Alvin's story
Retiree Alvin Sylvia was planning to spend the day helping his wife, Margaret, who was recovering from hip surgery but those plans took a sharp turn. “I fell in the bathroom, right on my hip—the one I have already had two surgeries on,” explained the 78-year-old. After falling he waited until the following day to call 911.
After the 911 call, he traveled by ambulance to Riverside Regional Medical Center, where imaging showed a new fracture in Alvin’s right hip. As a result, he was unable put weight on his right leg. Doctors said surgery was unnecessary but they did recommend inpatient rehabilitation to help him regain hip function.
“With my wife’s recent hip surgery, my only thought was getting home to her,” Alvin said. My son thankfully talked some sense into me, saying if I couldn’t help myself, how could I help her?”
At Riverside Rehabilitation Hospital, Alvin was evaluated by a physiatrist—a physician board-certified in physical medicine and rehabilitation—and the multi-disciplinary care team who then tailored a care plan to him.
Upon admission to Riverside, Alvin could transfer from his bed to a wheelchair with minimal assistance, but was unable to walk and needed assistance for lower body dressing and daily life activities like grooming and bathing.
Physical therapy focused on improving Alvin’s mobility -- getting him up and walking confidently again. Since his right leg was not weight bearing, his therapist demonstrated the way to use a walker for balance while keeping weight off his right leg and hopping forward using his left leg only. In addition to keeping weight off his right leg to allow his hip fracture to heal, repetition of this technique helped improve Alvin’s endurance, balance, safety awareness and independence.
As he grew stronger and more mobile, Alvin progressed to relearning functional tasks with his care team -- stair climbing, getting in and out of bed and getting in and out of the car. He was supported by a walker for all of his activities. The team had Alvin move outside for some therapy sessions. With guidance from his therapists, he successfully learned to maneuver turns, slopes and various surfaces.
In OT, Alvin built his upper body strength and coordination with free weight exercises. His team also had him do sorting and reaching activities – the stretching and reaching furthered his flexibility and eye-hand coordination. His improved arm strength and control allowed him to more easily complete daily living activities such as getting on and off the toilet, brushing his hair and teeth, and bathing and dressing.
Alvin was determined to put in the necessary work throughout his recovery. He was driven to return home and cheered on by his hospital team, especially his therapy nurses.
“In the gym, they do what they are supposed to do,” he said. “Sometimes it hurts and you accept that. The nurses here are dynamite—they have the toughest job in the world. They are bubbly and it just made my day, they are joy to be around!”
Time with his family lifted his spirits too, with regular visits from his children and grandchildren. Alvin’s greatest motivation was returning home to Margaret. “I am most excited about waking up in the morning, and being home with my wife.”
After a week of inpatient therapy, Alvin was confidently walking with a walker, able to manage stairs, bathing and dressing himself. As part of the Care Partner Program, the hospital team met with the family to prepare Alvin and Margaret for his return home, covering such topics as removing physical obstacles from pathways and connecting to community resources.
A few days later, Alvin headed home, excited to get back to his hobby of building classic cars and with plans for a celebratory lunch date with Margaret.
Alvin plans to continue to build strength on his right leg through home health services. His parting words to his rehabilitation team: “Don’t change a thing!”