Champions of Recovery | Brian Barrett

When 74 year old Brian Barrett was finally discharged from hospital, three months after being admitted for sciatica, he was in a wheelchair. Many doubted he would ever walk again, but Brian had other plans.

“When I was discharged, they sort of indicated that I’d better get used to it. I got the impression they thought I’d never walk again. Well, that wasn't my goal at all,” said Brian.

Brian had already demonstrated his strong will by staying active despite being diagnosed with multiple sclerosis in 2000. While he had become progressively weaker on one side, and had to take early retirement, he was still mobile around the house with the aid of a walking stick.

However, being in hospital, on strong pain medication and bedridden for several weeks, had taken its toll. Brian had lost strength and conditioning on his vulnerable right side, rendering him unable to walk. He knew it would be a long road ahead.

Calling in professional support

Fortunately, Brian was not alone. Before leaving hospital, he had registered for Brightwater At Home’s Transition Care Community, a 12-week program of therapy and support services in the home setting. A range of allied health professionals is available to help clients achieve their goals, which, in Brian’s case, was being able to walk again.

Senior physiotherapist Christina Powell put together a tailored exercise program to build the strength and balance he would need.

“With all our clients, we set a long term goal and then break it down so they can see their progress as the weeks go on. An early goal for Brian was to be able to lift his right leg off the floor because weakness in his right side was hindering his ability to walk,” said Christina.

Every small step brought him closer to that bigger goal.

“When I first started to use a walking frame, the goal was just to walk from one side of the kitchen to the other. The next step was to come back again. After a while, I managed to walk for about three metres, and it felt like a big achievement,” said Brian.

The hard work paid off. Less than six months after coming home in a wheelchair, Brian could walk short distances inside the house using a walking frame. Having completed the 12-week Transition Care Community program, he is now on the Commonwealth Home Support Program so he can continue improving his strength and mobility. Brian says having support from the Brightwater At Home team makes all the difference to him.

“A lot of the credit goes to the therapists because they came every day and motivated me to keep going,” said Brian. “Their patience and encouragement helped me keep trying to do things for myself, which is important because if you just sit back and let someone do everything for you, it doesn't work.”

Achieving shared goals is the reward

As Brian’s physiotherapist, Christina says his commitment has been the driving factor in his recovery, along with the support from his wife Adji, their family, and the therapy team.

“It takes a lot of effort and determination to go from a wheelchair to standing and walking. It doesn't just involve strength training and balance. It's also making sure that each week, we tailor his program to his needs and where he is at the moment. So, it's a big input between the client and the Brightwater At Home team. We all have to work together,” said Christina.

Brian’s long-term goal is to be able to drive again. After seeing what he has achieved so far, nobody is ruling it out.

“Brian never takes no for an answer, and always tries his best. That positive attitude, as well as the physiotherapy, is what really carries him forward,” said Christina

Brian agrees: “It's determination, actually and to just keep it up. Keep on doing your little bit and gradually you start improving.”

The Brightwater At Home team includes physiotherapists, occupational therapists, dietitians, social workers, speech pathologists, music therapists and therapy assistants.They are committed to helping all their at-home clients maintain their independence and improve their quality of life.

“Our clients' goals are our goals, and we feel invested in helping achieve them. It’s a reward for us as well because we can see we’re providing a meaningful service that helps people,” said Christina.

Feel free to get in touch if you would like to know more about Brightwater At Home’s individualised services. Call us for a chat on 1300 223 968 or email us, [email protected].