but they were all concerned about her ability to manage the two steps at the entry and her wheeled walker once she was in the apartment.  Linda was not able to walk by herself, and she did not know if she would be able to do so for more than five steps on a flat service. Further complicating Linda’s health picture was the left knee surgery and a host of other medical conditions.  These conditions created an additional need for medical management.  Shortly after her arrival in Glenagriff, Linda felt her motion too restricted to start to make strides, both figuratively and literally.  She could climb no stairs and could walk no steps at all.  Even standing still was only done with tremendous strain and assistance from the rehab team.  Her strength improved, however, and her steps began, from initial moves to pivot from lying supine to sitting up, standing from a seated position, and attempting dynamic standing.  

After just one week, she was able to walk 20 feet using her rollator walker.  Still, she could not successfully ascend or descend any stairs at all.  After two weeks in rehab, her distance walking (with the walker) rose to 40 feet, doubling her previous accomplishment.  She was still at substantial risk for falls due to her persistent poor balance and spatial awareness.  As the therapy continued, Linda’s goals were reset again, establishing new benchmarks for her to achieve.

With the staff coming to provide intensive physical therapy and the Concierge team keeping Mrs. Abrams connected to her physician for orthopedic care, Linda became stronger and abler with each passing day.  She was relieved by this clinical and emotional support, which helped her feel calm and optimistic.  She could now focus on getting better and improving her maneuvering, sitting up in bed, toileting and bathing. After three weeks of participating in rigorous rehabilitation therapy, Linda was able to get out of bed on her own with only minimal supervision and she was improving in performing the basic activities of daily living.  Her progress, though not rapid, was encouraging.

She could not climb any stairs when she was admitted and was at high risk for falls.  But within nearly 4 weeks of her stay, she was walking 100 feet unassisted!  After 5.5 weeks, Linda was walking 125 feet and counting.  By this time, Linda was much more steady on her feet and was climbing three steps.  She had been reassessed as having a risk of falls but had been down-graded from high risk.  She was making progress and headed toward the finish line! 

New goals were set for Linda, and she pursued these with gusto too.  Within another week of rehab, she was walking 150 feet.  She had also achieved near-full independence with her ADLs and was able to set up her surroundings for bed transfer and sit-to-stand situations almost entirely without even verbal cues.

When Linda was wheeled out on her day of discharge on April 26, 2021, she rose out of her wheelchair effortlessly and strode over to her family’s car to greet her loved ones. She was able to mount and descend four stairs at a time.  This fact alone put her family much more at ease.  She had achieved a 24 out of 28 scores on her decreased risk of falls rating.

Throughout her stay, until her departure nearly three months later, Linda was pleased with our staff and how they took care of her.  From multiple departments, Linda could still recall those who had worked with her to advance through her progress toward rehabilitation.  Of particular note during her extended stay was the approaching Passover holiday.  Linda was a bit saddened that both Covid restrictions, and her compromised physical condition, made it impossible for her to go home for the holidays.  Instead, the concierge brought Passover to her!  She had gently inquired of the concierge about matzah for a holiday.  He said he would “see what he could do.”  The concierge took up the challenge and returned with all the cultural trimmings for a Passover feast!  Grape juice and gefilte fish, matzah, and macaroons- it was a sight to behold and a warm ‘embrace’ of her religious traditions.

This holiday sensitivity and effort particularly touched Linda.  She had genuine dietary restrictions, but the team still found a way to get her the special diet for the Passover holiday.  Linda was also grateful that the team mobilized to provide her with a bed that served her comfort and continuing care needs.  

Linda attributes her terrific progress and healing to the care and commitment of the team.  Another success story of hard work and dedication created from the bond between patient and care team at Glengariff!