Case Study: Glengariff Rehabilitation and Healthcare Center (March 2021)

Short Term Rehabilitation Following a Fall & Oncology Care

Concierge Director: Daniel Mayer
Patients Age: 71 years old
Admission Date: 2/23/21
Admitted From: Urgent Care Center Glen Cove Hospital
Discharge Date: 3/13/21
Discharged To: Home
Length of Stay: 21 days
Reason for stay: rehabilitation
How did this patient hear about Glengariff Rehabilitation & Nursing Center? He was told about our rehabilitation facility by his physician at the hospital.


Details of Experience:
Mr. Policastro was admitted to the Glengariff Nursing and Rehabilitation on February 23rd, 2021. Before being admitted to Glengariff, he was admitted to the Glen Cove Hospital because he had sustained a fall on stairs and required an operative procedure. They recommended subacute, short-term rehabilitation at the subacute rehab service at the hospital. Mr. Policastro and his wife and daughter, with whom he lives, were informed by the staff about Glengariff and our reputation for rehabilitation, where he transferred.

When Mr. Policastro arrived at Glengariff, his family was concerned about his lack of balance, mobility, and strength. His wife knew she was his caregiver, but she was worried about his ability to manage stairs. It was a flight of stairs that caused his fall and the surgery in the first place. Mr. Policastro could not walk by himself, and he did not know if he would be able to do so for more than five steps. Further complicating Mr. Policastro’s health picture was the malignant prostate condition concurrent with his orthopedic care. This created an additional need for medical management. This involved coordination to see his doctors. Shortly after he arrived in Glengariff, Mr. Policastro started to make strides, both figuratively and literally. His strength improved, and his steps increased, from five steps with substantial assistance to 15 feet in less than a week! As the therapy continued, Mr. Policastro’s goals were reset again, establishing new benchmarks for him to achieve.

With the staff coming to provide intensive physical therapy and the Concierge team keeping Mr. Policastro connected to his physicians for prostate care, Mr. Policastro got stronger and more able with each passing day. He was so relieved by this clinical and emotional support, which helped Francis feel calm. He could now focus on getting better and improving his techniques at maneuvering, sitting up in bed, toileting and bathing. After a few weeks of participating in rigorous rehabilitation therapy, Mr. Policastro could get out of bed independently with only minimal supervision cues and was improving in performing the basic activities of daily living. His progress was rapid and encouraging.

He could not climb stairs when he was admitted and was at high risk for falls. But within nearly two weeks of his stay, he was walking 75 feet unassisted! When Mr. Policastro was wheeled out on his day of discharge, he rose out of his wheelchair effortlessly and strode over to his family’s car (which was sitting 8 feet away) to greet his loved ones. He was able to mount and descend ten stairs at a time. This fact alone put his family much more at ease.

Throughout his stay, until his departure less than a month later, Mr. Policastro was pleased with our staff and how they took care of him. From multiple departments, Francis could still recall those who had worked with him to advance through his progress toward rehabilitation.

Francis was particularly appreciative of how his care for his prostate cancer was coordinated amidst his therapy for his leg. He had been in an immobilizer for deep knee restriction. However, the team still found a way to get him a room assignment that was particularly conducive for his height, a bed that served his needs for comfort (at over 6’4″, this was challenging), and transportation modifications to allow for his continuing care.

At the point of his discharge on March 13th, 2021, Mr. Policastro could climb ten steps with only modest assistance and could travel 300 feet continuously without breaks, and could turn in place successfully over 80% of the time. His sit-to-stand ability was marked at 50% with moderate assistance when he arrived. But when he went home, he was able to do so with supervision but alone 100% of the time! “Had he come home immediately after acute rehabilitation, a fall would have been a very likely thing,” said his wife. Instead, when he arrived at his home, he would be able to climb three times the size of the stairs at the entrance to his home because of the care and commitment of the team.

Another success story of hard work and dedication was created from the bond between patient and care team at Glengariff.