"Rehab after stroke"

Recently, my neighbour suffered a stroke. He couldn’t stand or sit. At 6.00am an ambulance transported him to the Emergency Department at Bunbury Regional Hospital. His wife and daughter arrived at the hospital at lunchtime to find that he had already been given a bed in the medical ward. During the next two days my neighbour was kept informed about the need for an MRI of the brain as well as X-rays and CT scans.

By a few days later, my neighbour was in the Sub Acute Rehab Unit and involved in discussions about their recovery. Basically, it was gym in the mornings and bed exercises back in the ward. My neighbour told me that the physiotherapists were enthusiastic and really encouraged him. I recall one said to him, you will walk out of here.

My neighbour’s instructions were to call the nursing staff to help him get to the bathroom which was a bit of a problem if he really needed to get there quickly. Gradually, after a few days, my neighbour could shower himself.

By the following fortnight my neighbour’s wife was amazed when the physiotherapist showed her how well he could walk. A few days later he managed to walk down to the gym with the physiotherapist by his side.

A few days later my neighbour left hospital with a guard of honour of 25-30 nurses and physiotherapists applauding him and his recovery. My neighbour told me that he was encouraged to get well by the supportive, attentive staff. He said, “Everything I was asked to do I did it to the best I could.” He is now home and walking around the village.

All the staff, with one exception, were helpful, attentive, and encouraging. My neighbour particularly wanted to mention Olivia and Amanda, both physiotherapists, nurse Jared, and Sarah who arranged for handrails to be fitted in their home. My neighbour now receives follow up physiotherapy at home as well as follow up calls from the stroke unit.

A couple of negatives: my neighbour was not able to understand the overseas doctors when several were present at the same time, especially because they were wearing masks and there was a lot of other background noise. This was frustrating but one on one discussions with the doctors were fine. Another issue was being in a ward with a distressed patient who would shout and scream until the early hours of the morning. This memory led to an amusing anecdote.

My neighbour told me about learning to use a 1 handled wheelchair (he only has one arm). He would ride around the ward and around the hospital, especially when his ward mate was being noisy. One time my neighbour took off around the hospital, intrigued by all the corridors. Then he realised he was quite lost. A good Samaritan came to his rescue and led him back to the ward.

Overall,  my neighbour’s experience in hospital was positive. The care and skill of the doctors, nurses and physiotherapists, as well as their encouragement led to a fast recovery from stroke.