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Rehab Therapists Have Healing Touch
Posted April 16, 2016
John Becker is a part-time Maui resident who every year escapes the cold and snow of Wyoming to enjoy Maui’s warmth, sandy beaches, and tropical breezes. You can imagine his disappointment when health complications landed him in the hospital. After a month in the hospital he was sent to Hale Makua Health Services to receive services from Rehab by Hale Makua. At first, John was a little hesitant about taking up temporary residence in our homes because he did not know what to expect.
Shortly after his admission here, the physical therapists (PTs) and occupational therapists (OTs) worked quickly assessing John’s abilities. They found he had a lot of deconditioning due to his month of bed rest in the hospital. He was not able to move from his bed to the wheelchair on his own, nor was he able to accomplish activities of daily living (eating, bathing, dressing, walking, etc.). John said not knowing if his health was going to improve made him anxious and nervous. All of the Rehab staff reassured him that he would improve if he did the exercises as they instructed him to do. The staff was patient and encouraging the entire time and John’s attitude quickly changed. He stopped doubting himself and he began progressing rapidly.
John did his required exercises daily. Even though he felt like the exercises weren’t working because his muscles didn’t ache, he soon saw the improvements by being able to do things that he couldn’t the day before. He recognizes that a lot of his progress is due to the supportive environment that Rehab by Hale Makua provides. The PTs and OTs support one another, everyone contributes, and ideas are freely shared because the heart of their work is helping residents gain physical independence to be able to return home. In addition, John has amazing support to help him through his healing long after he leaves our homes. John was able to meet his goals after only three weeks of rehab services. John says, “The PTs and OTs here have a healing touch,” which will help him as he continues physical and occupational therapy at home.
April is Occupational Therapy Month! Our occupational therapists and occupational therapy assistants are vital to our residents’ well-being – both long-term and short-term. They enable people of all ages to live life to its fullest by helping them promote health, and prevent – or live better with – injury, illness or disability. Occupational therapy practitioners have a holistic perspective, in which the focus is on adapting the environment and/or task to fit the person, and the person is an integral part of the therapy team. Mahalo to our occupational therapists for creating a supportive environment in which people are able to heal.