National Handwashing Awareness Week

December 6 through December 12, 2015 is National Handwashing Awareness Week. You may not have known that it existed, but we should all be glad that it does. It brings to everyone’s attention what a big health difference a simple activity can make.

It may sound reminiscent of the admonition that our mothers gave to us when we were children and called to dinner from play. But as it turns out, our  mothers were right. NeuLife Rehab also takes seriously the importance of cleanliness of all members of our multidisciplinary team that come into physical contact with individuals who become Clients of NeuLife Rehab in Mount Dora, Florida.

NeuLife Rehab is also meticulous in maintaining the cleanliness of its innovative facility and the equipment used in all aspects of the post-acute rehabilitation in which it is expert. Cleanliness, including of hands, is vital to the health and well-being of the Clients that we serve.

Maybe not as obviously, there are other needs for cleanliness that benefit NeuLife Rehab’s Clients who sustained catastrophic, traumatic or cognitive injury. For example, the injuries may require post-acute rehabilitation by occupational therapists. Occupational therapists specialize in helping Clients regain the ability to perform the activities of daily living (ADLs) that they must perform to be independent. If the catastrophic or traumatic injury resulted in cognitive dysfunction, other members of the multidisciplinary team, such as psychologists, psychiatrists, neuropsychologists and nurses may become involved in the execution of the Client Goal Plan that is designed for each Client. In that case, a critical element of that Goal Plan may be re-training the Client to understand the need for, and to effectuate the ability to, maintain physical cleanliness of himself or herself and of his or her surroundings. Handwashing is a big part of that post-acute rehabilitation. If complete independence is an attainable goal for the Client, this achievement is paramount. Even if the Client’s physical and mental abilities define independence in a different way, such as in terms of supported living, cleanliness is also vital.

The Center for Disease Control offers the following recommendations to everyone for when to wash one’s hands:

• Before, during, and after preparing food
• Before eating food
• Before and after caring for someone who is sick
• Before and after treating a cut or wound
• After using the toilet
• After changing diapers or cleaning up a child who has used the toilet
• After blowing your nose, coughing, or sneezing
• After touching an animal, animal feed, or animal waste
• After handling pet food or pet treats
• After touching garbage

It also recommends the method to be used to ensure the best hand hygiene:

• Wet your hands with clean, running water (warm or cold), turn off the tap, and apply soap.
• Lather your hands by rubbing them together with the soap. Be sure to lather the backs of your hands, between your fingers, and under your nails.
• Scrub your hands for at least 20 seconds. Need a timer? Hum the “Happy Birthday” song from beginning to end twice.
• Rinse your hands well under clean, running water.
• Dry your hands using a clean towel or air dry them.

When an individual becomes a Client of NeuLife Rehab in Mount Dora, Florida, he or she undergoes an independent functional evaluation administered by a multidisciplinary team of professionals that may consist of:

• Board Certified Neurologist
• Board Certified Behavior Analyst
• Board Certified Physiatrist
• Neuropsychologist
• Psychologist
• Board Certified Psychiatrist
• Speech Language Pathologist/Cognitive Therapist
• Physical Therapist
• Occupational Therapist
• Nurses
• Certified Rehab Counselor

From the results of the independent functional evaluation, the professionals of NeuLife Rehab formulate a Client Goal Plan. The Client Goal Plan guides the clinically relevant services delivered by NeuLife Rehab. The Client Goal Plan guides the cognitive, psychiatric, neurologic, psychological and neuropsychological therapy of the Client. The goal of NeuLife Rehab’s innovative post-acute rehabilitation is the attainment for our Clients of independence to the fullest extent that his or her physical and mental abilities permit.

NeuLife Rehab in Mount Dora, Florida consistently provides the highest standard of care in the delivery of clinically relevant services to achieve successful, sustained outcomes and exceed the expectations of all persons served.

Proper and timely post-acute rehabilitation that may determine the difference between disability and independence is what NeuLife refers to as the “platinum post-acute period” —  the crucial window following acute care that is needed to nurture the whole person to health with specialized, clinically relevant services.

NeuLife, in Mount Dora, Florida, is an accessible residential post-acute program providing specialized rehabilitation to individuals diagnosed with Traumatic Brain Injury
(TBI), Spinal Cord Injury (SCI), Amputations, Burns and other Catastrophic Injuries and Challenging Diagnoses.

2725 Robie Avenue

Mount Dora, Florida 32757