NeuLife’s Kitchen and Laundry Training Enhances the Recovery and Independence of Clients who have Sustained Catastrophic Injuries

Before sustaining one of the many types of catastrophic injuries for which NeuLife provides specialized post-acute rehabilitation, toiling in a kitchen or in a laundry room was probably viewed as drudgery.

But, just as your life, or the life of a loved one, has changed in many other ways since the catastrophic injury, the way that you view what may have been mundane activities may also have changed. Indeed, washing your own clothes, cooking for yourself and handling other activities of daily living are no longer drudgery, but instead, a monumental step toward independence. The early stages of it may be daunting. It may start as elements of NeuLife’s innovative Client Goal Plan and, thereafter, advance to life in a supported living environment or as an element of residential services. But regardless of where in the process all of it starts, ultimately, it can lead to a NeuLife client’s freeflight as part of the achievement of successful sustained outcomes.

Admittedly, the NeuLife client has to traverse a long road of hard work to reach this stage of post-acute rehabilitation. But it is a travelable road when the end is kept keenly in sight: independence consistent with the nature and extent of the injury. With NeuLife’s help. And NeuLife will help, by doing whatever it takes. We recognize that it will not be easy, but NeuLife will train you and arm you with what you need to succeed and to be as independent as you can be.

Here’s a generic example of what you will need to learn, or to re-learn, about doing laundry at home or in another residential environment:

• Open the washer. If you cannot do it safely due to using an adaptive device, such as crutches, get help so that you do not become unbalanced;
• Separate white clothes from colored clothes;
• Put either pile into the washer (not both together);
• Add detergent;
• Select desired settings;
• Start the washer;
• When the wash and spin cycles are completed, remove the clothes from the washer; check the labels to see if anything must hang to dry to avoid shrinkage (if so, hang them to dry). If not, make sure that some of the clothes do not have to be dried at different temperatures;
• Start the dryer;
• When the dryer stops, if the clothes are dry, remove them. Again, if you cannot do it safely yourself, get help; and
• Fold the clothes and put them away (alone or with help).

And here’s a generic example of how to make a peanut butter and jelly sandwich:

• Wash your hands;
• Get a plate;
• Get 2 slices of bread;
• Get peanut butter;
• Get jelly;
• Get knife or spoon;
• Open peanut butter jar;
• Open jelly;
• Insert knife or spoon in peanut butter;
• Spread peanut butter on 1 slice of bread;
• Insert knife or spoon in jelly;
• Spread jelly on other slice of bread;
• Put the slices together; and
• Clean up.

Please, do not be embarrassed about having to re-learn to wash clothes or to make a sandwich. Because of your injury, your life may be different now. Not less. Just different. NeuLife provides care to give you a new life and to maximize your well being, whatever it takes. We help you to achieve the best possible outcome for even the most difficult and challenging diagnoses.

The professionals at NeuLife, including its team of psychologists, psychiatrists neurologists, RNs and therapists are expert in the provision of innovative, clinically relevant services, including the development of a Client Goal Plan, and delivery of neurobehavioral and neurorehabilitative services. NeuLife’s goal is to provide post-acute rehabilitation to its clients to achieve the best possible outcome.

NeuLife’s philosophy is that healing, wellness and personal fulfillment are best accomplished in a positive and uplifting therapeutic environment where caring staff encourage, assist and support each client so he or she may achieve specific goals. NeuLife believes personal fulfillment is equally as important as goals to increase function and independence. NeuLife seeks to achieve maximized, sustained outcomes that exceed the expectations of all persons served.

NeuLife, in Mount Dora, Florida, is a fully accessible residential post-acute program providing specialized rehabilitation to individuals diagnosed with traumatic brain injury (TBI), spinal cord injury (SCI), traumatic amputations and other catastrophic injuries.

2725 Robie Avenue

Mount Dora, Florida 32757