Shoulder
surgery followed by a
stroke December 2016 were huge setbacks for Leland Hove. After spending a week in the
hospital, Leland decided it would be too difficult to go straight home, not feeling
fully recovered.
So instead, he spent 10 days at
The Legacy Living and Rehabilitation Center in
Short Term Rehabilitation resting, recuperating and working with the physical and occupational therapists
on staff to get stronger.
“It was a great choice,” Leland said. “Everyone was interested
in helping me get better.”
Because of the area in his brain where the stroke occurred, Leland struggled
with balance. So, a majority of his time at The Legacy was spent working
on regaining balance. In addition, since he was still recovering from
his shoulder surgery, Leland focused on strength training to help avoid
reinjury of his shoulder.
“I had to be really careful with my shoulders,” Leland said.
“I needed to strengthen muscles. They were there to help me with
different kinds of needs.”
His daily therapy was coupled with plenty of time for rest and to enjoy
the amenities of The Legacy facility as well. Being in a beautiful setting
working with people who were encouraging helped keep Leland motivated
to get back up to speed.
“It’s a beautiful place,” Leland said. “Everybody
was in pleasant moods. I like the place. I like the people.”
Greeting residents and patients with a smile on her face is an important
aspect of occupational therapist Christie Boer’s job. Being upbeat
and encouraging helps keep patients motivated and from becoming depressed
about the situation that’s brought them to The Legacy.
“I try to be positive and help them maintain a positive outlook,”
Christie said. “It’s a lot of educating on ways to cope.”
Patients typically come to Short Term Rehab after experiencing a catastrophic
event like a stroke, car accident, extended illness or extensive surgery
and just need a little extra work in order to return home and be self-sufficient.
The Legacy therapy team works closely with individuals to help them get
stronger and be safer as they prepare to go home. They work on some targeted
exercises to help patients gain strength but they also work on smaller
details that will help them function better and safely when they go home.
“Their goal is to return home as quickly, safely and independently
as possible,” Christie said. “The Legacy is a really great
facility with so many opportunities for people.”
Some of those opportunities include working out in the state-of-the-art
gym. Specialized equipment like a gait trainer with an overhead harness
enables patients to walk and move with the added security of the harness
that prevents them from falling.
The Legacy’s occupational suite is equipped with a replica of a home
to help patients practice their day-to-day tasks like washing dishes,
switching laundry and cooking. The mock apartment helps them practice
for independent living again.
“It’s really very helpful to work on retaining of functional
tasks in order for people to go home,” Christie said.
And before patients get the all clear to return home, therapists visit
the patient's home to check on safety. They often identify tripping
hazards or areas where safety handrails could be installed.
“We take the residents to their house to see how they do functionally
in their home,” Christie said.
Before his stay at The Legacy was complete, a therapist went to Leland’s
house. The staff identified some rugs that could be tripping hazards and
areas where handrails could add additional support and help prevent potential falls.
Now that he’s home and back to work as owner of Chemical Consultation,
Inc., Leland is still working to get stronger, using the exercises recommended
by the therapists at The Legacy.
“I get a little bit better every day,” Leland said.
Learn more about the services offered at Short Term Rehabilitation in The
Legacy at
www.cchwyo.org/str.