Life Care of Greeneville helps Guillain-Barré patient regain independence

Life Care Center of Greeneville, Tennessee, was recently privileged to help Joan Carpenter regain her independence and return home.

Joan has Guillain-Barré syndrome, a disorder in which the immune system attacks the nerves. She was at a level of needing total assistance for all her mobility and much of her activities of daily living (such as dressing and bathing) when she arrived at the skilled nursing and rehab center on Sept. 8. She was also experiencing some confusion.

Physical, occupational and speech therapists worked with Joan to help her regain her strength, mobility and independence. Physical and occupational therapies focused on increasing her strength and balance through using exercise equipment such as the NuStep and OmniCycle^® machines. They also trained her in how to take care of her ADLs using adaptive equipment and a walker for walking. Speech therapy helped her to think more clearly.

“Joan did an amazing job with her therapy,” said Dawn Stills, occupational therapist. “She remained determined and positive throughout her treatments with the attitude that she was going to be independent and return home.”

Joan did reach her goals and returned home on Oct. 25. She is now able to walk with a walker and is independent in her bed mobility and sitting balance and most of her ADLs.

“She is better than she was before her hospitalization,” said her family.