For many older adults, recovery milestones after illness, injury or surgery are marked by gains in independence.
At the Lucy Corr Rehabilitation Center, that goal shapes every therapy session and care plan, whether for temporary acute care or longer-term support. Located within Lucy Corr’s Health Care Center, the physical rehabilitation program supports both short-term recovery and long-term care. Approximately 150 patients visit daily, adding up to roughly 3,000 per month.
Short-term rehabilitation is open to existing Lucy Corr residents and the broader Richmond-area community, welcoming patients after hospital stays, accidents or major operations. Meanwhile, long-term care allows established residents to regain function without leaving the community they call home.
Activity Hub
Physical, occupational and speech therapy work side by side at the Rehabilitation Center, in a setting designed to mirror real life. Roughly 20 therapists are on staff, along with two restorative Certified Nursing Assistants and two rehabilitation technicians.
According to Director of Rehabilitation Services Robin Stone, there are usually seven or eight therapists and as many patients in the facility at a time, migrating between various stations. “It stays pretty busy,” he said. Speech-language pathologist Bridget Coneys Menzies adds, “We have the staff to make sure everyone who needs any form of therapy can be seen for it.”
In the occupational therapy gym, patients practice daily activities they’ll need when they return home, from cooking to personal hygiene. The facility includes a fully functional kitchen, a laundry area and a bathroom with adaptive bathing setups. “Patients can work on things like getting in and out of the shower with different sizes of benches and other supports,” Stone said.
A Comprehensive Approach
Physical therapy emphasizes restoring mobility and strength through hands-on guidance and adaptive equipment. Patients often have a mirror nearby to evaluate themselves while entering and exiting a model car or using a practice staircase, building confidence as they relearn everyday motions. Weights and exercise machines are available to help patients rebuild endurance, strength and cardiovascular health.
Speech therapy plays an equally vital role to PT and OT, particularly for residents recovering from swallowing difficulties or neurological conditions, including stroke. Care team members tailor care to each individual’s needs throughout the process.
“You really get to know the patients well,” said Bridget Coneys Menzies, a speech language pathologist. “They almost feel like family, which makes it even more satisfying to watch them progress.”
Patients’ families and friends are an essential part of the rehabilitation journey at Lucy Corr. “This facility in particular is really good about including the families in establishing each patient’s goals for therapy,” Coneys Menzies said. Those shared goals help ensure therapy remains aligned with what matters most to residents once they leave the rehab floor.
Experienced Team with a Commitment to Care
Stone has spent decades in therapy and has led Lucy Corr’s rehab services since 2016. Under his guidance, the department emphasizes independence above all else. “When folks go home, they’ve got to be able to do their own laundry. They’ve got to cook and clean. So we’re as equipped as possible to help them practice all those things here,” he said. A true “mission accomplished,” he added, would be to reduce each patient’s therapy staff to one person.
To the staff, what sets Lucy Corr apart is its collaborative culture. Therapists meet weekly to discuss progress, adjust care plans and advocate for patients as a unified team.
That interdisciplinary approach ensures no aspect of a resident’s recovery is overlooked.
While the Rehabilitation Center’s working environment keeps therapists happy, Stone noted that the tangible impact on patients’ lives is the real difference-maker. “At the end of the day, I like taking care of my fellow human beings, and my staff does, too,” he said.
