Life Care Center of Columbia helps Knoxie Goad eat and get around again

Knoxie Goad is eating and walking around her home again thanks to the care and therapy she recently received at Life Care Center of Columbia, Tennessee.

Knoxie had suffered acute hypoxemia (low levels of oxygen in the blood) as well as respiratory failure and pneumonia. She had to have surgery in the hospital and had a feeding tube placed. She was unable to take any nutrition by mouth when she arrived at Life Care Center of Columbia on April 9, 2021. She needed moderate assistance with bed mobility, transfers (such as from a bed to a chair) and dressing, and she had some cognitive deficits as well. She could only walk 5 feet.

All three therapy disciplines worked with Knoxie toward her goal of getting home at the best level of independence possible. Physical therapy addressed her mobility and lower-body strength, while occupational therapy focused on her daily self-care tasks and fine motor skills. They used therapeutic exercise equipment and helped her practice each skill she would need at home.

Speech therapy assisted Knoxie with her cognition and swallowing. The VitalStim^® modality helped in retraining her swallowing muscles.

“Therapy helped me walk and eat so I can go home,” said Knoxie. “Everyone here is really nice and wanted to help me.”

Knoxie returned home on June 2, able to walk up to 175 feet with a rolling walker and someone standing by. She is independent in her mobility and transfers and is thinking more clearly. She is off the feeding tube and able to drink normal liquids and eat mechanical soft foods, such as cooked vegetables, canned fruit, oatmeal, softened bread products and ground or thinly shaved meats.

“I am thrilled that Mrs. Goad was able to return home with her family,” said Joan Werkau, director of rehab services. “She will continue her lifelong passion of helping with the Columbia Mule Day Celebration.”