Perham Living Home Care: Quality of Care with a Personal Touch

Mark and Lisa Bardwell had a tough decision to make. In February of 2021, Lisa, who suffered from epilepsy, was having EEG surgery, a requirement before epilepsy surgery which was intended to lessen her seizures. During the surgery, which took place in her adopted hometown of New Orleans, LA, Lisa suffered a stroke as a result of a brain bleed.  The once active and independent mother who raised three boys found herself having to re-learn how to eat, walk, talk, and use the right side of her body again. Her husband Mark, a finance professional, became a key caregiver for Lisa as she spent the next months in an inpatient rehabilitation and skilled nursing facility.   

From the day she woke up from surgery, she stated she wanted to go visit her parents at their Otter Tail Lake house in Minnesota. Flash forward to June and Lisa's 82-year-old father was suffering from pancreatic cancer. Lisa wanted to see her parents, especially her father, but the doctors recommended she enter an outpatient program for brain trauma patients in Houston, Texas, as her recovery from her stroke required intense physical, occupational, and speech therapy. 

Mark and Lisa had to weigh Lisa's desire to see her father versus her own care needs. They decided to make the trip to Minnesota so Lisa could spend a month with her father. Mark would need to find home care services for Lisa so she could continue her therapy. Unsure about the quality of care she might receive in rural Minnesota, Mark did a Google search and decided to call Perham Living Home Care. He says that fateful phone call with receptionist Christy ended up leading to amazing care from wonderful professionals.  

Amazing, Professional Care 

Upon arrival in Ottertail, the Perham Living Home Care staff came out to meet with them and evaluate Lisa and begin her therapy. Over the next month, team members would deliver care that Mark says was "a blessing." Mark goes on to say that, "he was overwhelmed by the quality and professionalism of the staff."  The first visit was from physical therapist, Tiffany. Mark remarks, "She walked into the room, assessed the logistics of the house, had a well prepared care plan, and positively and empathetically explained the plan to us and motivated us from day one. I was so impressed." 

Team member after team member: occupational therapist Melissa, speech therapist Laura, physical therapists Tiffany and Jana, and home care nurse, Missy, provided high quality, personal, and skilled care. "I cannot express how thankful I am. Their kindness, compassion, professionalism, and delivery of care was second-to-none," Mark explains.  "What I was blown away with was they are not just healers of physical conditions; they are counselors and coaches in dealing with the patient's situation, giving suggestions for coping with your condition, or just listening with compassion when you tell them the problems you have just getting through the day."  

Never Let a Bad Day Get the Better of You  

Mark explains that the Perham Living staff was able to walk in and "read the room."  They would assess Lisa's physical and emotional state for the day and make adjustments to the therapy plan to meet her where she was at that day while making the most of her therapy. Mark says, "They never let a bad day get in the way of therapy. They were attentive to Lisa, sensitive to changing situations, and still made sure progress was made each day." 

Above and Beyond 

Mark explained that the Perham Living staff not only provided treatment for Lisa, but they indirectly provided a kind of therapy for him as the family care-giver. They provided clear instructions, guidance, and modelling for care which allowed him to be a more confident care giver. By caring for Lisa in such a skilled and friendly manner, Mark explains that, "I was able to take all of my stress and let it go." 

He and Lisa fondly recall how Jana, one of Lisa's physical therapists, gave them the confidence to get Lisa out of the house and into the car so they could make a trip to the DQ for ice cream. This wasn't something they had done before due to the number of steps into the house and lack of fall protection for a handicap person. They decided to take the trip one afternoon at the end of therapy. Jana helped them to the car and showed Mark how to help Lisa. Before they left, Jana offered to come back later, after hours, to help Mark get Lisa up the stairs and in the house. "We gained a little more independence that day thanks to Jana's willingness to go above and beyond the call of duty." 

Mark summarized their experience with Perham Living Home Care this way. "The care is second-to-none. The people are wonderful. They couldn't have been better to us; they are like family to us." 

Advice for Others 

Mark says to those who may be going through similar situations to theirs to never give up.  "Keep your eye on the prize of new levels of independence for the patient and caregiver. Stay positive, celebrate the good days, and make the bad days a little less bad."  Lisa has made amazing gains in her recovery and her journey is not over. Back in Texas, she recently was promoted into a new challenge program at her outpatient facility that focuses on critical skills required for the transition to independent living following brain injury. It will take more time and effort, but will result in the next level of independence. Thanks to their experience with Perham Living Home Care, Lisa and Mark are ready to meet the challenge head on. 

Click here to learn  more about Perham Living Home Care services.