Sometimes you need a little more time to heal. Don Snyder is back home after spending seven weeks in our post-acute rehabilitation program – also known as a swing bed program.
Don recovered at Star Valley Health after breaking his arm in a fall and undergoing surgery at the University of Utah. He has also used the assistance of a wheelchair for two years. “When I first got to Star Valley Health, there wasn’t much I could do by myself,” says Don. “The team helped unerringly.”
Post-acute rehabilitation is designed for patients in need of additional care after their hospital discharge and before returning home. Don received extensive support during his stay from our nurses, hospitalists, and orthopedic team. “A lot of it focused on transfers from the bed or the chair into my wheelchair,” explains Don. “They worked with me to make sure I could do that safely.”
It’s not easy being out of one’s daily rhythms. Don highlights the little gestures that made a big difference, courtesy of our dietary team. “They would come in cheerful and smiling, asking if there was anything they could do,” says Don. “I’m a real ketchup user, and they would often bring me extra ketchup packets. And then when I got ready to leave for home, they gave me a whole bottle of ketchup!”
Our team also worked to ensure that Don’s home environment was supportive towards his recovery. Our
occupational therapy team conducted a home assessment and provided recommendations on helpful safety features. “I would not have been prepared to come home beforehand, and when I did come home, I was ready.”
And Don is enjoying every second back home, moving about with more confidence and catching up on quality time with his wife, Linda. He reflects on his time in post-acute care: “Everyone was just so kind. They were all so focused on helping. It was amazing to me.”