Resident Stories

A Second Family
Carol Draper

Jul, 2016

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After falling on two separate occasions and breaking both of her arms, Carol Draper, 67, knew she would need additional assistance during her recovery. However, she currently lived alone in her New Buffalo home – all four of her children having grown and moved away. It was upon stepping foot inside the doors of Pine Ridge that Carol said she felt like she gained a second family.

“All of the staff at Pine Ridge are so kind and really made me feel at home – and it wasn’t just my therapists, it was everyone I encountered,” said Carol.

During her month-long stay at Pine Ridge, Carol worked with physical and occupational therapists who helped her gain the strength back in arms, and prepared her for tasks she would need to accomplish when living on her own.

“All of my therapists really pushed me to get better which is what I expected coming here,” said Carol. “They listened and truly cared about how I felt. I was able to talk to them about my concerns without them dismissing me, which I’ve had happen in the past at other healthcare facilities.”

A few months after returning home from Pine Ridge, Carol began experiencing pain in her hip joints. At an appointment with local orthopedic surgeon, Daniel Sohn, MD, who had also completed surgery on her arms, an x-ray revealed that Carol’s rheumatoid arthritis and osteoporosis had worn away her hip joints. This left her with no other option. She needed additional surgeries to have both hips replaced.

After surgery on her right hip in January of 2016, Carol had no doubt in her mind that she would return to Pine Ridge for her rehabilitation. After just 10 days of therapy, Carol was shocked by how fast she recovered and that she was able to walk on her own again with ease.

“My recovery from hip surgery went great,” said Carol. “I’ve talked to other friends and family members who have had the same surgery and they still have trouble walking. I truly believe that the reason I am so mobile today is because the therapists at Pine Ridge really pushed me to get better – I don’t even have a limp!”

Carol has since returned home and continues her recovery with the help of Lakeland Homecare nurses. She also attends physical therapy twice a week at Lakeland Rehabilitations Services, Longmeadow in Niles.