Albert was home for approximately two weeks before his rehabilitation began. I was worried because I thought it should have happened earlier. Albert went through different types of rehab during the first year of the stroke including home health care, rehab at the local hospital, rehab at a rehabilitation center, and rehab at a privately-owned post-acute brain injury rehabilitation facility. We began the rehabilitation process with home healthcare.
Because Albert required rehabilitation for ongoing management of more than two long-term (chronic) conditions as well as implementing precautions for a seizure disorder, aphasia, and hypertension, he would receive and ‘participate’ in three hours of physical, occupational, and speech therapy weekly.
Three different therapists came to the house almost every day while I was working at my full-time job. Appointments were set up by the therapists through Albert, without my involvement. I’m sure that they were complying with HIPPA laws, but it was frustrating not knowing when the therapists were coming to the house to work with Albert. Rehab began and the physical, speech, or occupational therapists would arrive at the house and go through the therapy sessions with Albert and then they would leave messages for me stating what Albert worked on that day, his progress, areas that he still needed to improve, and how the day went.
The goals of the therapy were to maximize Albert’s functional independence so that he could stay at home alone without supervision, maximize his communications with others, help him recover his motor skills, and alleviate any depression that he might have. This was a lot of work for the therapists, but they had positive attitudes and strong work ethics. After working with Albert, they met with each other to talk about his progress, areas that still needed improvement, and what they would each do to provide the therapy that he needed. I believe that they were committed to helping him progress mentally, physically, and emotionally.
Was Albert the model patient? No, he wasn’t. I would learn later that Albert wasn’t working constructively with the physical therapist, and would not comply with the therapies she assigned him. She said that he wouldn’t do the physical therapy because it was hard work. In her messages to me, she stated that he was stubborn, even hostile toward her. She continued to work with him for a few weeks and then stopped coming to the house for PT stating that she would not work with someone who wasn’t going to make an effort to improve and who was aggressive. Weeks later the occupational and speech therapist discontinued their therapy services at the house too. I was surprised that the speech therapist did not return because Albert seemed happiest when she worked with him.
Albert needed to recover from the stroke and he needed physical, occupational and speech therapy. He had expressive aphasia, wasn’t stable walking on his own, and wasn’t able to take care of himself independently. Home healthcare didn’t work for him, so next, we would try rehabilitation at the local hospital.
Learning to Live Life and Loving it - Carol Johnson Blogs 