89-year-old Grandma Li: “I didnt think Id live to see my 90th birthday.”
On the eve of the Spring Festival in 2025, Grandma Li was urgently transferred to the Department of Cardiac Rehabilitation of Hainan Chengmei Hospital. Her life was endangered, due to acute cardiac insufficiency, hypertension, malnutrition, sepsis, incomplete intestinal obstruction and other underlying diseases. At that time, the situation was so urgent that the family had already prepared for the worst under the weight of the case.
Facing the complex case, the Department of Cardiac Rehabilitation employed the cutting-edge concepts of cardiac rehabilitation and adopted “subtractive treatment”: suspending non-essential medications, prioritizing the improvement of intestinal function, and helping Grandma Li gradually regain her strength with the help of nutritional support.
In the following two months, cardiac rehabilitation played a core role. According to changes in the patients condition, the medical team flexibly adjusted the treatment program every day. Rehabilitation therapists conducted one-on-one cardiac rehabilitation training at the bedside, to help Grandma Li improve her heart function. Meanwhile, psychological counselors provided psychological guidance for the elderly to ease the anxiety caused by her condition, which created a good psychological environment for the rehabilitation treatment.
“We take good care of her as a member of our own family.” Chen Jianjun recalled, the deputy chief physician of the Department of Cardiac Rehabilitation at Hainan Chengmei Hospital. Through systematic cardiac rehabilitation, Grandma Lis condition was improved significantly. Her heart function recovered greatly; anemia symptoms were relieved; intestinal obstruction was improved; her vital signs gradually stabilized. Grandma Li was detached from the endangered state, regaining hope for her life.
Now, under the attentive care of the medical team, Grandma Li not only celebrated her 90th birthday, but also her physical signs were slowly stabilized. In early March, she was able to leave hospital.
“Originally we thought grandma would have to lie down until the end of her life, but now not only has she celebrated her 90th birthday, but she can go home healthily to be with our family. We’re really thankful for the attentive care of the whole medical workers!” Grandma Li’s family members were excited to tears when they handed over the banner.
85-year-old Grandpa Liu said: “This is my home.”
Grandpa Liu was sent to hospital in a blurred consciousness and critical condition, due to acute heart failure, respiratory failure, severe pneumonia and severe malnutrition. The situation was so much pressing that his family had already prepared for a “final farewell”.
After hospitalization, the cardiac rehabilitation team broke the deadlock with “precise intervention”: adjusting the anti-inflammatory dosage of medication to decrease the burden on the liver and kidneys, guiding bedside rehabilitation exercises to promote the recovery of related functions, formulating low-salt, and high-protein recipes, and offering personalized nutritional prescriptions.
Under the careful care of the medical staff, Grandpa Liu not only was out of danger safely, but also gradually recovered all body functions.
“This place is like my home, and these medical workers are just like my family.” Although Grandpa Liu suffered from Alzheimers disease and forgot many things, he often put these words on his lips. When the doctor conducted routine checkups every day, he could talk to the doctor with a clear mind to express his gratitude.
Five prescriptions to build a “heart” defense
Cardiac rehabilitation not only gives new life to elderly patients like Grandpa Liu, but also greatly improves their quality of life, allowing them to maintain their dignity and vitality in their old age.
Shu Yue, a Deputy Director of the Department of Cardiac Rehabilitation, explains that many elderly patients have multiple coexisting diseases, which not only greatly increases the complexity of treatment, but also makes the rehabilitation process challenging. In response to this situation, the Department of Cardiac Rehabilitation adopts the mode of drug, exercise, nutrition, psychology and sleep, five prescriptions to work together. Medical workers will comprehensively assess the patients condition, take into account the interplay between multiple diseases, and formulate a personalized treatment plan.
At the same time, rehabilitation therapists would provide full guidance on rehabilitation training; dietitians provide individualized meal preparation; psychological counselors channel negative feelings; caregivers assist with patients’ daily living. Through the close collaboration of the multidisciplinary teams, our medical staff can achieve a seamless connection and build a solid defense for elderly patients to protect life and help recovery, from the rescue stage to the various aspects of rehabilitation.
Text | Huang Fei