Golden Living adds full-time occupational therapist

As new people come to Sidney, services available to current residents must keep pace.

Bryanne Schmitt recently began working as an occupational therapist at Golden Living, a skilled nursing facility in Sidney. The facility had previously been employing part time staff for this position that came in from Bridgeport and served residents at the center a few times per week.

"It was an existing position but they hadn't been able to fill it in a really long time," Schmitt said.

She assists residents with therapy to help them in their ability to perform everyday activities.

"We look at how people are able to dress and groom and bathe and do all of those activities of daily living," Schmitt said. "Most people I see have deficits in one of those areas."

This includes people who've undergone surgery.

"I see a variety of patients for a variety of different reasons," she said.

Usually those that Schmitt helps have experienced a fall or accident and learn while at the hospital that they've lost a basic function and must stay at a facility for a time while working to regain that function. A full time occupational therapist definitely benefits the residents, because of consistency Schmitt said.

"These people see me everyday, five days a week and I think that allows for better care, better continuity of care and carryover," Schmitt said. "Also it's easier to track progress and show how they're doing day to day and what kind of progress they're making."

Schmitt worked with children before moving to Sidney in November, but is enjoying the new challenges that accompany working with seniors.

"It's a humbling experience to work with a population like this," Schmitt said. "Because for many of them, they had these skills at one time and have lost them. Part of it is just being there to kind of console them and let them know that they are going to get better, they are going to get it back."

Her favorite part of the job is working with the people.

"I know I'm there helping them, but it's so rewarding for me, seeing the progress that they make," Schmitt said.

Watching clients reach their goals is very satisfying for Schmitt.

"It's a pretty neat thing to see somebody come in so sick and unable to care for themselves to be able to regain their strength and ability, to be able to go home and get back to their prior level of function," she added.

Other staff at the facility are thankful for the addition of a full time occupational therapist.

"Bry is a great addition to the facility and the residents love her," said the physical therapy coordinator, Pedro Peralta. "She's great and we're very happy to have her."