Marcia Orr
OTR and Rehab Director, RiverMead, Peterborough, NH
"We've worked with couples to help them get back to doing the small things together that they'd missed."
Marcia has 30 years of experience in rehab.
A moment that reminded her why she does this work
A family member once approached Marcia asking for help finding a way to get his wife safely into the car so they could get out together again, like they used to. Together they problem-solved the right equipment and transfer technique, and made it happen. Marcia also loves working with residents on vision and seating needs. One patient regained the ability to enjoy hobbies she'd given up with the right adaptive tools. Another resident now gets around comfortably and engages socially for hours at a time.
A win from this year
Marcia's facility partnered with Northeast Passage, a NH-based adaptive bicycling resource. Therapists worked collaboratively with the fitness and nursing departments to get residents at all levels of mobility onto bicycles, using stand frames and hoyer lifts to help them go out for a ride. "The smiles and joyfulness was amazing to be part of."
What people outside the field don't understand
"People think therapy is about exercise, which is only a part of what we do. We work together across disciplines to help people get stronger, but also help them live their best lives, whether that's getting to the dining room, into vehicles with loved ones, back playing pool, into the pool to swim again, or connecting with family through modified technology."
What Marcia would want for her own family
"I wish my family could receive care from our team. They listen to what residents want and how they feel. They get to know them and how to engage them with what makes them tick."