On July 4, Grace Bulman, age 91 of Eitzen, was busy preparing for her family to arrive for the festivities, using a leaf blower on her back deck when she broke her hip. She was taken by ambulance to La Crosse where she had hip surgery that same day.
After staying in the hospital for three nights, it was time to be transferred to another facility. Thanks to a family member telling her about Swing Bed Skilled Care at Veterans Memorial Hospital, Grace is pictured here ready to go home two weeks to the day following her surgery.
“When I came into the hospital in Waukon, the first thing I noticed was it seems like family,” states Grace. “The whole unit was welcoming, kind, caring and glad I was here. It was such a warm feeling. I felt peaceful like I had made the right decision to come here and that with their help I knew I would get back home again. I was in the right place.”
Grace right away began her skilled care therapy twice a day with the Rehabilitation Department, helping her work to get back home. “Brad and Melissa in therapy are top notch! They encouraged me every step of the way. Even when I didn’t think I could do it, they pushed for just a little bit more, and gave me the energy I needed to keep going.”
“The nurses ALWAYS came in my room with a smile a mile wide, greeting me by name, asking how they could help me. I was a human being, not a number. Even when my light wasn’t on, they always asked if I needed anything at all.”
“The food was fabulous with good portions all on an attractive plate, even with cloth napkins. It was just top notch! Lab was so friendly when they came to draw my blood and Housekeeping was also so pleasant to visit with. The entire staff always gave the extra mile.”
“This whole Swing Bed Skilled Care experience encouraged me, giving me that extra push that I needed to recover so I could safety go home when I was ready, just two weeks later. I already told my cousin who will soon be having back surgery that he needs to come to Veterans Memorial Hospital for swing bed care as well!”
