Case Study: Glengariff Rehabilitation and Healthcare Center (July 2021)

Concierge Director: Daniel Mayer
Patient’s Age: 83 years old
Admission Date: 7/1/21
Admitted From: Glen Cove Hospital
Discharge Date: 7/16/21
Discharged To: Home
Length of Stay: 15 days
Reason for Stay: Rehabilitation
How Did the Patient Hear About Glengariff? He was a previous patient in our community.


Details of Experience:
Mr. Sevino Mercurio (“Sam”) was admitted to the Glengariff Nursing and Rehabilitation on July 1, 2021. Prior to being admitted to Glengariff, he was admitted to Glen Cove Hospital complaining of dizziness, worsening intermittent lightheadedness, and nausea.

His prior medical complexities were serious and included coronary arterial disease, hypertension, Type 2 Diabetes, and chronic kidney disease.  He also suffers from chronic back pain.  He struggled with seriously impaired balance, decreased strength and functional mobility, and reduced ability to ambulate safely.

At the hospital, they recommended subacute, short-term rehabilitation due to decreased strength and functional mobility, reduced ability to ambulate, reduced functional activity tolerance, and ADL participation.  Sam lives in a high ranch home with his wife.  He lives in a house with 5 + 5 steps with handrails within the residence and access to bedrooms without handrails.  For hygiene, he has a walk-in shower with a glass door.  He was recommended to Glengariff based on our reputation for rehabilitation and a prior stay as a patient for a knee replacement. Due to Covid-19, no tour was feasible, but instead, the patient chose our community, and arrangements were made for Sam to be transferred to Glengariff. 

When Sam arrived at Glengariff, he was highly concerned about his lack of balance, mobility, and strength.  The slightest movements would prompt shooting pain, even though he had a deep interest in his rehabilitation.  He hoped that our rehab would strengthen him, but he was concerned about his ability to manage any stairs whatsoever, and to be able to care for himself and his most basic needs once he was at home.  Sam was able to walk by himself for 20 feet and slide or roll from side to side in his bed.  He could support himself standing for longer than 1-2 minutes.  He did not know if he would ever be able to climb any stairs.  He attempted to stand but could only do so for short periods of time.  He attempted to navigate by himself in the bathroom and was not able to do so. Activities in the bathroom involved complete dependence on the staff and required two team members to assist. Sam even had difficulty maintaining his balance in a seated position and shifting his weight while in bed. Sam was at high risk for recurrent falls.

Within a week after his arrival, Sam started to make strides in certain areas of mobility.  His strength improved, and he was able to attempt transfers from bed now with minimal assistance.  He was able to climb up to three stairs.  He progressed from minimal assistance to standing from a seated position and only with contact guard assistance.  The length of his dynamic standing was still a bit confined, however.  He was able to 60 feet with contact guard assistance. This goal was recalibrated to 90 feet as a future target.  He was able to utilize a sliding board with contact guard assistance.   As the therapy continued, Sam’s goals were reset again, establishing new short-term and long-term goals for him to achieve.

With the staff coming to provide both intensive physical therapy and the Concierge team keeping Sam encouraged with ongoing visits with his wife, regular package deliveries from friends, and prepared meals, he got stronger and better able with each passing day.  They would enjoy meals together in his room and go out to the patio regularly.  Sam was on the “fast track,” making improvements in his functioning every day.  He was relieved by this clinical and emotional support, which helped him feel confident about his own strides and hopeful about his rehab.  He could focus on getting better and improving his techniques at maneuvering, sitting up in bed, toileting and bathing.  His functional mobility during ADL’s also improved from maximum assist to minimal assistance over just the first month! He could also maintain his balance in a seated position without any support (which he hadn’t been able to achieve when he first arrived). Still, there was much work to do, even while he could see the horizon of independence in the distance!

By the conclusion of the second week of his stay, Sam achieved mobility tasks with mere supervision and no actual assistance.  Rolling from side to side in bed and using handrails was also an achievement that second week.  Sam was able to push himself up from the arms of his chair with moderate assistance and sit up erect with only verbal cues.  He was making critical improvements toward his recovery.

Sam advanced in the capacity he now had for completing ADLs. He could perform lower body dressing with only verbal cues, up from maximum assistance just two weeks before.  His functional mobility during ADLs and his ability to transfer from bed went from minimal assist to mere Supervision.   When he was discharged, he was walking 150 feet and climbing the 10 steps that he would need to climb to his home.

In every single rehabilitation category, Sam had surpassed the short and long-term goals of his therapists.  He was strong.  He was assured, and he was walking with stability! Recovery from the initial weakness and instability was now a distant memory.

Throughout his stay, Sam was pleased with our staff and how they cared for him.  He described them as “a complete dream team.”  Regarding his care, he could still now recall how many times a week he would receive care from the Concierges that were able to cheer him up with just a visit and a trip down memory lane.  Savino had more matters to attend to in his future. 

He pledged that if he needed us, he would definitely be coming back to the people at Glengariff. He is now a two-time graduate of the Glengariff Nursing & Rehabilitation Team!