adminEarly last month, resident, Mona Hershey, and Messiah Lifeways Director of Rehab, Jordan Bicher, were invited to testify in front of the House Aging & Older Adult Services Committee at the State Capitol. The call to participate came from LeadingAge PA, which is an association of non-profit senior services. Mona and Jordan were honored and excited to take part in this informational hearing on the “Role of Therapy in Long-Term Care.” The Messiah Lifeways delegation was joined on a panel by other providers including physical, occupational, and speech therapy professionals.
The primary purpose for their testimony was to educate and enlighten House members, including Committee Chairman Tim Hennessey of District 26, along with roughly two dozen other lawmakers. The goal was to share the perspectives of the therapists along with an older adult who went through the rehab process. They shared positive outcomes and the value and importance of rehabilitation in long-term care facilities with success stories like Mona’s. Equally important was the chance to shed light on some of the challenges they face when it comes to diminishing insurance reimbursement and caps, along with reducing length of therapy stays as a means to cut back on costs.
Jordan shared, “It’s important to remember that age is just a number. It’s all about how you feel and how you live your life.” He went on to say, “Therapy plays an enormous role in that experience… working with people like Mona, inspires me every day. I have the opportunity to work with a population of patients who truly want to maximize every second. They want to stay active, stay healthy, and recover quickly. Mona’s story is a testament to that mindset.”
Mona’s testimony was an inspiration for everyone in the hearing. Her rehab journey after suffering a fractured hip is pretty amazing, especially at the age of 92! Her strength and determination to get back on her feet, along with the inpatient and outpatient therapy provided by Jordan and his caring team, speaks volumes to the importance, value, and need for comprehensive therapies no matter the setting or one’s age.
