A local retirement home has just launched a program geared to help stroke and cardiac victims recover before being sent home.
The Maples opened its Holistic Recovery Care program June 1, designed to let seniors recover at their own pace from heart attack and stroke.
Cathy Stacey Jones, national sales and marketing director for My Life Retirement, which runs The Maples, said there is no intent to push people through the program and out the door. Individuals can proceed at their own pace.
“We can offer them a full recovery program, plus they can get physio right in our building,” she said. “We’re offering the hope, the support, for seniors. We’re trying to get them to their goals in Chatham.”
In many cases, recovery from such ailments takes place in hospitals in London or Windsor for C-K residents.
Jones said the program allows patients to have options when they’re checked out from hospital rather than going straight back to their homes.
“We work to bring them back up to close to their baseline,” she said. “It’s a stop-gap. Quite often, they can go back home, but they can’t until they’re a little stronger.”
And if the patient does not recover to the point of being able to return to their home, Jones said, “The goal is to bring them as far back as we can and offer them a safe and supportive place to live.”
The focus is recovery. To what extend and how quickly is unique to each patient.
“Cardiac rehab can be incredibly slow. Stroke recovery can go a little faster,” Jones said. “We want to facilitate the most positive outcomes.”
And if that takes a little longer, so be it. She said most respite stays at retirement facilities are between 30 and 60 days. But with stroke and cardiac recovery often taking longer, the Holistic Recovery Care program does not have a designated end date for a patient.
“We don’t put a deadline on it. We’re looking at producing the most positive outcomes at their timeline,” Jones said. “We want a safe and supportive way to reach your goals without putting yourself at risk and so your family is not becoming caregivers.”
Speaking of family, Jones added The Maples works with family members as well, keeping them updated on progress.
“We treat the entire family, not just the person. This helps everybody recover from what they’ve been through,” she said.
The cardiac rehabilitation element is designed for those recovering from heart surgery, heart failure, or other cardiac events who may not be ready for traditional rehab pace.
Stroke rehabilitation at The Maples is a customized recovery program that helps individuals regain strength, movement and independence after a stroke. The focus is on rebuilding everyday skills.
