“Wow!”
That was Audrey Haynes’s first word as she stood in the Autumn Care Rehab Department’s new Arjo Walker.
“This is the first time in over five years I’ve felt my feet on the floor,” she said through tears of joy.
The excitement didn’t stop there, as Asher Zaccagnini, physical therapist, and Amy Shearer, LPTA, helped Haynes take her first steps in years.
“We’ve been doing a lot of work on Audrey’s upper body strength,” Zaccagnini noted. “She has already improved her ability to help turn herself over in bed and assist with other activities of daily living. The new equipment will help her in moving to the next level of recovery.”
According to Matilda Patrick, the new equipment puts Saluda in a league of its own.
“The Arjo Walker provides a lot of advantages for both the resident and the therapist,” Patrick said. “With the resident safely secured in the safety sling, we have a wide range of options in getting residents back on their feet much sooner than in the past,” she added.
Best of all, Patrick said, the rehab staff will be able to aid residents with a wide variety of physical limitations caused by such things as dementia and confusional states, Parkinson’s disease, stroke, osteoarthritis, spinal injuries, herniated discs and hip and pelvis fractures.
“That one piece of equipment was worth every penny we paid for it just to see Audrey standing there,” administrator Glenn Pierce said. “Audrey actually worked at Autumn before her accident, so we have all had a personal investment in her recovery. Seeing those tears of joy and that first step are why we love being here every day.”
According to Patrick, the Saluda facility is currently in the process of doubling the size of its rehab gym, adding new and innovative equipment.
“This definitely allows us to provide a greatly expanded level of services to our residents,” Patrick said.
For more information, contact Sally Halford, admissions coordinator, at 828-749-2261, or visit www.autumncareofsaluda.com.
– article submitted by Glenn Pierce