REHABILITATION SERVICES

The Rehabilitation Department is comprised of one full-time and one part-time Occupational Therapist, one part-time Physiotherapist and two full-time Rehabilitation Assistants. Together, the Rehabilitation Team provides service to our Extended Care, Intermediate Care and Special Care Residents in Louis Brier Home and Hospital and to our Multi-Level Care Residents in the Weinberg Residence.

Links:
• What is Occupational Therapy?
• What is Physiotherapy?
• What is the Role of the Rehabilitation Assistant?
• What is the Philosophy of Rehabilitation Services?
• What is the Role of Rehabilitation Services in Extended Care?
• What is the Role of Rehabilitation Services in Intermediate Care?
• What is the Role of Rehabilitation Services in the Weinberg Residence?
• What is the Role of Rehabilitation Services in Assisted Living?
• What is the Role of Rehabilitation Services and Musculo-Skeletal Injury Prevention?

• Volunteer Opportunities in Rehabilitation Services

• Rehabilitation Services Student Practicums

Occupational Therapists: Karen Cherrington, M.Sc., 604-261-9376 ext.4324

Rehabilitation Assistants: Lena Gorbunova, (Louis Brier) 604-261-9376 ext. 4324. Lindsay Sinanan (Weinberg Residence) 604-261-9622 ext 3352

• What is Occupational Therapy?
Occupational Therapy assists individuals to live and function as fully and independently as possible. Occupational Therapists consider “occupation” to be daily tasks and activities which occupy life, whether looking after oneself, enjoying free time or contributing to social or economic communities. Occupational Therapists complete a thorough assessment of the individual encompassing the physical, psychosocial, community and environmental factors that influence function and well being. The treatment plan provides solutions to problems to minimize disability, maintain self worth and promote environmental safety and optimal, independent function. In Long Term Care, Occupational Therapists may be involved in wheelchair assessment and management and activities/tasks that involve reminiscence and reinforcing of personhood.

• What is Physiotherapy or Physical Therapy?
Physiotherapy involves the assessment, diagnosis and treatment of disease and disability through physical means. Following subjective and objective assessment, the therapist determines the problems and develops a treatment plan. In Long Term Care, the treatment plan may involve therapeutic mobilization and positioning, individual or group maintenance exercises, use of modalities as in heat or cold and pain management, provision or advice regarding mobility aides or assistive devices, and education regarding adaptation to functional change.

• What is the role of the Rehabilitation Assistants?
Rehabilitation Assistants are trained to assist and work under the direction of Physiotherapists, Occupational Therapists, and Speech Language Pathologists. They are integral to the Rehabilitation Team, contributing to the development and provision of individual and group programs. They also maintain and organize rehabilitation equipment and inventory.

• What is the philosophy of Rehabilitation Services within the Snider Campus?
The Rehabilitation Team strives to assist residents to pursue optimal physical and cognitive/emotional function within physiological and anatomical impairments and resource limitations. The co-existence of multiple medical problems and physical disabilities requires a shift from the common perception of Rehabilitation in more traditional settings which “pushes individuals beyond their outer bounds”. In Long Term Care, the focus of treatment is supportive rather than restorative, as we assist the resident to adapt to his or her disabilities. Realistic and achievable goal-setting is encouraged with the resident and family. Ultimately, our goal is to enhance the quality of life of our residents by fostering a sense of purpose and well being.

• What is the role of Rehabilitation Services in Extended Care?
In the two weeks following admission to Extended Care, the resident will be assessed by the Physiotherapist and Occupational Therapist. This time period allows the individual to adjust to the move and new surroundings and the therapists to determine the resident’s ability to function throughout the day and in different settings.

The resident’s seating and mobility needs will be determined and a wheelchair will be provided dependent upon need and available equipment at the time of admission. A monthly wheelchair maintenance fee of $10.00 is charged for the use of a facility owned wheelchair. Should the resident and family wish to purchase his or her own wheelchair, the therapist will assist with a trial process working with a vendor and insurance companies if appropriate.

In consultation with Dietary Services, Recreation and Nursing Care, the resident’s dining and eating abilities will be assessed and an appropriate setting for meal provision assigned.

If the resident is willing and actively able to participate in an exercise program he or she may participate in individual or group exercise programs. The therapists work with the interdisciplinary care team to prevent skin breakdown through the use of positioning devices and pressure relieving surfaces. They also work with the team to reduce the risk of falls and injury through fall prevention strategies and environmental modification. There are also intellectual/sensory groups which aim to stimulate cognitive function and memory.

The therapists will help family members find meaningful ways to spend time with their family member as well as instruct range of movement or therapeutic handling techniques, if desired.

• What is the role of Rehabilitation Services in Intermediate Care?

Louis Brier Home and Hospital is committed to early intervention and maintenance of optimal function and therefore provides in-house rehabilitation to residents of Intermediate Care on a limited basis.

Following admission to Intermediate Care, residents are screened by the Occupational Therapist and Physiotherapist and rehabilitation needs are determined. A basic wheelchair may be provided, for which a monthly wheelchair maintenance fee of $10.00 is charged for use longer than 2 weeks. Fall prevention strategies and environmental safety are implemented to reduce the risk of falls and injury where appropriate. Mobility aides such as walkers may be provided or purchase recommended. Two afternoons a week the Rehabilitation Room in Extended Care is open to residents wishing to participate in an individual or group maintenance exercise program. Twice monthly, the Rehabilitation Assistant leads a cognitive/social group for our many Russian and Ukrainian speaking residents.

Rehabilitation Services provides two programs to residents of the Special Care Unit. Rehabilitation staff and Music Therapy collaborate to provide “Music and Movement” and the Occupational Therapists and Rehabilitation Assistants provide cognitive/sensory, theme oriented programming, both on a weekly basis.

Following a change in status or hospitalization for acute illness, fracture or neurological event, one-to-one rehabilitation will be provided on a short-term basis, to promote return to previous functional status. When appropriate and following referral, Home Care Rehabilitation may be involved.

• What is the role of Rehabilitation Services in the Weinberg Residence?
Rehabilitation Services is provided to the residents of the Multi-level Care Unit by a part-time Occupational Therapist and full-time Rehabilitation Assistant. The Physiotherapist from Louis Brier Home and Hospital provides weekly consultation. When appropriate and following referral, the Home Care Physiotherapist may provide short-term one-to-one rehabilitation.

The Occupational Therapist assesses all residents of the multi-level care unit following admission and together with the Physiotherapist and Rehabilitation Assistant devises a treatment plan.

The Occupational Therapist provides wheelchair seating with equipment available or assists the residents and family with purchase of his or her own equipment. A monthly wheelchair fee of $10.00 is charged for the use of facility owned seating equipment. Eating and dining ability are assessed and assistance provided as required. In collaboration with the team, fall prevention strategies and environmental modification are provided to reduce the incidence of falls and injury.

The Rehabilitation Assistant provides daily maintenance exercise programs on an individual and group basis. A variety of cognitive, sensory and ADL-oriented programs are provided by the Occupational Therapist and Rehabilitation Assistant to provide meaningful activity and enhance quality of life for these residents.

• What is the role of Rehabilitation Services in Assisted Living?
The Occupational Therapist assesses each resident’s level of safety in their apartment upon admission. Following a hospitalization or a change in functional status, ongoing Physiotherapy or Occupational Therapy may be required. Rehabilitation Services will provide contact information for private therapists, make a referral to the community Occupational Therapist and/or Physiotherapist or recommend attending a physiotherapy outpatient clinic.

A Strength Training/Conditioning program is offered one afternoon per week under the direction of the Rehabilitation Assistant. Each participant’s exercise program varies according to his or her individual needs.

• What is the Role of Rehabilitation Services and Musculo-Skeletal Injury Prevention?
The Rehabilitation Team has a large role in the prevention of Musculo-Skeletal Injury Prevention (MSIP) amongst our nursing care and support staff. Education regarding Body Mechanics, Lifts and Transfers, Wheelchair seating and Positioning is provided to all employees, paid companions, and nursing students on practicum.

• Rehabilitation Services Student Practicums
We provide first and second year practical placements for Rehabilitation Assistant students from the Rehabilitation Assistant Program at Capilano College. We also provide opportunities for high school students seeking Career Preparation experience.

• Volunteer opportunities within Rehabilitation Services
We depend on the assistance of volunteers whose presence enriches all our programs. We, in turn, provide experience and mentoring for student volunteers seeking admission to Rehabilitation Science and/or health care programs and related careers.

The assistance of volunteers is required for specific programs to enhance the spectrum and effectiveness of program aims and goals. We run three strength training groups supervised by the Physiotherapist which vary in difficulty and intensity. We require volunteers to assist with portering residents back and forth to the Rehabilitation Room as well as assisting with the provision of exercises and equipment. We also require assistance with our cognitive programs with Extended Care residents and residents with dementia. These programs are supervised by our Occupational Therapists and involve working with residents in one-to-one or small group sessions aimed at preserving and enhancing mental ability and personhood. Each program occurs once or twice a week and is approximately one to one and half hours long. To be effective, volunteers need to commit for an established session for several weeks time. If this sounds like a fit for you, please contact our Volunteer Coordinator at extension 289.