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New Brain Injury Unit in Irene, South Dakota

By Steve Lombardi

http://www.yankton.net/stories/012308/com_239095375.shtml

Wednesday, January 23, 2008
Story last updated at 1:05 am on 1/23/2008
New Brain Injury Unit Opens Possibilities In Irene

By: Randy Dockendorf
randy.dockendorf@yankton.net

TARA SCHUMACHER/P&D Becky McManus, the administrator of Sunset Manor/Avera in Irene, shows the floor plans for Sunrise Villa, a traumatic-brain injury unit scheduled for a mid-July opening date.
Click to view the Slideshow

IRENE - Besides dealing with their current physical challenges, South Dakotans recovering from traumatic brain injury (TBI) are forced to travel out of state for long-term treatment.

That will change this year through a new partnership involving the state and private parties.

Irene, a town with about 500 residents, will become home to South Dakota's first long-term care facility specifically designed for TBI patients. Sunset Manor/Avera in Irene, a skilled nursing home, will renovate its former independent-living facility for the TBI center.

The TBI unit is a collaboration among the South Dakota Department of Social Services (DSS); Village Northwest Unlimited of Sheldon, Iowa, which has offered a TBI program since 1985; and Ability Building Services, Avera Health and Avera Sacred Heart Hospital of Yankton.

Sunset Manor/Avera was chosen because of its location and facility, said Tony Erickson, executive director of Avera Sacred Heart Senior Services. State officials had sought proposals for the TBI center from facilities around South Dakota.

"Not only is this part of our mission, but we have very suitable space at the (Sunset) Manor that would work well for this type of care model," he said.

Plans call for the TBI unit - known as Sunrise Villa - to open by mid-July after undergoing a projected $500,000 in remodeling, said administrator Becky McManus.

"This is a wonderful opportunity for the community of Irene," she said. "This will enable patients with traumatic brain injury to live in a community setting. The units are specifically equipped to meet the needs of these individuals and will be designed by a variety of consultants experienced in TBI care."

Motor vehicle accidents, war injuries, radiation for brain tumors, anoxic brain injury, stroke and many other different scenarios can leave people with brain injuries, she said.

"It's very individualized," she said. "In one case, it could be blurred vision and an unsteady gait. It's not necessarily someone in a wheelchair."

The Irene center will develop criteria for accepting residents but will be geared toward younger adults, McManus said. The patients will be individuals whose injury occurred after age 21. The length of stay will depend on the individual's goal for future living.

"A car accident is usually the number one reason of TBI in a younger population," she said. "When you talk about TBI in young adulthood, a lot of people think you need to move them into a nursing home. But at Northwest Village, they told us that younger people are really happy when you separate them (from older residents). They are happier with their peers."

A recreational therapist will gear the center's activities toward younger residents, McManus said. "We are talking about a pool table and exercise equipment," she said.

The facility will house up to eight TBI patients in one-bedroom apartments, McManus said. Each apartment will feature a kitchenette, refrigerator and microwave in addition to a fully-accessible bathroom.

But even the new facility will fall short of meeting South Dakota's needs, McManus said. "There are well over 20 people who are out of state who could utilize this facility," she said.

However, the Irene facility marks a good start, said DSS Secretary Deb Bowman. Besides allowing patients to remain closer to home, the state will keep Medicaid funds in South Dakota which are now used to place TBI patients with out-of-state providers, she said.

"There has been a need for this in the state for quite some time," she said.

When the state put out a request for proposals, Avera provided the plan that was chosen, Bowman said.

"Avera really stepped up to the plate, helping us work through several issues," she said. "When we approached them about this project, their response was, 'What can we do to help?'"

The new facility could create as many as 15 new jobs, ranging from nurses and certified nursing assistants to a recreation therapist and possibly a social worker, McManus said. The additional staff will provide a major boost to local employment, she said.

The TBI unit will offer occupational, physical and speech therapy, McManus said. "We will help (patients) do the day-to-day things that most people take for granted," she said.

The ability to remain closer to home will have a major positive impact on the TBI patients, McManus predicted.

"People like to be near their family and friends," she said. "When you are far from home, you tend to lose that feeling of closeness. Now, you won't have to travel 2 1/2 hours to see someone at Christmas or any other time of the year."

Irene residents are happy to help fill a tremendous state need, said Irene Development Corporation president Cleo Waters.

"Hopefully, that family will come to visit (their resident) as a guest. I would especially like it if you had a loved one at the facility, and you could come to town and live close to them," she said.

"It's an exceptionally nice place and a needed place. This will be more centrally located for a lot of people. That can't be anything but good."

At the same time, local residents see the facility as a boon to their community, she said.

"As a development corporation, we are really excited and really happy about it," she said. "This is absolutely wonderful for us. It's going to be a boost. I'm sure anytime it brings more jobs to the community, it's really good. I hope it helps."

McManus anticipates that others will watch closely to see how the Irene TBI unit develops and even grows.

"In the past, we weren't as aware of these (traumatic brain) injuries. Or we didn't make as much noise about our needs," she said.

"I think, now with the war injuries, we are seeing more media coverage (of TBI). We are keeping people alive but creating a need for continued care. And I think we will see even more of it in the future."

Originally posted at InjuryBoard by Steve Lombardi

Full post as published by Des Moines Personal Injury Lawyer on June 03, 2008 (boomark / email).