Great care after a frightening fall
A scary fall last summer sent Susan Condon to the hospital and then on for a short-term stay at JML Care Center in Falmouth.
“All it took was one second for the fall to happen because I wasn’t paying attention,” said Condon, 82, of Falmouth. “I was feeding the cat, dropped a little cat food on the floor, called the cat over, and as I was watching the cat, I fell.”
She went to the Falmouth Hospital Emergency Department, where she had multiple X-rays and a CT scan. She was diagnosed with a tiny pelvic fracture, but her main complaint was the bruising, swelling and pain she suffered in her right leg that prevented her from walking.
Following a two-night stay at the hospital, she was referred for rehab.
“I wanted to go to JML for rehab because I had heard so many great things about it,” Condon said. “I was very lucky they had an available room. I needed a lot of care because I was very compromised, especially the first week.”
The facility recently earned the designation of a Best Nursing Home by U.S. News and World Report for 2022-23 in their annual review of skilled nursing facilities. Out of 15,000 nursing homes evaluated nationwide, JML is among the elite 16 percent of skilled nursing facilities that received a “High Performing” rating for short-term rehabilitation.
PT/OT Guidance
Condon was confined to a wheelchair due to her inability to walk but slowly regained her strength with the help of Cherry Valencia, physical therapist, and Jess Hanf-Ellis OTR/L, occupational therapist.
“I did exercises in bed and sitting in the chair at first,” said Condon. “Then I learned how to walk with a walker with Cherry.”
Hanf-Ellis taught her how to navigate getting in and out of a shower, and how to use a shower chair in her tub. She also taught Condon how to take care of herself, in general, while dealing with an injury. “They were both awesome!” said Condon.
She especially liked her room, which was bright and comfortable. “I was in the new wing. When they made my bed in the morning, it almost felt like I was in a hotel,” she said. “I was by myself, and I had plenty of room for two to three visitors to sit. And my husband could easily visit me since we don’t live far from JML.”
Most Impressed By the Staff
Condon was most impressed with the care she received from the staff. “I was freaked out when I fell,” she said. “It is an awful experience to be crippled like that suddenly. I required a lot of care day and night. But the staff was very kind and always prompt to answer my call. Everyone was very generous, very thoughtful day and night.”
Condon is back to her usual routine, goes to the gym to exercise, and is enjoying her grandchildren.
“For an awful experience like a fall, the staff at JML took really good care of me and that helped a lot with my transition to home,” she said.
