By Brittani Wray
SAN MARCOS, Texas — Traveling southwest on Hutchison Street in San Marcos, Texas, you might notice few things of importance to the community: the Sanctuary Lofts apartments, Palmer’s Restaurant, a few churches. Your gaze might simply drift over the neighborhood’s quaint scenery comprised of houses and apartment complexes.
To your left, you might not notice the two-story, blue-gray building with a gazebo on the lawn and furniture on the stoops of each unit. You might not notice, because this structure is designed to blend in to its surroundings.
“Our facilities differ in that they look like other houses in the neighborhood — not a medical setting at all,” said Beth Hearne, director of marketing and admissions for ResCare Premier Texas.
Within in the walls of Hutchison Place West, a unique program takes place. This facility provides top-notch care to patients with acquired brain injuries.
“ResCare Premier Texas is a unique group of interrelated treatment facilities that together form a comprehensive continuum of care for individuals with brain injury,” Hearne said. “Our apartment program is specifically designed for individuals who only require modest assistance. Participants learn personal responsibility and citizenship and become active members of the community.”
The building’s location in a quiet neighborhood is conducive to the resident’s success within the program.
“One of the common residuals of brain injury is the inability to generalize from one environment to another,” Hearne said. “We believe that post-acute rehabilitation is best provided in an environment like that in which the skills will be used. Rehabilitation in a home-like environment maximizes competence.
“The programs are located in rural settings that provide natural, low stimulus environments that minimize the confusion and any accompanying behaviors resulting from the injury.”
The for-profit organization boasts a three-year accreditation by the Rehabilitation Accreditation Commission, which sets the standard of excellence for the industry, and provides an array of services to its participants from neurobehavioral rehabilitation to residential rehabilitation.
Professionals on staff include a medical director, clinical director, executive director, physician’s assistant, physical therapist and speech therapist.
“Our direct care staff come from all walks of life,” Hearne said. “We are very fortunate to have Texas State in our backyard. Many of the students studying psychology, pre-med, speech therapy, recreational therapy, etc., want the experience of working with our population. All employees are actively involved in our clients’ daily lives.”
In addition to the support from ResCare’s staff and rehabilitation services, program participants have their own rights privileges.
“Our participants enjoy the same freedoms as you and me,” Hearne said.
Scott Schiller, a resident of Hutchison Place West who was injured in a car accident in 1984, said he enjoys the program because of the aid it provides without imposing limitations on his lifestyle.
“It helps me out a lot,” Schiller said. “You know, it really helps me out a lot, not being tied down. I just basically do what I want.”
