Editorial
Long-term care changes lives for the better
Wednesday October 24, 2007
It’s a remarkable thing any time a person regains mobility after being unable to walk.

When a person loses their ability to walk, it can be devastating to not only their self-confidence, but to their overall well-being.
One of the many things OMNI can take pride in is their success with restorative care. We have many stories of residents who came to our homes unable to walk, but thanks to the care they’ve received, they’re once again mobile.

Not only is Charlie Burkholder walking again, the 67-year-old Forest Hill resident has made so much progress since coming to the Kanata long-term care home he’s now looking at moving out on his own.

Burkholder, who crushed his spine in a sports injury many years ago, came to Forest Hill in July 2006, unable to walk. He recalls his neurologist telling him he would never walk again.

“I didn’t come in here partially immobile; I was absolutely immobile,” he remembers.
With OMNI’s help, Burkholder proved his neurologist wrong. Today he’s walking with little, if any, assistance.

Linda Mitchell moved into Riverview Manor about 18 months ago, unable to stand after a fall broke her hip. Staff at the Peterborough long-term care home immediately got her started on a physiotherapy program.

Through a lot of hard work and support from her family and Riverview’s staff, Mitchell graduated to using a walker part time. She has her sights set on taking her recovery up another level.

“I think the time to use a walker (full time) is coming up soon,” she says.

Only nine months ago, Paul Mucha was in a wheelchair, unable to even move the toes on his left foot after suffering an aneurysm in his leg.

Like Burkholder and Mitchell, Mucha, a resident at Frost Manor in Lindsay, received unwavering support from OMNI staff members and stuck to his prescribed physiotherapy treatment.

Mucha applauds the Frost Manor’s staff members for all their help.

“When you ask for help, not only one comes, two or three (staff members) come,” he says.

With the help of the physiotherapy they received at their home, coupled with the care and encouragement they received from staff members, these individuals have seen drastic improvements since coming to an OMNI long-term care home.

Not only do these people exemplify what can be done with hard work and a strong will, their improved well-being underscores what can be accomplished with caring and compassion.