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This week’s edition of Our Health takes a look at a Heights business owner’s next steps to recovery at TIRR Memorial Hermann-Northwest . Village of the Heights Senior Living 1B · Falling in love with fall vegetables 3B • Good Neighbor Health Center 6B
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Saturday, September 12, 2015 • Page 1B
TIRR Memorial Hermann-Northwest becomes next step in life for Heights business owner For The Leader Memorial Hermann Northwest Hospital Richard Dessel couldn’t do much of anything for nine months. A spate of maladies had left the 70 year-old Heights business owner bedridden, dependent and without the strength to walk or to even put on clothes. Dessel was knocked off his feet by infections in his leg and stomach, and a one-week trip to the intensive care unit, courtesy of pneumonia, in June 2014. The initial rehabilitative process to get him out of bed yielded minimal results. A 66day stay at an independent rehabilitation center preceded a five-month stint at home with a nurse practitioner and physical therapists that barely improved his upper-body mobility. Dessel felt he burdened his wife, Patricia. He missed talking to people and working at the business he has owned for the last 41 years. He felt trapped. “I thought I was going to spend the rest of my life in bed,” Dessel said. “No sun, no fresh air.” Dessel’s outlook changed with his first inpatient rehabilitation session at TIRR Memorial Hermann-Northwest in June 2015. The staff had him sitting up on the side of the bed and dressed in street clothes, something he hadn’t done since before his bout with pneumonia.
therapist Pamela Denum, OTR. Each movement was touted as progress and eventually, the man who was physically unable to get out of bed for nine months did just that and walked six feet to his wheelchair. The small milestone feat drew an ovation from the dedicated TIRR Memorial Hermann therapists helping him to rehabilitate. “I can’t say enough about the people there,” Dessel said. “They gave me my life back.” Dessel’s journey isn’t over. Less than a week from his first outpatient session at TIRR Memorial HermannNorthwest, Dessel has returned to North Loop Auto Supply on East 20th Street, the business he has owned since 1974. Now, Dessel is focused Contributed Photo on his next goal: walking 50 TIRR Memorial Hermann-Northwest offers comprehensive inpatient and outpatient services like physical therapy, to help optimize muscle control, balance, flexibility and mobility, as well as to build feet from the yard and up the strength and endurance. Located in the Greater Heights at 610 and Ella Blvd., TIRR Memorial Hersteps of his Lake Livingston mann-Northwest is ideal for those with neurological injury or illness, physical weakness from injury or vacation home that he hasn’t illness and medically complex diagnoses who want to return to active lives. visited in more than a year. A short time ago, doing this “I made up my mind that The same world-class qual- Memorial Hermann-North- seemed far-fetched, but the I’m going to try to do it,” Des- ity of care and expertise that west. “This could mean any- great rehabilitative care at sel said. “Whatever the staff earned TIRR Memorial Her- thing from increasing their TIRR Memorial Hermannwanted me to do, I was going mann’s flagship facility in the independence, decreasing Northwest made it not only a to try.” Texas Medical Center recog- the risk of a fall or improv- probability, but a reality. TIRR Memorial Hermann- nition as the nation’s No. 2 ing their speech or cognitive For more information Northwest offers comprehen- rehabilitation hospital by U.S. function.” about TIRR Memorial Hersive inpatient and outpatient News & World Report is availThe exercises Dessel did mann-Northwest Inpatient services to patients with able in the Greater Heights at as part of his rehabilitation and Outpatient Services, loneurological injury or illness, Memorial Hermann North- sometimes mimicked leisure cated at I-610 and Ella Blvd., physical weakness from in- west Hospital. activities like fishing, basket- call 1-800-44-REHAB (73422) jury or illness and medically “Our goal is to help pa- ball, volleyball and bowling, or go to TIRR.memorialhercomplex diagnoses. These tients get their lives back,” and were planned out by mann.org. services help return patients said Cori Ponter, PT, Manager physical therapist Mary Lynn like Dessel to active lives. of Therapy Services at TIRR Cortez, PT, and occupational
Walk for Mental Health aims at understanding an uphill battle for many
Preferred Health Directory chiropractic care
Northwest ChiropraCtiC George G. Junkin, D.C. D.A.C.B.N. Nutritionist 11500 NW Frwy - Suite 201 Houston, Texas 77092 Tel: 713-686-0828 www.drjunkin.com
Major Hospitals
Memorial Hermann Northwest 1635 North Loop West Houston, Texas 77008 Tel: 713-867-2000 memorialhermann.org Physician Referral 713.222.CARE
St. Joseph Medical Center in The Heights 1917 Ashland Street Houston, Texas 77008 Tel: 713-757-1000 Physician Referral 713-757-7575
Medical Suppliers
Complete Medical Supply 1714 W. 18th Street (At Ella Blvd) Houston, TX 77008 Tel: (713) 880-4000 www.CompleteMedicalSupply.net
By Kim Hogstrom For The Leader
well. We don’t want to give them too big of a space that they feel overwhelmed, so we have activity rooms where we can work one on one with our residents and create activities on a one-on-one basis.” For those looking for a bit more independent living, there are three different floorplans available, with some featuring private balconies and one and two-bedroom suites with an emphasis on freedom for residents. Wallace said offering plenty of options and activities for those entering retirement is an important part in breaking down barriers among people and their misconceptions regarding assisted living. The focus of the Village, along See Village, P. 2B
See Walk, P. 2B
AHS
Advance Healing Solutions of Houston 5740 W. Little York Houston, Texas 77091 Tel: 281-447-7648
Sharon Smith, M.D. & Amber Dobyne, M.D. The Preserve 2010 N. Loop West, Suite 260 Houston, Texas 77018 Tel: 713-697-8555 www.obgyncaretx.com
Contributed Photo The “Wall of Break Through” at the end of the Walk for Mental Health Awareness.
YOU LOVE With top tier rehabilitation now in the Greater Heights, recovery is closer than you think.
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Mary McLelland says she is excited to finally be moving into her new home at the Village of the Heights Senior Assisted Living Center at 1407 Studewood. She had first signed up for a space back in January, and said she had lived in her house in the Heights for over 60 years. “I didn’t want to give up living in the Heights area,” McLelland said. “I’m still active at Heights Presbyterian Church and in quite a few women’s activities so I wanted to stay here.” The newly opened facility offers plenty of advantages for seniors like McLelland, who is 89 years old. Retirees have access to libraries, liv-
ing rooms, spacious activity rooms, a complete fitness center, a beauty salon and barber shop, emergency calling systems throughout the building and, of course, a full-service dining room. Meals, utilities and housekeeping services are also all included in monthly fees and scheduled transportation is provided for residents as well. For those with a need for memory care, the center offers a special section specifically for those suffering from issues with memory. “A lot of our spaces offer generous amounts of room and have their own private bathrooms and showers as well,” Lynn Wallace, director of marketing for the Village, said. “Our approach is a bit distinct from other places that specialize in memory care as
Pharmacy
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By Jonathan Garris jgarris@theleadernews.com
1906 W 18th St. Between Ella Blvd. & 610 N. Loop West Tel: 713-864-7636 www.txmedicalsuply.com
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Village of the Heights offers a new beginning for area seniors
Texas Medical Supply, Inc.
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Contributed Photo Mary McLelland enjoys some relaxation in the comfort of Village of the Heights, a newly opened senior living center on Studewood.
America is facing a medical emergency that few will talk about. We hear a lot about heart disease, cancer, and diabetes – killers, for sure – but there is another medical disorder wringing the joy from the lives of millions, if not life itself. That disease is mental illness. According the the National Alliance on Mental Illness, one in four adults (approximately 61.5 million Americans) experiences mental illness in a given year. Additionally, about 20 percent of America’s youth, ages 13 to 18, experience severe mental disorders. The stigma associated with these types of illnesses often keeps patients and their families suffering, isolated, and silent. However, things are changing. There are some courageous Houstonians working to break through the hopelessness supported by the statistics. Houstonian Patrick McIlvain is deeply committed to promoting information and hope for mental illness and founded the Walk For Mental Health Awareness – Houston for just that reason. Now in its fifth year, hundreds of men, women, children and pets will join McIlvain in Stude Park on Oct. 10 to stroll the 5K distance, then meet at the “wall of breakthrough” at the end. The Walk for Mental Health Awareness– Houston is dedicated to promoting a positive dialogue as well as raising