Case Study: Glengariff Rehabilitation and Healthcare Center (July 2020)

Patient’s Age: 87-years-old
Admission Date: 07/15/20
Admitted From: North Shore Manhasset
Discharge Date: 07/29/20
Discharged to: Home
Length of Stay: 15 days
Reason for Stay: Rehabilitation
How did this patient hear about Glengariff Rehabilitation & Nursing Center? She was told about our rehabilitation facility by her family while at the hospital.


Details of Experience:
Ms. Anamaria R. L. was admitted to the Glengariff Rehabilitation and Healthcare Center on July 15th, 2020. Prior to being admitted to Glengariff, she was admitted to the North Shore University Hospital due to the fact that she could not walk, having sustained a left fracture of her femur while walking her dog. At the subacute rehab service at the hospital, they recommended subacute, short term rehabilitation. Mrs. R. and her daughter, Ozana, were informed by the staff about Glengariff and our reputation for rehabilitation. Due to Covid-19, virtual tours were completed and the family chose our community, and arrangements were made for Anamaria to be transferred to Glengariff.

When Anamaria arrived at Glengariff, her family was concerned about her lack of balance, mobility, and strength. Her daughter knew the fracture would heal, but she was concerned about her ability to manage stairs. Anamaria was not able to walk by herself, and she did not know if she would be able to do so for more than five steps. She attempted it and was able to walk 20 feet with an assistive Rollator device.

She exhibited reduced quad strength and weak trunk and hip extensors. This created additional experiences of anxiety. Activities in the bathroom involved total dependence on the staff. Shortly after her arrival, Anamaria started to make strides, both figuratively and literally. Her strength improved, and her steps increased; from 10 steps with substantial assistance to 150 feet in less than a week! As the therapy continued, Anamaria’s goals were reset again, establishing new benchmarks for her to achieve.

With the staff coming to provide both intensive physical therapy and the Concierge team keeping Anamaria connected to her family through FaceTime calls, she got stronger and abler with each passing day. She was so relieved by this clinical and emotional support, which helped her feel calm. She could now focus on getting better and improving her techniques at maneuvering, sitting up in bed, toileting, and bathing.

She could not climb any stairs when she was admitted and was at high risk for falls. But within the mere week of her stay, Anamaria was mounting and descending 3 stairs at a clip and walking 150 feet unassisted!! There was supervision, but no actual physical help. When Anamaria was wheeled out on the day of her discharge, she rose out of her wheelchair effortlessly and strode over to her daughter’s car. As we spoke in the lobby before she left, she confessed a worry about being able to handle her new independence. We reminded her that she was just as dubious about her ability to walk and stand when she first arrived at Glengariff. But just as sure as she had made incredible strides at our community, she would go on to thrive in her new reality.

Throughout his stay, until her departure before our eyes less than 2 weeks later, Anamaria was pleased with our staff and how they took care of her. She described them as, “kind and compassionate.” In regard to her care, her daughter could still now recall the name of her physician, Dr. Stanford, who was a calming and solidifying force when she could not enter the community to see her mother. When she was on a call with her mother, she could hear the attentiveness of the staff throughout the day.

After a few weeks of participating in rigorous rehabilitation therapy, Anamaria was able to get out of bed on her own with only minimal cues of supervision and she was improving in performing the basic activities of daily living. Her progress was rapid and encouraging.

At the point of her discharge on July 29, 2020, Anamaria was able to climb three steps with only modest assistance and could travel 150 feet continuously without breaks, and could turn in place successfully over 80% of the time. “Had she come home immediately after acute rehabilitation, a fall would have been very likely,” her daughter said. Instead, when she arrived at her home, she was able to climb the stairs at the entrance because of the care and commitment of the team. Another success story of hard work and dedication created from the bond between the patient and the care team at Glengariff.

Her next objective is getting in her own car and getting back on the road! She’s already getting in and out of the driver’s seat.