Rehabilitative team transforms seniors’ lives

When Kevin Konieczka was in grade school, his grandmother suffered a stroke. Her prognosis was extremely poor, and his family was told she would have to be institutionalized. Instead, she came to live with them.

“My grandmother was a very determined woman,” Konieczka said, “and I got to witness firsthand how — through physical and occupational therapy — she improved far beyond what we were told she could.”

The results were so successful, she eventually got her own apartment and lived independently for many years.

“That’s why I became a physical therapist,” said Konieczka, rehabilitation supervisor for Community Care’s adult day centers in Milwaukee and Waukesha and at the brand new Belle City Adult Day and Health Center serving the Racine/Kenosha area.

Konieczka and his team of physical and occupational therapists work with members of PACE, the Program of All-Inclusive Care for the Elderly, a Medicare- and Medicaid-funded program that provides comprehensive medical services for eligible seniors with disabilities.

Accessing Community Care’s rehab services

Some people may know Community Care’s adult day centers as a popular gathering place for meals and recreation — but each center also houses a fully staffed, on-site medical clinic with physicians, physical and occupational therapists, and more.

If a member has joint pain or balance issues or difficulty with the activities of daily living, such as getting out of bed, dressing or preparing meals, a doctor can refer them to the rehab department for therapy.

When necessary, transportation to and from the center is available at no cost. The rehab team can also make in-home visits.

Preventing falls

Falls are the leading cause of injury and injury-related death among adults 65 and older.

“We deal with falls on a daily basis,” said Konieczka. “There are many things we can do to prevent them, from exercises that help maintain balance to providing canes, walkers, wheelchairs and other durable medical equipment, or DME, to those who need them.”

Team members might also visit a member’s home.

“We look at how their home is organized, make recommendations and even move furniture ourselves to make their homes safer when it comes to falls,” he said.

Many falls occur in the bathroom, which can be made safer with higher toilets, grab bars and shower seats. These are also considered durable medical equipment and can be furnished at no additional charge.

Remarkable results

Konieczka’s team is known for achieving impressive results. One of the most recent involved a 90-year-old nun who had moved into an assisted care community. She was wheelchair-bound, unable to walk or even get out of bed on her own and needed a great deal of caregiver assistance.

“In June, we started seeing her in her home four times a week,” Konieczka said. “We hit the ground running, and by August her level of autonomy and independence had increased enormously.”

With the aid of a walker, she can now walk to the dining room by herself and can even get up in the middle of the night to go to the bathroom without any help. All this was accomplished with exercise and behavior modification.

“When you’re talking about older or sedentary individuals, being active three or four times a week for a half hour or 45 minutes can make a big change,” he explained. “Giving that guidance and encouragement to increase their activity and adopt a healthier lifestyle can really make a difference.”

The advantages of rehab at Community Care

Konieczka, who once worked at a for-profit rehab company, knows the advantages Community Care can offer its members.

Most types of insurance limit the number of visits a patient can have, but PACE doesn’t. Their role as both insurer and direct care provider allow the Community Care team to fully provide members with the treatment they need.

This can make a profound difference when it comes to results.

“At Community Care, we can build relationships with our members, and help them stay safe in their own home, instead of a residential facility or nursing home,” he said.

For more information on Community Care or the PACE program, visit communitycareinc.org.