Patients don t stay in their beds all day, notes Debi Causey, CRH s outreach coordinator. The first floor of CRH houses all therapy areas including the 3,000-square foot therapy gym. Familiar-looking health and fitness apparatus are there, including equipment to build strength and endurance plus devices that test delicate capacities for balance and strength. Large tables on hydraulic lifts used for therapy treatments dominate a portion of the gym. It provides a real-world environment complete with brick and cobblestone walkways, grocery and clothing stores, bank, fast food restaurant, car, putting green and even a sandy beach and boardwalk.
Patients learn to maneuver through the areas as part of their therapy.
It presents an environment with barriers and obstacles and therapists and patients have easy access to them. It makes the transition back into their regular life a lot more simple. A similar apartment is on the second floor where inpatient rooms are located. Before patients are ready to go home, they spend a few days in the apartment practicing skills they will use at home. This apartment is especially good for the caregiver or spouse to practice helping the person get into a bed or bathroom.