Rehabilitation therapy gets the cook back in her kitchen [video]

Watch the video above to see how our therapists got Nancy Eckert back doing what she loves. 

Nancy Eckert knows the way to her husband, Ed’s, heart is through his stomach. She loves cooking for the two of them.

But after multiple falls due to a decline in her strength and balance, the kitchen became a dangerous place for Nancy to be. 

Good Samaritan Society – Northwood Retirement Community is showing Nancy that the safest way back to her kitchen is through their post-acute rehabilitation program.

Nancy’s first fall required a hospital stay, but once she was well enough, she was brought to Northwood to begin rehabilitation. 

“We had gotten her medically stable and physically able to return home,” physical therapist Kira Patton says.

 “She's come back as an outpatient to continue her rehabilitation and also to improve her independence at home and in the community.”

“I brought myself back here two times for outpatient,” Nancy says. “I knew I had to have some more (therapy). I'm going to be able to do anything or go anywhere.”

Therapists at Northwood are helping Nancy to get stronger with an individualized exercise program and to improve her balance and coordination through physical and occupational therapy. 

“We've done a lot with Nancy coming in to cook,” occupational therapist Sara Beier says. “She always cooks for her husband, Ed. When she does go home, she'll stay at home longer and safer.”

A kitchen is just one of the many homelike features of Northwood’s rehabilitation unit. 

Therapists work with clients like Nancy to simulate real-world obstacles. 

“She has large dogs in her house,” Sara says of Nancy. “So we worked on moving around objects and obstacles that she will have at home.”

“I would recommend the Good Samaritan Society to anybody,” Nancy says. “I know how well they take care of you.”

Nancy’s recovery has gone so well that on the days she doesn’t feel like cooking, she and Ed can go out.

 “She's out in the community,” Kira says. “They go shopping and out to eat. They’re just living life, doing what they want to do.”