The Sunday News
Lee-Anne Hall
WHEN many people hear the word ‘‘Rehab’’ they immediately think of the place people go when they have a drug abuse problem to get help to quit.
In health, we have a rehabilitation team that works with a patient after they have suffered a condition or accident that has caused them to be dependant on other people for activities of daily living.
Scenario: A 70-year-old male pensioner suffered a stroke seven days ago. He was rushed to hospital where he was managed by a team of Neurologists. This patient lives with diabetes, high blood pressure and high cholesterol levels. Currently the patient presents with hemiparesis on the left side of the body. In other words he struggles to move or use the left side of the body. Unfortunately, he cannot wash or dress himself. He is being moved around in a wheelchair and he cannot independently get in and out of the wheelchair. Again the patient has slurred speech and struggles to swallow.
Lastly, he stays with his 65-year-old wife and also suffers from arthritis of the legs and would struggle to take care of him once he is discharged.
After discharge this patient will have to go through intensive rehabilitation to assist him back to as much independence as possible.
Who is part of the rehab team?
And what do they do:
1 Physiotherapy: this a specialised service that is aimed at assessment, diagnosis and treatment of physical conditions requiring rehabilitation.
They focus on:
– Respiratory: Chest problems
– Surgical: Post Amputation
– Post burns
– Post surgery
– Gun shot wounds
– Neurological: Cerebral palsy
– Stroke
– Spinal cord injury
– Head injury global delay
– Orthopaedic: sport injuries, joint or mucle pain
– Fractures, dislocations, post reduction
– Joint replacements
– Arthritis
2. Occupational therapist:
They help people to continue doing those things that are important and meaningful to them, as independently as possible, despite any limitations or disabilities.
OT’s work with people with disabilities, physical and intellectual/ psychiatric.
For example re-educating the patients to start washing themselves again.
3 Speech Therapy:
They help people with communication problems. These can either be speech or language problems.
Who needs speech therapy?
— People who have communication problems after: a stroke or brain injury
— Multiple sclerosis, Parkinson’s disease
4 Audiology:
Audiology is the health care profession that is concerned with prevention and identification of hearing loss. The profession of Audiology is also involved in the management and rehabilitation of children and adults with hearing difficulties.
5 Social Work:
The function of the social worker is counselling, empowering and advocating for people with disabilities.
Social work aims at:
– Improving quality of life to all people with disabilities, their families and community
– Equal rights and the same opportunity for people with disabilities
– Helping people to participate fully in family and community life
– Skills training
– Facilitate integration with and acceptance by the community for people with disabilities
6 Dietician:
Dieticians work with many patients with different dietary requirements. Some people’s diets need to be adjusted to either a weight loss or weightgain program. Some patients have conditions for example diabetes and high levels of cholesterol.
Solution to our scenario:
Our patient as you can see will need attention from all the members of the rehab team. Physiotherapy and Occupational therapy will assist with mobility exercises teaching the patient to strengthen the muscles of the left side. Again, wheelchair transfers will be taught and educated to the patient.
Dietician will be needed to help this patient adjust his diet programme since he has both diabetes and high levels of cholesterol. Again since the patient is struggling to swallow the dietician might start him on a soft diet.
He will definitely get speech therapy to help him to start communicating and talking again. Again the speech therapist will help with swallowing to avoid choking.
Most doctors know where to find the rehab team. Ask them if you need any and they will refer you.
If you would like to know more please email me at [email protected], visit my blog www.healthpromotionbyleeanne.wordpress.com or read articles posted by the World Health Organisation.
‘‘Take care of your busy body, you owe that to your family.’’
Lee-Anne Hall
BSc Physiotherapy
