By: Al Wicklund
MONROE Physical therapist Rozel Abis is a welcome sight for a number of the residents at The Residence at Forsgate.
Ms. Abis and her one-on-one program of exercise plays a key role with these older men and women in recovering from illness, declining strength caused by inactivity or just plain getting back into the mainstream of activity.
When Minnie, 89, returned to her apartment at the assisted-living facility on Forsgate Drive after a period of hospitalization, she could get around only by using a wheelchair. After weeks in bed, her legs were weak and unable to hold her weight up.
Now, Minnie is up and walking, with the aid of a walker, and does her rounds of the Residence hallways many times during the course of a day.
Because of Minnie and her fellow residents’ conditions, Residence officials asked that their last names not be used.
Ms. Abis worked with Minnie several times a week, using 2-pound weights on each leg for specialized exercises and encouraging her to leave the wheelchair for sessions with the walker.
"Without Rozel, I’d be in a chair all the time," Minnie said recently.
John, who returned from the hospital using a walker, was walking unaided after three weeks of work with Ms. Abis.
"There’s really no limit on what people can do. Even residents 90 and older can lift 5-pound weights after a few weeks’ work," Ms. Abis said.
Ms. Abis, a resident of East Windsor, is a specialist with Austin Rehab of East Brunswick, which has been working with residents to increase and maintain strength and mobility.
"If we allow older men and women to do nothing, they deteriorate further," said Carolann Koerner, director of The Residence at Forsgate.
She said large numbers of older people can regain mobility with the help of regular physical therapy.
She said those who accept immobility and don’t try to exercise become weaker, which in turn contributes to depression and malaise.
"Since the addition of daily physical therapy in March of this year our community has taken on a new look," Ms. Koerner said. "More people are moving around than ever before. Our residents are in motion; they vie with each other in trips up and down the hall and become stronger and more independent. They also are learning some physical skills that help them in daily activities such as dressing and bathing, thus freeing staff members for other personal services."
While Ms. Abis works on strength and mobility, occupational therapist Lora Sofeld works with residents on activities of daily living such as grooming, dressing and handling mealtimes
One of the success stories at The Residence is Virginia, who relocated to the Monroe facility from a nursing home in Florida.
"When I came here, I needed help getting out of bed and dressing. Now I can partially dress myself and can go to the bathroom with a walker," she said.
In addition, she’s determined to continue to improve, and does weight training for her arms and legs.
She is one of the growing number who look forward to seeing Ms. Abis and Ms. Sofeld and their cheerful let’s-get-moving attitudes.
