National Jewish Medical and Research Center Rehabilitation Center One of the Best in the Country for Respiratory Disorders
Seniors with respiratory disorders such as chronic obstructive pulmonary disease, bronchiectasis, interstitial lung disease and asthma can, and often do, realize a better quality of life through the Posner Rehabilitation Center program at National Jewish.
“When patients arrive, many have already established a pattern of inactivity because they experience shortness of breath with activity,” says Jane Whalen-Price, director of Rehabilitation. “Their lifestyle has become sedentary, and they believe they can’t do any of the things they could prior to the onset of the disease. But inactivity actually worsens the condition, and it makes the patient increasingly dependent on others.”
Rehabilitation at National Jewish focuses on three primary areas discussed in its Patient Educational Classes. Here, patients learn about the benefits of exercise, energy and stress management. The program incorporates physical, occupational and speech therapies. A dietician assists with dietary solutions, and psychiatric counseling is also available.
The center treats 20-25 patients from across the country daily, most on an outpatient basis; seventy-five percent are 60 years old and older. Out of town patients are evaluated and trained in a program to be followed at home with their doctor’s guidance. One quarter of the patients are local “regulars” and come in two to three times a week.
Treatment and rehabilitation of patients have remained consistent and effective at National Jewish, since its inception in 1908, where emphasis continues to focus on the whole person, not just the disease. “There aren’t many facilities like National Jewish that have a cardio-pulmonary program that works on strengthening postural muscles and trunk stability as well as endurance and stretching,” says Phyllis Dibborn, a physical therapist.
Rehab’s fitness center is a full exercise facility, complete with monitored exertion scales for patients to screen their levels of strength and endurance. The home lab and kitchen are models where patients can learn how to address safety issues, adjust conditions in their home environment, pace themselves and perform tasks with confidence.
Cathy Winner, an occupational therapist in rehab says, “Many feel they are too old. As they gradually start gaining strength through the rehabilitation process, though, they realize they can meet our goal for them be as independent as possible within their daily routine.”
Patients are evaluated by National Jewish speech therapists to determine if they are aspirating food into the lungs when they eat. “Strengthening, head posturing and dietary modifications can help patients prevent food aspiration, which can cause pneumonia,” says Jean Howe, a speech therapist and Rehabilitation Coordinator. “Different theraputical strategies for safe swallowing can then be used to help individuals strengthen their larynx and vocal cords.”
Jay Barton, age 64, began therapy in the rehab program at National Jewish 2 ½ years ago as part of the National Emphysema Treatment Trail program (NETT). Even though Jay walked three miles a day before going into the program, he wasn’t getting the proper stretching and strengthening he needed. Now he works out in the fitness center five days a week and can tell the difference. He feels better. “It keeps me alive,” he says. “The program is great, and the people here are all really great.”
