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Carol Sue Friess: PATH Success Story

After Carol Sue Friess had her hip replaced, she chose to recover in Wichita Presbyterian Manor’s PATH® (Post-Acute to Home) program.

“It was so convenient and I’d heard great things about it,” she said.

Carol Sue spent between two and three weeks in the rehab area. There, she received help with everyday tasks, had meals delivered to her room, and underwent physical and occupational therapy.

She isn’t a morning person, so Carol Sue was worried about having to adhere to a strict schedule. To her relief, the PATH staff respected her normal routine.

“The girls in PT and OT are very flexible and good at their jobs,” she said. “They worked with my schedule and comfort level.”

She noted that physical therapy “wasn’t as scary” as she thought it would be.

“I did really, really well,” Carol Sue said. “Then I came home and continued with physical therapy.”

For Carol Sue, home is the Westerly, where she has lived since December 2015. She lives in an apartment with a courtyard, one of the “sweet spots” in the community. As pleased as she was by her PATH experience, Carol Sue couldn’t wait to be back in independent living.

“I was anxious to get home, but that’s normal,” she said. “Home is home. That’s just where you want to be. But I knew PATH was the right place for me after surgery.”

She has already planned some travel for later this year.

“I’m just doing so good,” she said. “I can hardly believe it.”

The PATH program provides a place for seniors to transition from hospital to home and offers a variety of specialized services to help individuals regain functionality. In many cases, they are able to return to their previous lifestyles. The program includes services such as physical, aquatic, occupational and speech therapy, pain management, cardiac recovery, and wound care. It is open to the public with a doctor’s order. To learn more, contact Cherree Hudspeth at cherree.hudspeth@pmma.org or 316-202-3676.

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