It’s a Tuesday at 7:30 AM and Malissa Sanchez is already typing away at her computer, running reports and adjusting schedules to prepare for her first patient of the morning. As the Director of Rehabilitation at Westwood Post Acute in Denver, Colorado, no two days are the same, just like not two patients are the same. What is consistent is Malissa’s drive to help everyone heal, get stronger, and find the solutions they specifically need. The entire therapy and Rehabilitation team at Westwood Post Acute have the same, shared goal.
“I motivate patients by first building a strong therapeutic relationship based on trust and understanding. I take the time to listen to their story and identify what is most meaningful to them—whether it is gaining confidence and independence, caring for themselves, or engaging in a favorite leisure activity,” Malissa says.
It’s the individualized care that makes a huge difference in rehabilitation. Studies show that individualized care makes a great difference in health outcomes for SNF patients. Malissa uses personal motivations and experiences to help individuals break down the skilled nursing rehabilitation and therapy process, while making achievable goals along the way. Using their own motivations helps Malissa create connected rehab and therapy practices that show the patient that what they are working on will help them reach their goals. That understanding of how the therapy will impact their everyday life changes everything for the patient.
For example, Malissa may be working with a patient who wants to regain independence in their life and is focusing on dressing themselves. The post acute therapy techniques they will employ focus on arm mobility, balance, and small motor control. All of these practices help the patient work toward their specific goal and help demonstrate to them how all their progress is actionable for their life.
“I utilize empathy, education, and meaningful objectives to assist patients in maintaining their motivation and engagement, improving their confidence and abilities,” Malissa says. This early engagement strategy helps patients feel excited about moving forward, rather than overwhelmed or frustrated. Research shows that specific goals are key in helping patients stay motivated.
The patient, their family, and their healthcare team all provide key input into what the most important priorities are, helping Malissa set the right path forward that everyone agrees on. Family members are also encouraged to attend rehab sessions to help cheerlead, be involved in the healing journey, and understand first-hand how their loved one is doing.
Beyond family engagement, Westwood Post Acute has a whole team focused on creating the right care strategies for each patient. Malissa collaborates closely with physical therapy, occupational therapy, speech therapy, and evaluation/assessment professionals at Westwood to ensure there is a cohesive plan for the patient that covers all of their rehab needs.
“I continuously reassess progress and collaborate with the team,” Malissa explains. Continual reassessing and consistent monitoring ensure that all progress is celebrated, and that the therapy plan can regularly be modified as needed.
Some families bringing a loved one to a skilled nursing facility have no idea what to expect, and don’t have hope that there will be progress. But Malissa says there is always room for growth and improvement.
“Our role as therapists is to focus on helping our patients regain as much independence or maintain their highest practicable level. Our main objective is to help them progress through life with dignity and respect,” she says.
Ultimately, Malissa believes that it’s her team and their specific rehab strategy that sets them apart from other facilities in Denver. “We incorporate creativity and individualization with functional tasks and modify them as a patient progresses, whether that is using real life simulations, integrating leisure activities, or introducing new challenges that promote quality of life,” she explains.
Whether it’s early morning prep for a patient, collaborative meetings discussing individuals, or discussions with patients and families, Malissa has dedicated her life and career to helping promote health and growth. And at Westwood Post Acute, this means creating small opportunities that refocus the big picture of what health really means.
“I just want them to continue to live out the rest of their story,” she concludes.
