Your body needs to move for you to move forward...
Moving forward with therapy is a must. That was one of our deciding factors when we chose to move from a northern climate to Arizona. In six years, we have never missed a therapy appointment because of weather. We may get a monsoon in Arizona but if you wait 15 minutes it will be gone. No boots or jackets makes my job easier.
When we arrived in Fountain Hills, they suggested Curly should go to skilled nursing as the
therapy would be daily, we both reluctantly said yes. He spent over 2 months there and 3 months before in Minnesota doing extensive therapy. Now after the 5 months he would be coming home. Yeah!!!!
The next pictures are not to humiliate Curly but to show you where therapy can lead you. The first one was December 23, 2014. Our daughter had flown in and Jackie and I took him to a doctors appointment and stopped to celebrate his birthday on the way back to Fountain Village where he was in skilled nursing for acute therapy. The second one is 6 years later on our 50th wedding anniversary.
God is so good!
One point to remember, after you are released from extensive therapy your insurance will probably cover additional 2 times a week therapy at a therapy facility….if you are progressing. It is so important to use this service. I see the strength these therapists have along with the equipment that is not able to be brought into the average home. They are truly amazing.
One of the therapists at the skilled nursing facility asked if we would mind driving a further distance. I said no that would be fine if you think Curly could benefit from the facility. It has been almost six years of going to Brain and Nuero in Mesa (70 miles round trip, two times a week) for Occupational and Physical Therapy. They are marvelous. Find the place that fits your niche.
At Brain and Nuero Duane, Dakota, John and the crew are taller and able to handle Curly’s 6’5”, 230 lb frame. They truly are like family.
Duane has made several trips to meet with the trainer we hired for Curly’s aquatic therapy. The disabled person needs extensive therapy. As long as you progress Medicare will continue to cover the expense. Everyone's supplemental is different so check to see if you need to pay a copay.
Curly’s aquatic therapist is Ron….he can handle Curly. Ron is a trainer at Anytime Fitness in Fountain Hills. Curly and Ron are about the same size. I had seen an advertisement for aquatic training in your home from Ron and called him, he has been with us for several years. A quote from Ron, "if you don't challenge the body....it won't change."
Before him we had a pool therapist from Spooner therapy and a college young man that would help get Curly in the water. Ron and Duane worked out a plan for both aquatic and physical therapy, so they are working together.
Curly has attended speech therapy through Honor Health in Scottsdale and did a great job. We at one time hired a music speech therapy student that came to our home to get his voice stronger. He also was a patient enrolled in a study at the Arizona State University therapy department for a student monitored group. Check out your local university for all types of therapy assistance.
His latest endeavor with speech is Tremble Cleft. It is an organization that works mainly with Parkinsons patients through zoom and they sing together. Curly does not have Parkinsons but when I visited with the instructor she welcomed him into the group. Keep searching there is so much available, but you need to ask.
As the caregiver, occasionally, I need a little physical therapy myself. I arrange it during the time Curly has therapy and even hear a few funny stories on what they have figured out Curly likes for the equipment and what he tries to avoid.
When you are going someplace for a couple of weeks, try and arrange some therapy. Never stop your therapy. You will loose your muscle fast and it may take a longer time to regain it. Courage Kenney in Stillwater has a pool area that they will do a few weeks of therapy with Curly so he can retain his strength when we are in Minnesota. Unfortunately, that is a private pay option.
You two are always amazing to us. I had NO idea how much was involved.
This is awesome.