One ordinary morning changed everything for 86-year-old Colleen Preszler.
Living independently in her own home, Colleen had built a life around familiar routines and the comfort of doing things for herself. But after a fall in her bathroom left her unable to move or call for help, she spent nearly five hours waiting to be rescued.
By the time help arrived, Colleen’s life had changed in an instant. The injuries she suffered required emergency air transport, multiple surgeries, and months of hospitalization and rehabilitation.
The physical recovery was long, but the emotional recovery proved just as difficult.
As Colleen regained her strength, it became clear to both her and her daughter, Sue, who had been closely involved throughout her hospitalization and rehabilitation, that returning home alone was no longer a safe option. The home she loved had once represented independence. Now it represented uncertainty, and the family faced one of the hardest decisions many adult children encounter: How do you keep someone safe without asking them to give up who they are?
Recovery didn’t end when Colleen left rehabilitation.
After months spent moving between hospitals and rehabilitation facilities, Colleen and Sue began exploring senior living options. They weren’t simply looking for another place where Colleen could receive care. They were looking for a place where she could continue healing while still living life on her own terms.
Colleen found that at Edgewood, where she could receive the support she needed while continuing to rebuild her strength, maintain her independence, and stay connected to the routines and relationships that mattered most.
Instead of climbing into a car several times a week for appointments, Colleen could receive therapy where she lived. Physical and occupational therapy became part of her routine rather than another obstacle to overcome. With therapy and care available where she lives, Colleen spends less time traveling to appointments and more time focusing on healing, enjoying Edgewood’s amenities, and continuing the routines she loves like Wellness and Enrichment activities, hair appointments and church with neighbors.
Today, Colleen benefits from a coordinated care team focused on helping her stay strong, active, and independent. She has continued working with therapy professionals who help her rebuild strength, improve mobility, and regain confidence after such a life-changing event. Recovery after a hospitalization or serious health event often takes a team approach. When healthcare providers work together and care is available where someone calls home, patients and families can feel supported every step of the way.
Colleen’s experience highlights the importance of having the right support system after hospitalization. For many individuals and families, the next step may include additional services to help rebuild strength, confidence, and independence. That’s where All Care can help. Through skilled nursing, therapy services, and personalized home health support, All Care helps individuals continue their recovery in the comfort of their own home or senior living community.
Request More InformationShe left the home she’d lived in for years and went through so much medically, Sue said. But she continues to show strength every day.
After such a sudden and life-changing event, recovery doesn’t happen all at once. It happens through consistent therapy, familiar routines, encouraging healthcare professionals, and celebrating the small victories that add up over time.
For Colleen, each therapy session has become another opportunity to regain pieces of independence she feared she had lost. Everyday tasks have become easier, her confidence has continued to grow, and she is able to focus more on enjoying life rather than worrying about what might happen next.
Sue has watched that transformation happen firsthand.
While Colleen was rebuilding her independence, Sue found something just as meaningful: reassurance.
That peace of mind comes from knowing her mother has experienced professionals supporting her recovery every step of the way.
Through personalized care, coordinated support, and a team committed to helping her succeed, Colleen continues moving forward with confidence.
I feel confident in her care, Sue said. I honestly feel like I could go on vacation and not have to worry.
Supporting Recovery Beyond the Hospital
Colleen’s journey is one many families can relate to.
After a hospitalization, surgery, illness, or unexpected fall, many people find themselves asking the same question: What happens next?
That’s where a connected care team can make all the difference.
Colleen’s journey highlights the importance of having the right support system after a hospitalization or unexpected health event. For individuals who need additional help continuing their recovery, All Care provides skilled nursing, therapy, and home health services designed to help people regain strength, confidence, and independence in the place they call home.
Whether recovering from a hospitalization, surgery, or illness, All Care helps individuals continue healing where they feel most comfortable. To learn more about our home health and hospice services, contact info@myallcare.net.
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