A personal experience of the adult care center

FRANK BURBANK
Posted 5/24/17

The following is my experience as a resident of the rehabilitation unit of the Sullivan County Adult Care Center, 256 Sunset Lake Rd.  in Liberty, NY. On February 23, I was to undergo a …

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A personal experience of the adult care center

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The following is my experience as a resident of the rehabilitation unit of the Sullivan County Adult Care Center, 256 Sunset Lake Rd.  in Liberty, NY.

On February 23, I was to undergo a pacemaker change at University Medical Center in Hackensack, NJ. During the procedure a lead broke and tore a hole in my heart muscle, necessitating emergency open-heart surgery to repair the damage. I was discharged February 27 and immediately went to the Adult Care Center, arriving around 6 p.m.

I was taken to my room, a large, light-filled space at the end of the corridor and across from the nurses’ station. I was placed in my bed and vital information was elicited. Dinner was served, and then out for the night. On Tuesday morning the work began in earnest, with nurse consultations going over medicines and the start of physical and occupational therapy. The therapy sessions were quite demanding, as I had just come from lying on my back for six days.

Occupational therapy involved coordinating motor control of hands, arms and fingers. Exercises involved placing pegs in patterns and working with clothespins, and the highlight of the sessions was brushing “Bugsy Siegel,” one of two therapy rabbits, whose purpose was to strengthen hand control and relax residents. The second rabbit, Blaze, centered on the relaxation made by entertaining residents with his endless antics chasing his beach ball.

Physical therapy concentrated on leg muscle activities and exercises on a stationary bicycle, leg lifts, stair climbing and walking. As my time at the center passed, it was clear I was improving, and staff members closely monitored my activities and care.

My conclusion after nearly three weeks in the rehab section and the whole center is—fantastic! The excellence of the rehab department and the center goes back to two things: staff and pride. The staff is knowledgeable, attentive and caring. These attributes were evident on all staff levels from administration to nursing, to therapies, to assistance, to housekeeping and all other departments.

It is that pride and dedication that results in such high standards for the entire facility, standards that should be emulated by similar facilities both public and private. The pride and dedication of all in this facility should be recognized by all, including county government and the public at large.

I have always been a supporter of the center, although perhaps not as vocal as I should have been. I can give nothing but the highest praise to all involved in making the Sullivan County Adult Care Center a stellar example of professionalism, pride, dedication and excellence!

[Frank Burbank is a resident of Livingston Manor, NY.]

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