Doctor Knows Best

Trent Worden, DPT, Dr. Robert Hentschel and Jeannie McNally, Director of Social Services. 

After medication changes and aortic valve surgery left him weakened and unable to walk, Dr. Robert Hentschel, retired Ogdensburg physician, was determined to convalesce and regain his strength at home.

His plan failed.

After a few falls, frustration and no improvement, it was clear that more help was needed.

“I fought passionately to avoid a rehabilitation stay,” Dr. Hentschel recalled smiling. “I was exhausted, my wife was exhausted. Finally, my physician, my friends and family convinced me that I couldn’t fend for myself any longer.”

Dr. Hentschel chose RiverLedge Health Care & Rehabilitation Center in Ogdensburg.

“I was at RiverLedge for less than an hour and my whole attitude about the place changed,” Dr. Hentschel chuckled. “People were really accommodating, friendly, and upbeat. My room was great. There wasn’t any more apprehension.”

With the help of the rehabilitation teams at RiverLedge, Dr. Hentschel was able to set realistic goals for himself.  It wasn’t long before everyone started citing improvement.

“Dr. Hentschel worked very hard to recover. His tremendous effort and positive attitude were imperative to his success,” Trent Worden, DPT said.  "We simply guided him along the way with precise exercises aimed at improving on his weaknesses and improving his ability to stand up and walk on his own."

Dr. Hentschel attended therapy sessions, socialized and ate meals with new friends and grew stronger. “While a rehabilitative stay involves a concentration on therapy services, there is really much more to it,” said Jeannie McNally, Director of Social Services. “We focus on the total well-being of a person, looking toward achieving the best quality of life for each person we work with. Proper nutrition, medication management, socialization, they are all part of that package. Sometimes, just knowing that someone else is fighting to accomplish the same goals you are can be pretty motivational.”   

Toward the end of his stay, a home visit was scheduled to ensure that Dr. Hentschel’s transition to home would be a smooth one.

“The home visit is an important step. Sometimes people do better in their own environment than ours because they are used to moving around in their own space. We look at things that we cannot simulate in the therapy gym, such as walking in and out of small bathrooms when you cannot use a walker,” Worden added. “During the home visit we provide small recommendations that people may not think of that can reduce fall risk and lead to a successful discharge home.” Things like removing throw rugs, placing assistive devices in strategic places to aid in safe mobility, are addressed. Often times, rehab services continue after a patient returns home in an outpatient setting or with home health care services.

Dr. Hentschel was discharged from RiverLedge after a few weeks. “I couldn’t have gotten this far on my own,” he said. “Having a team taking care of you and look at your situation individually really makes a difference. My impression? This place is wonderful. I was worried about what it was going to be like to be a resident and now I’m a little sad, knowing how much I will miss everyone.”

Sub acute, short-term rehabilitation is available at United Helpers’ RiverLedge (Ogdensburg) and Maplewood (Canton) Health Care & Rehabilitation Centers. To learn more about services offered by United Helpers, please visit www.unitedhelpers.org online or call Nicholas J. Maneely, Corporate Services Liaison at (315) 323-9223.