Professionals

Specialist Stroke Rehab gets 90-year-old Teresa Home

In March 2020, Teresa found herself unable to get out of bed. Her daughter Susan called an ambulance which took her to acute care where she presented with dizziness, nausea and ataxia. The independent 90-year-old had experienced a right lateral medullary stroke. Teresa was later referred to MetroRehab Hospital where she remained for three months as an inpatient receiving a personalised rehabilitation program. Teresa later continued her rehab in the MetroRehab day program. MetroRehab Hospital provides expert neurological-specific rehabilitation, and the trained team of health professionals work under the direct supervision of leading rehabilitation specialists to assist patients in their recovery and rehabilitation journey. The stroke has caused Teresa’s balance to be severely affected and she could no longer walk without assistance nor could she manage her daily activities. She also had trouble talking and swallowing and experienced constant dizziness. The MetroRehab team took their time with Teresa to understand her goals. For this energetic green-thumb and cooking connoisseur, that meant being back at home in her beloved garden and kitchen. Teresa benefitted from multidisciplinary care at MetroRehab Hospital including occupational therapy, physiotherapy, speech pathology, dietitics, clinical psychology, social work, and music therapy, whilst being under the care of Dr Darren Lee, Rehabilitation Medicine Physician, and supported by Lara Fernandez, Stroke and Neurological Programs Manager, throughout her inpatient and day program journey. According to Lara, “We were thrilled with each improvement Teresa made—progressing from a 2-person transfer to being able to mobilise independently with a four-wheel walker. Teresa’s Berg Balance score, which measures static and dynamic balance abilities, also improved from 27/56 to 51/56 following the inpatient stay and day program.” Teresa is now back living at home with her husband and daughter, and credits the entire team at MetroRehab for their carefulness with her care.

“Mum has been so determined to get her old strength back,’’ explained Susan, Teresa’s daughter, ‘’She’s now back doing all her usual activities around the house with barely any support. You definitely wouldn’t think she was 90 years old!”

For more information on MetroRehab’s stroke and neurological programs, call us on 02 8585 4900.

275 Addison Road, Petersham NSW 2049 02 8585 4900 | metrorehab.com.au

Spotlight on our Health Professionals

Natalie Di Donato

PHYSIOTHERAPIST (BHLTHSC. MPHTY)

Natalie graduated from the University of Sydney with a Bachelor of Health Sciences and went on to obtain a Masters of Physiotherapy with Distinction. Natalie has been working at Royal Rehab Private Hospital since 2015 and enjoys the diversity of working within a mixed rehabilitation population. She has a particular interest in neurological rehabilitation including stroke, traumatic and acquired brain injury, spinal cord injury, and Parkinson’s disease. Natalie is trained to provide PD Warrior®, a physiotherapy-specific program for people with Parkinson’s disease. She is excited to be undertaking training for robotic exoskeleton EksoNR for gait and mobility training. Natalie loves the collaborative nature of working closely with other health professionals and providing a holistic approach to patient care.

Madelaine Turner

SOCIAL WORKER (BSOCWKSOCPG)

Madelaine obtained a Bachelor of Social Work and Social Planning from Flinders University in Adelaide, graduating in 2016. Having a deep interest in social work, Madelaine worked in Crisis Respite in Adelaide, a mental health program, and also in disability, mainly working with children with cerebral palsy. A sea change saw Madelaine move to Sydney and she currently works as a social worker at MetroRehab Hospital. Madelaine is a valued member of the team as she supports patients, their families, and carers, during admission and in planning for discharge from MetroRehab Hospital.

Alessia Apostolopoulos

PHYSIOTHERAPIST (BEXSC, MPHYS)

Alessia graduated from the University of Technology Sydney in 2017 with a Bachelor of Sport and Exercise Science and went on to complete her Master of Physiotherapy. Alessia is passionate about working in rehabilitation within a hospital setting so it worked out perfectly when she completed her student placement at MetroRehab Hospital. In February 2020, and upon graduation, Alessia commenced full-time employment at MetroRehab Hospital as a physiotherapist and continues to enjoy assisting various patients through their rehabilitation journey. Alessia is particularly interested in working with various stroke and neurological conditions and is passionate about helping people reach their goals.

Patricia Barnes

NURSING ASSISTANT (CERTIFICATE III IN AIN)

Patricia graduated from Kingswood TAFE in 2017 with a Certificate III Assistant in Nursing. During her studies, Patricia completed her student nursing placement at MetroRehab Hospital where she gained invaluable experience, and before too long, started working at MetroRehab Hospital full time. Patricia prides herself on helping patients reach their personcentred recovery goals and draws on her empathy and compassion to lead her in her practice. She finds it especially rewarding to watch the evolution of a patient’s recovery journey. Additionally, Patricia recognises the value in teamwork and very much enjoys the excellent teamwork and collaborative nature of MetroRehab Hospital.

Shiva Tootoonchi Tabrizi

REGISTERED NURSE (BNURSE, ONC) CLINICAL CARE COORDINATOR

Shiva completed a Postgraduate Certificate in Orthopaedic Nursing with Distinction in 2018 from the University of Tasmania and has since gained extensive experience working at Royal Rehab Private Hospital looking after a variety of patients with complex neurological and neurodegenerative disorders, the post-operative management of orthopaedic surgeries such as joint replacements and spinal decompressions, as well as spinal cord injuries. With a special interest in post-operative and chronic wound management, as well as implementing evidence-based practice, Shiva strongly believes in delivering individualised and holistic care. She enjoys working collaboratively with other members of the multidisciplinary team at Royal Rehab Private Hospital in order to achieve the best possible outcome for patients.

275 Addison Road, Petersham NSW 2049 02 8585 4900 | metrorehab.com.au