Hello and welcome to UHN Toronto Rehab Lyndhurst Spinal Cord Injury Rehabilitation Centre
My name is Brian I had a spinal cord injury 26 years ago as a result of a diving accident
This video will show you what a typical day might look like for you in rehab. We will introduce you to
various therapy areas and the patient care unit and show you people taking part in their therapy
At Lyndhurst you will be an active member of your rehabilitation team as you
work towards transitioning back to the community.You will have access to therapy services 5
days a week. You will work every day with all members of your health care team to improve
your skills and confidence in managing your condition. When you arrive at Lyndhurst you
will be taken to your room on one of three similar units. There are different areas of
your health which may be impacted by your spinal cord injury, we call these areas “Domains of
spinal cord injury rehab”. There are up to 25 domains you will have the opportunity to work on depending
on YOUR specific needs and function. There are many healthcare professionals who will
be part of your care team working with you on these different domains. At Lyndhurst,
rehab is all about teamwork with you as the leader of the team. We all work together with
you and your family to identify priorities and needs to help you become as independent
as possible and return to your life in the community. Once you’ve settled in at Lyndhurst,
a typical day of rehab begins as soon as you wake up in the morning. Your rehab nurse is
a great educator. They will teach you many things as you participate in your morning
and personal care.This includes bowel and bladder care, bathing, dressing and eating
breakfast. Participating in these activities allows you to practice, increase your skills
and become as independent as possible. In addition to active therapy you may see other
team members depending on the type and level of your spinal cord injury. A Respiratory
Therapist, may assess your lungs and breathing muscles and provide you with treatments to
strengthen your muscles and minimize complications, chest infections or pneumonia. Neck surgery
or spinal cord surgery can impact your breathing, swallowing and voice. At Lyndhurst you might
work with a speech and language pathologist to help you learn how to eat and drink safely
and improve your voice and speech. A Physiatrist and family physician work together to diagnose,
treat and help you manage the medical issues caused by your SCI. A Pharmacist will meet
with you to review the medications you are taking when you arrive. They will monitor
your medications throughout your stay. The pharmacist, together with the nurse will help
you become familiar with your medications to increase your independence. A physiotherapist
and sometimes a physiotherapy assistant will help you to work on your goals for improving
your independence, physical function and mobility. You will work with your Occupational Therapist
to learn a variety of self-care skills and how to perform everyday activities like meal
preparation, dressing and bathing. Together your OT and PT will help you learn new skills
and get the right devises for your needs such as a walker, manual or power wheelchair. Therapy
may take place in the main therapy areas but also outside the hospital as well.You will
work with your recreation therapist to assist you with returning to an independent, active,
healthy lifestyle. This may include trying new leisure activities and adaptive equipment,
leisure education and community integration. You may also meet with a Psychologist who
can assess your cognition and emotions that might impact your recovery. Talking about
how you and your family are coping with the changes in your life might be helpful after
spinal cord injury. Your social worker and community support worker provides practical
assistance to you and your family coping with the effects of SCI and integration into the
community. They assist with future planning and provide information and referrals to resources
in the community. You may also have other appointments within the hospital including
urology, skin and wound clinic and assistive technology services. A Spiritual Care Provider
who assists in exploring your beliefs, values and emotions as a result of spinal cord injury
is available. A research patient liaison will meet with
you in your first few days at Lyndhurst. They will let you know about the various research
projects you can take part in if you are interested. Lunch is at noon in the dining room
Once you get comfortable using your mobility device, all patients are encouraged to eat their meals
in the dining room. Family and friends can join you here. In the afternoon you may attend
therapy sessions with other members of your health care team. You are also encouraged
to participate in group patient education sessions. These group sessions help connect
what you are learning in rehab to living in the community. We encourage all patients to
attend all of these sessions during rehab. Your team members will meet with you individually
and as a group throughout your stay, providing you with the support and assistance you need
to get ready for returning to your life back in the community. Spinal Cord Injury Ontario
Provincial office is also located at Lyndhurst Centre. Spinal cord injury Ontario is an ongoing lifelong
resource of and for people with spinal cord injury. They assist people in achieving their
goals and rebuilding their lives. They have been offering services since 1945. They can
be a valuable resource for you while you are in the hospital and after you leave. In the
evening you might want to get involved in activities organized by recreation therapy
or special events hosted by SCIOntario. This is also a time to visit with family and friends.
At the end of your day, nursing care is available if you require assistance to return to bed.
After a busy day, make sure you get enough rest at night for another full day of activity.
A typical day at Lyndhurst can be a busy one, you will have a lot to do in rehab. This video
showed you the different activities that can happen in a typical day while you are an inpatient at Lyndhurst