Anne Sweet

Anne Sweet was enjoying her independent lifestyle before a serious fall landed her in the hospital.

Anne Sweet, 70, was used to her independent lifestyle. Anne lived alone but enjoyed the company of her friends, sister, nieces, and nephews. She spent her free time gardening and looking for flowers and plants at local nurseries.

One March day, Anne’s life changed forever. On the way home from a party at her sister’s house, Anne fell getting into a Lyft ride. She was hospitalized with bilateral subdural hematomas. Her hospitalization was extensive due to multiple complications. These included respiratory failure, left-sided hemiplegia, facial droop, and dysarthria.

When Anne was ready for the next stage of her recovery, her sister had a decision to make. She chose Northern Colorado Long Term Acute Hospital, which came highly recommended by the staff at the short-term acute care hospital.

Anne appreciated her sister’s decision, stating “the care was consistent, and I really liked the staff.”

After several weeks at the long-term acute care hospital, Anne discharged to a skilled nursing facility. When she could handle intensive inpatient rehabilitation, she transferred to Northern Colorado Rehabilitation Hospital. Anne’s decision to choose NCRH was based on the hospital’s great reputation and focused rehab for her diagnosis. She also loved the hospital’s goal to get patients home.

“The staff was responsive to my needs and wanted to get me better to discharge home,” Anne said. “My sister and the staff worked together to make a comprehensive plan for me to get home. It was a team effort.”

That team received a lot of praise from Anne.

“Dr. Arrogante was a very competent physician. I loved working with Jessica, my physical therapist, because she was so professional, but also very creative with making therapy unique and fun. Jim, one of my nurses, was great about talking to me. He shared experience from his life that would help motivate me to get better. He was also very good at educating me about the medications I was taking.”

As Anne prepared to discharge to her new home — an independent living facility in Denver — she noted how things have changed since her initial hospitalization. “My goals have changed a lot during these hospitalizations,” she stated. “When I was in the LTACH, I just wanted to walk again. Now I want to be independent and live a life with my friends and family. I want to stay as healthy as possible and get back to gardening since that is my passion.”