AMY SZPARA

PHOTO 1: GETTING BACK INTO THE SWING OF THINGS, Elma Jones, who was a patient at LaPlace Rehabilitation Hospital gets her hair done by hairdresser Linda Ory. After a fall in which Jones broke a collar bone, she spent time in therapy at the hospital. (Staff Photo by Amy Szpara) LAPLACE – Elma Jones was ready for a full makeover when she finished her therapy at LaPlace Rehabilitation Hospital, where she had spent time recuperating from a broken collarbone. Up and around, though still trying to recover from the injury, Jones went to her beauty shop to get a perm, have her eyebrows done and chat with her friends at the parlor. She was feeling much better and praised the doctors and therapists at the new facility, which just opened in February, for getting her back on track. Her doctor, Christy Montegut, referred her to the hospital after she fell. She slipped in her bedroom, landing on the collar bone. PHOTO 2: PUSHING FOR STRENGTH, Beatrice Louper does wheel chair pushups to build both upper and lower body strength. A patient at LaPlace Rehabilitation Hospital, Louper is working on getting more endurance and mobility, something she has lost because of painful arthritis. (Staff Photo by Amy Szpara) “I’m usually so careful,” said Jones, who was rushed to River Parishes Hospital that day. “My boyfriend found me on the floor. I couldn’t do anything for myself for six weeks.” Jones stayed a few weeks at LaPlace Rehabilitation Hospital to work on her balance and to exercise her limbs. “That place should be well known,” said Jones. “They were just wonderful.” Jones said when she first arrived she wasn’t the most pleasant patient. “I could’ve just killed them when they would get me up in the morning. I said, Let me sleep,’ but they made me go outside and plant flowers, made me go in the kitchen to fix myself grits. I love grits.” Designed to accustom the patients accustomed to taking care of themselves, doing everyday things most people take for granted, the hospital combines physical, occupational and speech therapies to rebuild the patient’s life skills. Dr. Fred DeFrancesch is the medical director of the facility, and physical therapists, occupational therapists, speech therapists and other doctors are also on staff. Jones said they also exercised her brain, reading her stories and asking her questions about her life. “They check your sense,” she said. Jones, who has three sons, including St. John the Baptist Parish Sheriff Wayne L. Jones, and a steady boyfriend, George Moore, said she is getting back to her old self. “You don’t go there to stay,” said Jones of the hospital. “You go over there to get on your feet.” LaPlace Rehabilitation Hospital, located next to Twin Oaks Nursing Home, holds 22 beds and works in conjunction with River Parishes Hospital. The patient must be referred by their primary doctor and has to have impairment in two are more areas. Medicare takes care of the expense. According to Kathy Moran, occupational therapist, most of the patients have either suffered strokes, have had hip or knee replacements, or hip fractures, or are amputees. “Safety is our biggest concern,” she added. Moran said there are usually 11 to 15 people at the facility at any given time. Most patients are from St. John, St. James or St. Charles parishes. After patients are evaluated to determine the extent of their injuries and their rehabilitation needs, they begin therapy. Every week, DeFrancesch meets with the nurses and therapists to review the progress of each patient, to collaborate and determine the best mode of care. Monique Simmons, physical therapist, said the hip patients usually progress pretty fast. “If they weren’t using a walker before, they most likely will not need to use one after they leave. Strokes vary, however,” said Simmons. “Some leave ambulatory and some have to use a wheel chair. Orthopedic patients have a better prognosis.” The average stay is three weeks, though some stay longer if they have more severe injuries. The hospital is the first of its kind in the area and provides locals with a place to readjust after injury or illness. Before, people in the LaPlace area had to go to facilities outside of the area, which often caused them to be away from family and friends during recovery.