Patients Age: 82
Admission Date: 5/8/2017
Admitted From: St. Luke’s Hospital (Newburgh, NY)
Discharge Date: 6/2/2017
Discharged To: Home
Length of Stay: 25 days
Reason for stay: To increase functional mobility and core strength. Weakness due to battling pneumonia and chronic atrial fibrillation as well as a sprain of the right ankle.
How did this resident hear about The Emerald Peek? Referred to the community by a case manager at the hospital.

Details of Experience:

We were honored to welcome Mr. David Stairs to our community on May 8, 2017. He arrived to the Emerald Peek community in seek of improving his functional mobility and core strength so that he could return home. He also needed to complete his recovery from a three-week battle with pneumonia.

While recovering at the hospital, Mr. Stairs had several options for short term rehabilitation. Mr. Stairs chose The Emerald Peek Rehabilitation and Nursing Center because of the close approximation to his family, strong clinical team and the newly-renovated rehabilitation gymnasium.

Katie Cullum, our Director of Concierge Services, greeted Mr. Stairs upon his arrival, welcoming David to The Emerald Peek. She quickly learned how important computer and internet connectivity was to David. She worked alongside David to ensure that his iPod and other electronic devices functioned consistently, even supporting him in downloading various applications for his entertainment. Our clinical team, including our RN Care Manager, Unit Manager and Directors of Rehabilitation, Dietary, Recreation and Social Services met with David, assessing his physical, mental and emotional needs. David shared his shyness, his love of independent activities and his determination to return home and to focus on his rehabilitation with the therapy team. He also shared his trepidation for the rehabilitation process, expressing concern that he would never get strong enough.

Weeks 1-2 of Patient’s Stay:

Within three hours of admission, our rehabilitation team met with David. Everyone involved was very determined to ensure David was beginning to build his strength as soon as possible, while recovering from pneumonia. During David’s first week, the rehabilitation team noted Mr. Stairs is a pleasant man who initially was apprehensive to attend rehab. The team, especially Jose, our physical therapist, and Susan, our occupational therapist, were able to encourage him daily and ensure him that his attendance and participation would benefit him.

Susan focused on sitting balance while in bed to enable David to dress himself, including donning shirts and footwear. She chose these short term goals to assist David build his confidence with the rehabilitation process without taxing him during recovery. Jose began to work with David on building core muscle strength and strength in his left lower extremities, and his right hip and knee to elevate pressure and pain in his right ankle. Within the first 14 days, David met each of his short term goals, and most importantly, his pain level in the right ankle, without medication, decreased from 6 out of 10 to a 2 out of 10.

Weeks 3-4 of Patient’s Stay:

David was now ready for his long term goals of using a rolling walker rather than a wheelchair, ambulate 250 feet with minimal assistance, climb four stairs, have the ability to complete all activities of daily living (ADLs) with minimal supervision, and finally, to increase his Tinetti Score (a score used to measure patient safety while standing and lowering fall risk) from a 17 out of 28 to a 25-28 out of 28. At the end of David’s 4th week, he had accomplished all these goals while his mental and emotional state had improved as well! David’s participation in activities increased, culminating with his full participation in the community’s Nursing Home Week celebration, specifically the Spelling Bee competition.

Within 3 Days of Patient’s Discharge:

David will be discharged home on June 2, 2017. When Katie met with David, he stated, “This has been a wonderful experience for me. I never imagined I could come so far, and I have all of you to thank for that. I would not be going home, the place I really want to be, without the amazing staff here at the Emerald Peek.”