Two residents improve mobility in less than a year
Wednesday November 7, 2007 -- Deron Hamel
Since coming to Pleasant Meadow Manor, Cecil Crough and Valerie Grimes have made progress with their mobility, thanks to the physiotherapy they’ve received at the Norwood long-term care home.

After suffering a stroke in 2001 which affected his left side, Crough came to Pleasant Meadow in June 2006, completely reliant on a wheelchair.

Shortly after moving into the home, he began physiotherapy sessions. At first, Crough needed the help of two people when exercising on the home’s parallel bars. Thanks to his rigorous efforts, Crough’s endurance has increased from being able to lift himself from his wheelchair four times when he began to 24 times a year later.

Crough has progressed so well, in fact, that he has become the No. 1 candidate to lead an exercise group for stroke victims, which is being planned for the near future.

“He’s a great (example) for any person in a nursing home or in the community that has had a stroke,” says Kathy Herron, a restorative care aide at Pleasant Meadow.

“I am so proud of him. He’s kind, he’s pleasant and he is encouraging to every other resident in here.”

Crough credits the progress he has made to the support he has received from the staff.

“It’s all good,” he says of the encouragement from staff members. “My goal right now is to walk.”

Like Crough, Grimes came to Pleasant Meadow after a stroke left her with mobility problems. She came to the home about a year ago and was unable to get around without a wheelchair.

While she still relies on her wheelchair, Grimes has gone from using a mechanical life to using assisted lifts to do her exercises on the parallel bars. She is also able to get around with the help of a walker. Her progress has happened in the span of about four months.

“If she keeps going the way she’s going, I’m pretty sure she will probably be less and less in a wheelchair,” says physiotherapy assistant Barb Ross.

Grimes says self-determination has played a big part in her recovery, and adds that her goal is to be able to walk again.

“I’ve done remarkably well,” she says