Bridging the gap: PATH therapists help residents get back to everyday life

For area residents recovering from injury, illness or surgery, the PATH (Post-Acute To Home) program at Emporia Presbyterian Manor helps not only get them back home, but get them back to the daily activities they enjoy most.

The program is made possible through a partnership with Aegis Therapies™, which provides the expertise necessary to develop individual, patient-specific treatment plans. Get to know more about the program and the people responsible:

Megan Moe

What is your position with PATH?

Occupational Therapist OTR/L

How long have you worked for Aegis Therapies?

Three and a half years

What do you think makes the PATH program unique?

The PATH program is unique because it bridges the gap between hospital stays and going home, giving patients the confidence they need to safely return to their everyday routines and hobbies with an interdisciplinary approach.

What kind of results have you seen PATH have on the lives of residents?

I have seen many patients arrive in a wheelchair—requiring a great deal of assistance—and leave walking out completely independent and ready to return to their everyday lives.

What do you enjoy about your job?

I really enjoy the aspect of continuum of care. Because the therapy office and gym are located on the independent living/assisted living side of the building, we form relationships with residents on and off of therapy services. When a resident becomes hospitalized and arrives back using the PATH program, we are familiar faces and have already built relationships with many of them and their families. I also really enjoy being able to see patients develop goals and meet them. In many cases that means going home and returning to be with family.

Fred Pastore

What is your position with PATH?

Physical Therapist Assistant and Therapy Coordinator

How long have you worked for Aegis Therapies?

I have worked for Aegis a little over four years but have worked in the therapy department here at Presbyterian Manor for five years now.

What do you think makes the PATH program unique?

We, as an interdisciplinary team, help identify the patient’s goals—which could be being able to walk with their spouse, play with their great grandkids or simply hold their spouse’s hand—and then focus on how to help them achieve them.

The PATH program is unique because we gear our programs toward each person’s unique goals. No matter what diagnosis they have, we find the obstacles they have and work to overcome them.

What do you enjoy about your job?

I love my job because no two days are the same, no two patients are the same and there are always obstacles to overcome. I love being able to help each patient achieve their goals and seeing the smile on their faces.

My personal goal is to always keep a positive attitude with the patient to help them through tough times. I like to say let’s not worry about yesterday because that is past us now, let’s not worry about tomorrow because that's the future and who knows what is going to happen, let’s focus on today because it is called the present for a reason. We were blessed to wake up so let’s live and give everything we have for today.

Join us for a free online event with the therapy staff to learn more about the therapy program at Emporia Presbyterian Manor at 1 p.m. May 13.

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