KIN BROADCAST: An Interview with Khun Aoy (Sasithorn Limsrimanee), A Relative's Experience at KIN Rehabilitation Center

Interviewer: How did you feel when you first learned that your mother had experienced a STROKE?

Ms. Oi: At first, I was worried. I had mixed feelings about whether my mother would return to her previous condition after surgery. If she did not fully recover, I wondered how severe her remaining limitations would be. I was afraid and uncertain about the outcome.

Interviewer: After the treatment and surgery were completed safely, the next step was rehabilitation before returning home. Had you previously considered this stage of rehabilitation?

Ms. Oi: At first, I had not considered it at all because I thought this might be the best condition she could achieve. She had stayed in the hospital for one month, and the physician said she could return home. The physician explained that being in a familiar environment might help her improve and support her emotional well-being. However, while she was in the hospital, she developed complications and needed to remain there for more than a month, almost two months. While we were preparing for her discharge, one of my partner’s friends recommended a rehabilitation center. We initially chose an elderly rehabilitation center that provided general physical therapy, and she stayed there for one month. During that month, her progress appeared quite slow. We began wondering whether we should take her home or search for another center. When we searched specifically for a rehabilitation center specializing in patients affected by STROKE, KIN appeared in the search results. We reviewed several centers and chose KIN because it was close to our home and convenient to travel to. We also thought that if my mother became frustrated, we could take her home for a short visit. Being close to home made it possible for us to bring her back to visit occasionally, which helped her feel better. KIN also specializes directly in stroke rehabilitation, has physicians available for consultation, and offers specialized equipment. Dr. Poom provided advice regarding her treatment. Initially, we considered TMS, but because my mother had undergone surgery and had an implanted coil, direct TMS stimulation to the brain was not suitable. Therefore, the treatment was adjusted, and rTMS-related stimulation was used for the brain and leg.

Interviewer: Did she respond well to the treatment? Did her progress meet your expectations?

Ms. Oi: Yes, she responded well, and it gave us hope. After the first stimulation session, we felt that she began to regain some strength and movement. While staying at KIN, we also purchased a daily physical therapy course. Providing therapy every day allowed the rehabilitation to remain continuous, so she received both treatments alongside each other. Dr. Poom, who provided the rTMS treatment, also prescribed a vitamin boost intended to support the brain, along with medication intended to reduce scar tissue. We felt that the treatment was effective and that my mother’s condition improved very quickly.

Interviewer: How long did she stay here?

Ms. Oi: She stayed for one full month and was then able to return home.

Interviewer: Was your mother able to walk?

Ms. Oi: Yes, she could walk. Honestly, we wanted her to stay longer so she could become stronger and continue progressing. However, from the time of her surgery through her stay at the rehabilitation centers, she had been away from home for a total of four months. We could see that she wanted to return home, so we brought her home first. We still purchased an additional physical therapy course and continued bringing her back for treatment.

Interviewer: After returning home, did your mother remain motivated to practice the rehabilitation techniques?

Ms. Oi: Bringing her back for physical therapy was the right decision because we did not discontinue the rehabilitation. Once she returned home, she felt comfortable and familiar with the environment and became less motivated to exercise. When we brought her back here, the physical therapist encouraged her to continue and helped ensure that she completed the exercises.

Interviewer: She may also feel reluctant to disappoint the physical therapist, which becomes another source of motivation.

Ms. Oi: Yes. She responds better when someone else encourages her. When her children try to push her, it is usually less effective.

Interviewer: Your mother improved after coming to KIN, correct?

Ms. Oi: A few days after returning home, her feeding tube accidentally came out. My mother had been bending forward and trying to get up, and we did not know exactly when it became dislodged. It happened late at night, and she needed to take medication the following morning, so we tried mixing the medication with banana and feeding it to her. She was able to swallow it. She had already begun eating, swallowing, and chewing small amounts, so it did not become a serious problem. At first, we gave her soft foods. Now she can eat regular steamed rice.

Interviewer: That is excellent. She has continued to improve. After staying here for one month, what impressed you most about KIN?

Ms. Oi: The first thing that impressed me was the care she received, including both physical therapy and care from the physician specializing in her neurological condition. The combination of physical rehabilitation and electromagnetic stimulation was one of the main reasons we chose KIN, and we were not disappointed. Every staff member took very good care of us.

Interviewer: You believe she needs to continue physical therapy regularly. Is it difficult to bring her here?

Ms. Oi: It is slightly difficult, but we need to continue so that she can improve further. I still want her legs to become stronger and for her to perform more activities independently. She can now raise her arm. Although she cannot lift it very high yet, we can clearly see that she is progressing.

Interviewer: What advice would you give to families deciding between rehabilitation at home and rehabilitation with physical therapists at a specialized center?

Ms. Oi: If the family has enough time to care for the patient at home, help move the arms and legs, and guide regular exercises, home rehabilitation can be suitable and may reduce expenses. However, if the family is willing to invest in professional rehabilitation to achieve progress more quickly, I recommend considering a rehabilitation center. It helped my mother considerably, and she recovered very quickly within a relatively short period.

Interviewer: It can also reduce the family’s caregiving burden and help the patient feel more independent and valued.

Ms. Oi: Yes. It reduces the physical burden on caregivers, so we do not become as exhausted. It also gives family members time to manage other responsibilities when the patient is receiving care at a rehabilitation center or working with physical therapists.

Interviewer: The patient also receives care based on proper clinical principles.

Ms. Oi: Yes. There are nurses and physicians with the appropriate expertise. Whenever we have a concern, we can contact them directly and receive assistance.

Interviewer: Thank you for trusting KIN.

Ms. Oi: Thank you for taking such good care of my mother.