Resident walking again after entering long-term care
Wednesday October 10, 2007 -- Deron Hamel
Ted Dillon suffered a fall in February, injuring his left hip and leaving him unable to walk and relying on a wheelchair for mobility.

By June, however, Dillon was able to get around with a walker, thanks to the help he received after entering long-term care.

Dillon moved into Muskoka Landing in Huntsville in March, one month after his fall. Once he arrived at the long-term care home, arrangements were made for him to start receiving physiotherapy two to three times per week.

When his treatment began, Dillon was allowed to use a partial weight bear, with one staff member assisting while he used a walker. His progress went smoothly from there and in May, Dillon attended a videoconference with his physician, who gave him the green light for additional weight bearing.

During this time, staff members spent time educating Dillon on safe transfers and performing exercises for balance and strengthening.

What Dillon says has helped with is recovery is the fact he sticks to his program and does his exercises each day. Much of his time is spent working on the parallel bars.

He credits his physiotherapists for their guidance.

“They kept me moving (and) that’s really the secret to the whole program,” Dillon tells The Morning Report. “It’s just keeping the old limbs moving.”

Self-determination and having a strong will have also been key elements to Dillon’s recovery, he notes.

“I’m stubborn,” he says with a laugh.

But being “stubborn” paid off for Dillon, says Pamm Griffin, activity co-ordinator at Muskoka Landing.

“By the end of June 2007 he was walking independently (with a walker),” she says. “He continues with strengthening exercises two to three times per week to help with his balance and maintaining his current abilities.”

Dillon is confident he can take his mobility level up one more notch. His next goal, he says, is to be walking by himself without any help. He says he hasn’t yet set a timeline to be walking on his own, choosing to leave this decision with his therapist.

Griffin says she is impressed with Dillon’s recovery.

“He has made great progress in a good amount of time and we’re very proud of him,” she says.