The First Visit Home: Joys and Challenges Combined

It has been a long road. It started with a catastrophic injury that may have been the following:

● Traumatic brain injury (TBI)

● Mild brain injury (MBI)

● Multiple trauma

● Neurological injury, including a stroke

● Spinal cord injury (SCI)

● Traumatic amputation

One of these injuries or a combination of these injuries demanded immediate acute care for

medical treatment and stabilization. After the acute care, innovative post-acute rehabilitation is

needed such as that available at NeuLife Rehab in Mount Dora, Florida. That is because NeuLife

Rehab consistently provides the highest standard of care in the delivery of clinically relevant

services to achieve successful, sustained outcomes that exceed the expectation of all persons

served.

When you became a Client of NeuLife Rehab in Mount Dora, Florida you underwent an

independent evaluation by a multidisciplinary team of professionals that may have consisted of

a:

● 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 evaluation, the professionals of NeuLife Rehab formulated a

Client Goal Plan, which took into account the fact that some Clients have dual diagnoses. The

Client Goal Plan guided the delivery of clinically relevant services by NeuLife Rehab and

specifically, your physical, cognitive/speech, occupational, psychiatric, neurologic,

psychological and neuropsychological therapy. The goal of NeuLife Rehab is, and always will

be, innovative post-acute rehabilitation for the attainment of independence to the fullest extent

that physical and mental abilities permit.

Whatever the scope of those abilities, there comes a time when, if even for a relatively short

period, you are ready to go home. And what better time than the Holidays? Thanksgiving,

Chanukah, Christmas, New Year’s Eve, New Year’s Day. It doesn’t matter. It is not that NeuLife

Rehab wants you to leave. It is because our innovative post-acute rehabilitation, with your hard

work, has facilitated your independence. That was the goal. Maybe you are not yet totally

independent, but you are far enough along the road to independence that you can safely

celebrate the holidays, with your family. NeuLife Rehab’s multi-disciplinary team of professionals

will gauge your readiness by objective benchmarks much like those used during your admission

to post-acute rehabilitation. A professional judgment will first be made that you are able to make

a safe visit home.

There are factors for everyone to consider, including the family and friends who will celebrate

with you. Let’s look at a few pertaining to the catastrophic injury of a stroke:

● An individual who sustained a stroke has been through a great deal. Depending upon the

magnitude of the stroke and the part of the brain affected, a multitude of cognitive and

physical changes may have occurred. Even after he or she is independent enough to go

home for the Holidays after the innovative post-acute rehabilitation at NeuLife Rehab,

our Client may be outwardly “different” than before the stroke. There may be physical,

cognitive and speech implications, among others. What’s more, in many cases, he or she,

at some level, may be aware that things are not the same. Consequently, advanced

preparation for the visit come is important for family and friends. When the visit is

cleared with the multidisciplinary team at NeuLife Rehab, a discharge plan will be

prepared, even though the discharge may be only a brief one.

● The family must fully understand the discharge plan and all elements of it. Ask questions

and take notes!

● A vital part of the discharge plan is to ensure that the family and friends are

attuned to physical safety concerns. These may involve picking up throw rugs,

removing cords, rearranging furniture to accommodate wheelchairs, or

constructing a temporary, sturdy ramp to better allow entry and exit from a home.

● Ensure that correct medications are administered timely and correctly.

● While the holiday visit is kind of a vacation for our Client, encourage him or her

to keep up with the skills, exercises and therapies learned at NeuLife Rehab.

● Help with personal care as needed.

● Be patient with speech abnormalities; listen carefully; do not dissuade the family

member from participating

● Allow time for rest.

● Give yourself a break. The holidays are stressful as it is. Recognize that by having

obtained post-acute rehabilitation at NeuLife Rehab, you have ensured the highest

standard of care in the delivery of clinically relevant services to achieve successful,

sustained outcomes and to ensure the attainment of independence to the fullest degree

that the individual’s 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