SERVICES

PHYSICAL THERAPY

Each resident is paired with a Physical and Occupational Therapist who will treat them primarily and oversee their rehab during their stay here at Highland.  We have therapists trained in ALL of the following areas:

• Improving walking abilities- specifically analyzing each phase of the gait pattern and then addressing the impairment that is causing the gait impairment, with either strengthening exercises, improving ROM at specific joints, training in coordination of movement patterns, or improving balance.
• Lite gait- weight assisted treadmill. Used for patients who may have weight restrictions on their legs or those who are very unstable so they can get the benefits for walking in a safe environment (especially beneficial to Neurologic injury- stroke, brain injury, Parkinson’s).
• Stair Training
• Improving balance and decreasing fall risk
• Post amputation care with wounds, range of motion and gait training
• Improving general strength, endurance, flexibility/range of motion
• Training with assistive devices including walkers, canes, wheel chair mobility, power chair mobility
• Lymph edema management
• Help with pain management using a variety of modalities, including:
  • Heat Therapy
  • Cold Therapy
  • Electrical stimulation
  • Ultrasound
  • Short-wave diathermy
  • Massage therapy
• Assist in recovery from decreased mobility
• Providing guidance and professional input on safe living environments following discharge from the facility

OCCUPATIONAL THERAPY

Occupational therapy focuses on the everyday activities of people such as feeding themselves, getting dressed, using the restroom, grooming, and bating skills in addition to any other functional skill you can think of.

After an injury or illness, people may not be as independent as they previously were and may need some retraining in these basic skills.

We look at each individual’s range of motion, strength, vision, fine motor skills, coordination, cognition, balance, safety, and prior level of function to establish our goals.

We use purposeful activities to enhance function.  Our goals are to help each individual become as independent as possible.

Our residents come to us in a variety of functioning levels.  Some need help to sit upright on the edge of their bed for balance; others may need to improve their standing tolerance by doing meal preparation in the kitchen.  Some may need to work on money management for grocery shopping. Still others may need to learn how to use adaptive equipment to gain more independence.  We meet each individual at their current level and try to improve upon that.

Our therapists have seasoned experience with patients with many diagnoses, and treat difficult obstacles like stroke and orthopedic problems often.

NURSING

At Highland Care Center, 24 hour skilled nursing is provided by our highly trained Registered Nurses (RN’s) and Licensed Practical Nurses (LPN’s) whose focus is specifically rehabilitation.  The nurses, alongside the Certified Nursing Assistants (CNA’s), understand the individual needs of each resident, and have a common goal of returning the patient back to their prior level of independence.

All nurses are specialty trained to provide wound care, and under the direction of a wound care specialist physician, are able to heal even the most difficult of wounds in a minimal amount of time.

Teaching is another huge part of the nurse’s daily routine.  By working with the resident and their family, we help them to learn about the different aspects of their loved one’s care, such as medication management or diabetic teaching so that they may be cared for in the less structured environment of the home and be successful upon discharge.  Our low patient to nurse ratio allows the nursing staff more time with each of the residents giving them all the individualized care catered to their specific needs.

All staff at Highland is trained to look at the whole picture of each resident so we may provide the best care, both emotional and physical, so the patient may heal more quickly.  We also hope to give the patient the motivation to reach a higher level of functionality than they had even prior to hospitalization.

Our nurses are also well qualified to care for those in the end of life in a very dignified and respectful manner, which puts both the patient as well as their family members at ease.  We offer counseling and explanations to the family so they can be more prepared to help their loved one and each other in their time of need.