The news is full of amazing pills and potions promising eternal youth. The reality is that we are who we are, and we hope to be the very best at being ourselves. There will almost invariably be bumps in the road of life; unplanned setbacks such as illness, an accident, or an overall decline we did not anticipate. As we age, those setbacks hit us harder then we could have ever imagined in our younger years. We face the reality that we are not as invincible as we thought.

Because of constant media focus, many people associate “rehabilitation” with celebrities who have needed help with sub­stance abuse. In real life, rehabili­tation typically refers to physical improvement following an illness or injury. The more you age, the greater are the odds are that you will need this type of care. Fortunately, the premiere cen­ter for rehabilitative care can be found locally - practically in your own backyard.

Royal Suites Healthcare and Rehabilitation opened over a year ago and has been helping people regain mobility, function, and well-being ever since. Royal Suites is a state of the art facility with a highly experienced staff that is caring and compassionate. The Royal Suites team of professionals works with one goal in mind - to maximize your potential and to help you be the best you can pos­sibly be.

A distinct and separate wing is available for individuals making the transition from hospital to home needing intensive therapy. The self-contained wing has separate dining, therapy rooms, and recreation. Therapy is offered seven days a week, a rarity in the industry, and tailored to each individual’s specific needs.

The range of our patients’ needs is diverse:

Mary Passmore, age 81, one of our cherished residents, had lived in a nursing home where she was essentially wheelchair-bound after a hip replacement. She came to Royal Suites, where, with much encouragement and a tailor-designed therapy regi­men, she progressed remarkably. Last month, Mary celebrated a monumental milestone, as she walked down the parallel bars - her first step in years. The staff took as much pride in her accomplishment as Mary did herself.

Sandra James is a 61 year old who suffered a stroke. “I wasn’t able to do one thing after I had my stroke - not one single thing.” After receiving intensive post-stroke therapy at Royal Suites, Sandra has returned home where she lives independently. “I live here by myself, able to get around, reach for things and pick things up. These are all things I thought I would never be able to do again. I live all on my own!” Sandra credits the exceptional therapy staff and nursing care at Royal for helping her achieve an inde­pendence that she did not dare hope for after her illness. As an afterthought, Sandra adds: “The people there are all so nice.”

Stanley Dudas, world renowned golf pro, and his lovely wife, Ginny, chose Royal Suites when help was needed on several occasions during the past year. Stan has played with such celebrities as Jackie Gleason and Perry Como. As his career pro­gressed, he traveled the circuit with such names as Lee Trevino, Arnold Palmer, Sam Snead, and Gary Player. He eventually became the head pro at Atlantic City Country Club and then owned and operated his own local golf course for 23 years. He and Ginny traveled back and forth to California and enjoyed life. Ginny can still be seen 3 or 4 times a week on the local greens. Her eyes light up when speaking of the therapy staff and all the “very nice people and patients” she has met while her husband has been at Royal Suites.

The first time Stan came to Royal Suites was after an illness, and it was to get Stan back to the best he could be. Stan used the opportunity to share his golfing expertise with the other patients, just as the nursing and therapy staff had done with him.

Evolving health issues have changed Stan’s goals. The Social Work team has been assisting the Dudases with making informed decisions for the safest and most appropriate discharge plan under changing health circumstances.

What is it that sets Royal Suites’ therapy apart? Jamie Schoenfelt, MPT, Director of Physical Therapy, notes with pride, “We are dedicated to giving quality, ethical care with clinical excellence. Our company fosters professional development and car­ing. This allows the therapist to excel beyond all boundaries.” He adds. “Our outcomes speak vol­umes to the quality of care that we give. We have more liberty then the acute, rigorous setting to carry over a treatment plan that works for the individual.”

Royal Suites offers unparalleled amenities and comfort with excep­tional care. You’ll find flat screen LCD TVs, computer access, an on-site Nurse Practitioner, allianc­es with the area’s most renowned medical professionals, exceptional activities, music therapy – the list goes on. There is even a Patient Services Representative who sees to individual needs ranging from menu choices to taking care of much needed errands.

Please call Jackie Phillips at 609.748.9900 with any questions you may have or to arrange a tour. All of us at Royal Suites have one common goal in mind: to help you achieve the most that you can be in all phases of life.