LifeWorks Rehab

Experiencing a stroke can be frightening, frustrating, and discouraging. When the brain suffers damage it can make many simple daily tasks seem more complex — or even impossible. The damage caused by a stroke varies greatly. Following a stroke a patient may have varying types and severities of deficiencies impacting physical, cognitive, swallowing, and speaking abilities.

That’s why the LifeWorks Rehab process always starts with an extensive evaluation that examines all aspects of your pre- and post-stroke condition. We then develop a personalized plan that addresses your needs and goals. Our advanced inpatient rehabilitation service may offer a faster and more complete stroke recovery than home health or outpatient services.

We use physical therapy to address the basics of strength and conditioning to help you start moving safely on your own. If necessary we’ll teach you to use adaptive equipment like a cane or walker. We also use occupational therapy to help you perform the activities of daily living such as dressing, bathing, cooking, medication management, toileting, and safety in the home environment. Speech therapy will take an active role to address any issues with swallowing, speaking, or cognitive ability. We also do a home assessment to help you safely return home. This can include removing fall hazards like rugs and replacing them with non-slip surfaces and safety bars in the bathroom. We don’t consider our work complete until you reach your full potential and can perform tasks at your best level.

The LifeWorks Advantage
Hope Heals

Hope is a great motivator and a huge asset to recovery. This is the story of our patient, Tom*, and how LifeWorks creatively and therapeutically capitalized on the patient’s passion for fishing to help him achieve the most complete recovery possible and bring some joy back into his life.

Tom had a stroke and had a hard time moving and speaking when came to us. He was so miserable and kept telling us “I want to go home.” When we assess a patient’s condition, we also ask about his or her original lifestyle. Our questions include, what do you like to do in your free time? And, what brings joy to your life? During his assessment, we found out that Tom loved fly-fishing.

Tom’s therapy team decided to incorporate Tom’s love of fly-fishing into tasks that would build his functional skill set. The therapist had Tom’s wife bring in his favorite fly fishing rod. The therapists took Tom outside so he could start fly casting in the yard in his wheelchair. With therapy and hard work, he progressed to casting while using a walker, then a cane, and finally with no assistance at all.

We used Tom’s love of fly fishing to motivate him to work hard in his therapy sessions and give him hope that he would be able to fish and enjoy his life again. Tom’s case is not an unusual one; we give the same personalized care and treatment to every LifeWorks patient. That’s the LifeWorks advantage.

*Name changed to protect privacy

Legal Notice of Healthcare Practices: VA, NC