Patients Age: 84
Admission Date: 01/13/2017
Admitted From: Coney Island Hospital
Discharge Date: 02/16/2017
Discharged To: Home
Length of Stay: 34 Days
Reason for Stay: Toe Amputation
How did this patient hear about The Chateau? Social Worker at Hospital
Details of Experience:
Ms. Alminda Abreau arrived to The Chateau at Brooklyn Rehabilitation and Nursing Center on January 13, 2017, after a toe amputation at Coney Island Hospital, a few short blocks from our community. While recovering from surgery, Ms. Abreu was told that she would need rehabilitation to further her healing and support her independence in walking again. She was later referred to our community by the social worker department at the Hospital.
When Alminda arrived to The Chateau she was warmly welcomed by our staff; however, she expressed slight concern that her primary language was Spanish and was worried how she would be able to communicate with the team. Within a few short moments, the staff was able to reach out to its Spanish-speaking team members who could support and reassure her. The team shared with Alminda that any questions she may have over the course of her stay at The Chateau could be directed toward them and they would serve as a resource to her.
Upon admission to our community, Alminda was unable to walk and required moderate assistance with her activities of daily living, such as dressing herself and accomplishing chores that she would need to do once returning home. After a few, short days of therapy at her bedside, Alminda was ready to come upstairs to our gym, and start pushing herself further to get back on her feet independently. Once she arrived upstairs she commented, “I feel alive again, I feel like there is hope that I will be able to walk on my own again without being stuck in a wheelchair, which is what made me nervous”. After a month of working alongside the rehabilitation team, Alminda was able to walk and perform all her necessary activities of daily living independently!
Prior to her discharge date, Ms. Abreu sat down with a member of the team and expressed her gratitude to the staff in its entirety. She was quoted saying, “ When I came here from the hospital I was very weak and down on myself. Everyone in the community from the nurses and aids, to the rehabilitation and recreation departments went out of their way to make sure I was taken care of and happy. The food was good and helped me get the nutrition I needed to get stronger and healthier. I am both happy and sad to be going home- happy because I will get to spend more time with my children, but a little sad because I will miss my friends at The Chateau”.
Subsequent to her discharge Ms. Abreu plans to spend time in New York with her children and grandchildren, after which she plans on returning to her home in Santo Domingo. It is our hope and wishes here at The Chateau that Alminda continues to get stronger and healthier, while continuing to enjoy her time with friends and beautiful family!!