Case Study: Gallatin Center for Rehabilitation and Healing (January 2020)

Patient’s Age: 93-years-old
Admission Date: 01/03/2020
Admitted From: Sumner Regional Hospital
Discharged To: Home
Length of Stay: 20 days
Reason for Stay: Bronchitis.
How did this patient hear about Gallatin Center? She has had a previous stay before.


Details of Experience:
We’ve heard people say that “The older I get the more beautiful life becomes.” – Frank Lloyd Wright. Sometimes we just have to sit back and enjoy the simple things in life. Earlene has shown us here at the Gallatin Center for Rehabilitation and Healing how to just slow down and enjoy the simple things. Prior to being admitted to Sumner Regional Hospital, Earlene was enjoying her quiet time seated in her chair watching the traffic pass by out of her window. She had been feeling a little under the weather with a cold for a day or two but didn’t realize how sick she really was. Earlene was demonstrating increased confusion and hallucinations. She was admitted to the hospital and was diagnosed with bronchitis. Therapy services in acute care began to increase strength and balance so she would be ready for the therapy services from a skilled nursing facility. A four-day hospital stay followed and she then transitioned to the Gallatin Center for Rehabilitation and Healing on January 3, 2020.

Earlene was greeted at Gallatin Center by some very familiar faces due to the fact that she has had a previous stay at the facility before. After Earlene got settled in, the Dietician, Social Service Coordinator, nursing, therapy and the Director of Concierge Services all went to make sure her preferences were noted and all her needs were met during this time. Upon admission, Earlene required moderate assistance with most of her functional tasks. She does have family support in her home but wants to remain independent in all aspects of her life as long as she can. She worked hard with the therapists during her rehab sessions to help her get stronger to bring her closer to going back home and enjoying her seat by her window. Earlene’s motivation never stopped. She stated “I get good therapy here. The therapy services are great. I go down every morning and get worked out. I used the machine to work my feet and hands too!” and feels that she “gets good here” and therapy services are “great”!

Earlene participated in weeks of OT/PT services and soon after she began to see a difference in her strength and endurance. Her treatment sessions focused on upper and lower body strengthening and also balance to increase independence with walking and other self-care tasks. Our Director of Concierge Services visited Earlene close to her discharge date. Earlene stated “everyone has been really nice to me. There is one particular tech that has been really really nice to me. Anything I ask her for, she does.” Earlene continued to make progress all the way up until her discharge date. Earlene shared “I’m ready to go back home with my granddaughter and get back to looking out my window at the traffic passing by and watching the small children in the neighborhood playing outside. That’s my favorite part”! At discharge, Earlene had increased supervision and modified independently with her self-care tasks and was ready to get back to her home in Portland.

Team Gallatin would like to say CONGRATULATIONS Earlene on her effort and dedication to regain her strength and independence back and we hope she comes back to visit!