Bunbury rehabilitation team supports centenarian on path to recovery

At 100-years-old, retired South West farmer Robert ‘Bob’ Sloan is living proof rehabilitation has no age barrier.

Bob, who lives independently on the family farm at Muja, has been undertaking therapy in Bunbury Regional Hospital’s Sub-Acute Restorative Unit (SARU) after undergoing surgeries for a fractured hip and narrowing of the heart valve.

With coordinated support from a multi-disciplinary team including a Physiotherapist, Occupational Therapist, Dietitian, Pharmacist, nurses and doctors, he is regaining his independence one day at a time.

“I’ve been doing a bit of gym work and walking around and whatnot,” Bob said.

“I’m getting up there, I’m improving. I can’t walk yet without a frame, but before I broke my hip, I was getting around with nothing.”

Bob, who lives next door to his nephew, didn’t stop working on the farm until he had both hips replaced at the sprightly age of 85.

His latest injury, the result of a fall in earlier this year, saw him transferred from Collie Hospital to Fiona Stanley Hospital for specialist orthopaedic surgery.

While recovering at Fiona Stanley, it was discovered Bob had a severe narrowing of one of his heart valves.

Dr Asangaedem Akpan, Consultant Geriatrician and Head of Bunbury Regional Hospital’s Department of Geriatric Medicine, said this required further treatment.

“He was seen by the Cardiologist, and these days they don’t need to do open heart surgery,” Dr Akpan said. 

“They go through the big artery in the groin using a special tube, and it goes all the way into the heart and then they can fix that narrowing. That’s what they did for Bob after he had recovered from his hip operation.”

After his procedures, Bob returned to Bunbury Regional Hospital to undergo rehabilitation in the Sub-Acute Restorative Unit.

“He has now finished what we call the ‘active stage’ of his rehabilitation; we’re happy that he’s where he needs to be,” Dr Akpan said.

“The next stage is we’ll transfer him to Collie Hospital, and there he will just be doing what he’s been doing here while final arrangements are made to get him home.”

Dr Akpan said this included ensuring any modifications required were installed in the home, and that Bob was confident going about his daily routine.

Enter Bunbury Senior Occupational Therapist (OT) Shaun Martin, who’s been working closely with Senior Physiotherapist Mohini Hindocha.

“Even when Bob came to us, he was going pretty well, he was pretty independent with most of his personal care,” Shaun said.

“As an OT, my role is around discharge planning, making sure he’s got the right equipment at home, that the right supports are in place, and then doing what we call a bit of ‘functional retraining’.

“For example, we’ve been doing some tasks in the OT kitchen and the laundry that Bob would have to do around the home, like making a hot tea or coffee. If he can do it in an unfamiliar kitchen, he’ll definitely be able to do it at home.”

For the Bunbury team, Bob’s enthusiasm, determination and dry sense of humour have been a daily source of inspiration.

“There is no doubt that if someone is highly motivated and happy, it’s easier to engage with them – and Bob is all of that,” Dr Akpan said.

“He is very clever; his brain is very sharp. He’s always keen to get involved, so it’s been a pleasure working with him.

“Sometimes older people think when they’ve had an illness or surgery it’s the end of the road, and we are trying to change that perception.”

As for Bob, there’s only one goal in sight.

“I’d like to get home as soon as I can. I live on my own and cook my own meals and do everything myself; I prefer it that way,” he said.

“I’ve outlived all my family. I’ve looked after myself for 26 years. When I get mended up, I’ll be right. The thing is to not slow down – you’ve got to keep going.”