Foundation supports “magnificent” work at the Rehabilitation Center

The day after the presidential election last November, David Banks was taking his routine four-mile walk and listening to the election results on his Walkman when he was run over by a truck. Pinned beneath it, David couldn’t feel his right leg or shoulder. Emergency responders rushed him to Salem Hospital. After several operations and 11 days in the hospital, David went home to begin a long recovery from his broken bones and surgeries.

After weeks of at-home physical therapy, David was ready to choose a rehabilitation center. He opted for Salem Hospital Regional Rehabilitation Center, and he’s been attending physical therapy sessions there twice a week since December. Together, David and his physical therapists developed a program to get his mobility back. He does 25 different exercises three to five times a day, with 10 to 20 repetitions each. Slowly, he has begun to heal.

“The folks at Salem Hospital’s Rehabilitation Center have been magnificent,” says David. “They are just terrific. They make you work hard and do the exercises, but they are honest, and they explain what the goal of each exercise is. I just can’t say enough for the folks down there.”

Given the challenges he’s faced, David has an extremely positive attitude and a lot of determination. He’s back to walking again—not quite four miles, but he continues to make progress.

The Salem Hospital Foundation provides equipment and financial support to both the inpatient and outpatient programs at the Rehabilitation Center with donations that have included computer equipment, a piano, an outdoor patio, and fencing and a ramp for the patient garden area.

By supporting the Foundation, you too can help provide services that assist people like David.

A heart warming project

What do you get when you take a group of middle-school students, add almost 200 yards of fabric, a whole lot of stuffing, tons of labels, and some thread?

All the supplies needed to make 300 heart-shaped pillows.

With funds donated by the Salem Hospital Foundation, various middle-school classes have made approximately 300 pillows each year (a total of 2,700 pillows so far) for open-heart surgery patients at the hospital. The patient holds the pillow over his or her incisions to provide support when coughing or breathing deeply.

“I was delighted when the nurse gave me a nice-looking heart-shaped pillow,” says George Squire, M.D., a former heart-surgery patient. “And I was even more delighted to find out it was made by a group of young people who took an interest in helping people my age.”

For more information about the heart pillow project or to make a contribution, contact the Salem Hospital Foundation at ( 503) 561-5576.

A lifeline to independent living

With a little help from the Salem Hospital Lifeline team, 1,100 seniors and people with disabilities in our communities are able to maintain independent living longer.

Salem Hospital’s Lifeline is an easy-to-use personal response service that ensures that older and disabled adults living at home get quick assistance when needed, 24 hours a day, 365 days a year. The Lifeline team includes people who install the equipment and educate users, as well as the monitors who respond to alerts from the home monitoring system.

When a Salem Hospital Lifeline subscriber needs help, she simply presses a personal help button, worn as a pendant or wristband. The personal help button activates the Lifeline home unit and automatically dials the Lifeline monitoring center, establishing two-way voice communication.

A certified Lifeline monitor has complete access to the individual’s profile. The monitor assesses the situation and determines if contact with a neighbor or family member is needed, or if emergency services need to be called. The Lifeline monitor also follows up to ensure help arrives.

“One time I fell in my garage and couldn’t get up,” says Marjorie Prindel, a local subscriber to the service. “I just pushed the button, and they knew to send someone to help me. I’ve recommended Lifeline to two or three friends and my sister. I felt safer knowing my sister had Lifeline, too.”

Unfortunately, recent budget cuts to Medicaid and the Oregon Health Plan have meant the service is no longer available to some of those who benefit the most. The Salem Hospital Foundation has stepped forward with a $1,500 grant for the year. This money will help up to 85 people who might not otherwise be able to live on their own. Salem Hospital’s Lifeline service has been available for 20 years, and receives 300 to 500 calls per month, mostly for non-emergency situations, but where the Lifeline subscriber’s contact person is called to assist. Approximately 50 to 60 calls each month result in hospital visits.

“It is a real joy to be able to provide a service that enables seniors and disabled adults to maintain their independence and freedom,” says Carol Ashcraft, Lifeline Manager. “And not only do we provide a safety net for our clients, but peace of mind for their friends and family.”

For more information about Lifeline services, call 503-561-6950.

Thank You, donors

We’d like to thank everyone who has generously contributed to the Salem Hospital Foundation. The names of current donors are listed on our Web site and are also included in the 2004 annual report that was published in April. If you would like a copy of the Salem Hospital Foundation’s annual report, please call us at 503-561-5576 or check out our current donor list online.

If you’d like to have a copy of the West Valley Hospital Foundation donor list mailed to you, please call the Foundation office at 503-831-3456 or check out our current donor list online.