Home for the Holidays Thanks to United Helpers

CANTON – A stay at United Helpers Rehabilitation and Senior Care helped two local women regain the strength they needed to return home for the holidays and the start of the new year.

Elizabeth Ayer, of Massena Center spent 20 days at the facility for her short-term rehabilitation stay which followed surgery on a foot and ankle, which had previously been broken and repaired in 1975.

“It just got worn out,” Mrs. Ayer said, the hardware in foot and ankle was replaced during the procedure. 

Elizabeth Ayer

When Mrs. Ayer arrived at the facility she was in a wheel chair and unable to walk on her own. Now she is using a walker and looking forward to her cast coming off this month.

“My daughter said I’ll be in a walking boot, but it’s another step forward,” she said.

Mrs. Ayer said she’s appreciative of the support and help she received during her stay in Canton.

“If I ever have to go to physical therapy again, this is where I will be coming,” she said. “The staff were all so very positive and here to help, right from the cleaning ladies all the way to the top.”

Patricia Goolden, of Hannawa Falls came to United Helpers following a hospital stay for pneumonia. She also has congestive heart failure.

When it came time for her to be discharged from the hospital, Mrs. Goolden said her children were not comfortable with her going home alone.

“I couldn’t walk and my kids wouldn’t let me go home alone,” she said, noting when she arrived she could only ride the exercise bike for 5 minutes before becoming exhausted and having to stop.

Patricia Goolden with Physical Therapist Trent Worden

“I’m up to 15 minutes now.” “I’ve toned up my body quite a bit. I’ve even gotten to the point where I can walk without my walker. I’m supposed to use it, but sometimes I try to sneak around without it.” she said.

Mrs. Goolden said she owes United Helpers Director of Therapy Trent Worden a big thank you.

“Therapy was hard at first. He would come in and ask if I was ready, and I would say, ‘no,’ but by the end I was looking forward to it.  My stamina is better than it has been in years.”

If you feel like you could benefit from a short-term rehabilitation stay at United Helpers Rehabilitation and Senior Care in Canton, please reach out to Admissions Coordinator Tanya Trotter at (315) 590-2040 or via email at tltrotter@unitedhelpers.org.

You may also visit www.unitedhelpers.org to learn more about this and the other services we offer.