Life Care Center Of Cleveland Gives Resident With Dementia Quality Of Life

  • Wednesday, August 17, 2016
  • Bethany Timmons, Life Care Centers of America

Paul Disney found a new home when he came to Life Care Center of Cleveland, on June 3, 2016.

 

While he was living at an assisted living facility, Disney’s Lewy body disease progressed. Lewy body disease is one of the most common types of non-Alzheimer’s dementia.

It is the result of Lewy bodies that build up in areas of the brain that cause loss of function and degeneration of the brain. The effect is a decline in cognitive abilities.

 

Disney had several falls and increasingly got more ill. He was in and out of the hospital several times within two months. When Disney was moved to Life Care Center of Cleveland in June, he was in a lot of pain, couldn’t walk or function on his own and needed maximum assistance.

 

For weeks the nursing and rehabilitation team worked to help Disney find a routine, to help him get his strength back while dealing with his dementia.

 

Disney was very fearful, because of his dementia, and didn’t understand what was happening. After several long weeks, he managed to grasp the routine and make many improvements suddenly in one day. The rehab team and nurses were ecstatic. The therapists referred to it as his “golden moment” and brought in many of the nurses to see how well he was doing in his routine.

 

“It’s those moments that make you feel good,” said Tara Coe, occupational therapist. “It reminds you that you are making a difference.”

 

The rehab therapists shared how Disney has a routine sheet that associates follow to help him understand and process what they are asking him to do. The routine starts with calling him by his name, asking him to help them and using short phrases. Then they follow with further instruction. The routine sheet has helped the staff understand how to help him practice automatic functions and follow directions.

 

“You have to keep trying,” shared Kelly Newbould, physical therapist assistant. “You can’t just give up, because if you give up on them, they will just get worse.”

 

Because it takes him more time to process things, he did a lot of progressive, routine exercises along with functional training, gait training and activities of daily living. The rehab therapists worked together with Disney five days a week to help him create a routine and relearn how to care for himself in things like bathing, getting dressed and even eating ice cream. Ice cream became a welcome reward for Disney – it helped him to have a day-to-day goal.

 

On July 20, Disney finished rehab, though he remains a resident at Life Care Center of Cleveland. He is able to walk at least 200 feet at a time and now has the ability to do automatic routines. He still needs assistance, but his family and care team agree that he is getting back to his old self.

 

“It was hard for us,” shared David Disney. Just to see him progress was a blessing, because it was like he saw the quality of life. Our family really appreciates the effort of the nurses and rehab team. It meant a lot to us.”

 

For more information about Life Care Center of Cleveland, call (423) 476-3254.

 

Life Care Center of Cleveland, located at 3530 Keith St., NW, is one of 26 skilled nursing and rehab facilities in Tennessee operated or managed by Life Care Centers of America.

 

Founded in 1976, Life Care is a nationwide health care company. With headquarters in Cleveland, Tennessee, Life Care operates or manages more than 200 nursing, post-acute and Alzheimer’s centers in 28 states. For more information about Life Care, visit lcca.com.

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