Mandaluyong C.A.R.E.S.

Mandaluyong Center for Alternative and Rehabilitation and Education Services (C.A.R.E.S), located at the 2^nd floor of the Lingap Karunungan Center is an example of a community-based work setting. It is a project of Mayor Benjamin Abalos Jr. for the benefit of PWD’s in Mandaluyong. The center focuses on children with physical disabilities who can’t afford the services of a therapist.

The Lingap Karunungan Center

C.A.R.E.S employs the services of a professional for each rehabilitative area-Physical and Occupational Therapy and Speech Pathology. Aside from that, they also hire individuals who are interested to be their crews. The crews would be working under the supervision of the therapist and alongside an intern. However, before becoming a crew, they have to choose whether they would be in the PT, OT, or SP department and be trained by the respective therapists.

On our first visit, we weren’t able to witness a therapy session since their patients were not present. Because of that, we took the liberty of interviewing Ma’am Karen about her work as a PT in C.A.R.E.S.

Ma'am Karen explaining some activities of C.A.R.E.S.

Ma’am Karen told us that as one of the professional therapists in the centre, she facilitates the interns and the crews during therapy sessions. She also plans for the treatment of new PT patients and other administrative works such as scheduling patient sessions and organizing activities. Aside from that, she also works with the City Government in advocating to improve the centre and to provide better facilities and equipments at C.A.R.E.S.

After the interview, we toured the area and observed that there were no heavy equipments used. Most of the equipments are toys that are utilized for therapeutic exercises. Modalities like water, heat, electricity and light are not used since they lack the funds to buy them.

When we asked an intern on how they adjust to the lack of equipments, he told us that as a PT, it is his responsibility to think of ways on how to help the patient in the best way he can regardless of the restrictions. Aside from patience, compassion and true concern for those in need, he also mentioned that as a PT, he should also be creative when it comes to the planning of the treatment since not all patients have access to high-end equipments.

R.D. being treated by Ate Gilda and Ate Gladys while her brother watches over.

During our second visit, we were able to witness a rehabilitation team composed of one PT professional, Ma’am Karen, an intern from UST, Ate Gladys and a crew, Gilda Mendoza treating a patient. Their patient was RD, a 6-year old with cerebral palsy.  During the treatment, we stood by and watched the team work. The intern exuded confidence in the way she handled her patient. She knows what to do and how to do things in a way that would benefit the patient. She sees to it that her therapy plan would help and at the same time suit her patient. She knows how to respect her patient and treat her like any other non-disabled person because the intern knows that the condition of her patient doesn’t make her any less human. She’s also aware of the needs of the patient and she tries to maintain a safe environment while trying to attend to her patient’s needs. Through those observations we have seen how competent the intern was in communicating with her patient. 

We also witnessed how the intern was able to practice how to supervise a treatment by instructing the crew on how to handle the patient. She explained why they should do some exercises and taught Ate Gilda how to perform some therapeutic exercises properly.

On the other hand, Ma’am Karen asked relevant questions regarding the planning of the treatment of the patient. She took note of the improvements with RD and asked the intern to think of ways to adjust her plan so as to improve R.D.'s condition further. This act of questioning further improves and trains the intern when it comes to planning a patient’s treatment.

The rehabilitation setting of C.A.R.E.S.

On the patient’s side, we have seen that she is motivated by the willingness of the therapists to help her. She is also motivated by her brother who carries her almost every Wednesday to attend to her therapeutic exercises. But of course, two people won’t work well if there is no cooperation. The patient knows that she should cooperate with her therapist so that they could get past the hurdle faster. But as everyone knows, one doesn’t always succeed in something if he or she didn’t fall once. There are times when the patient would throw tantrums and get tired of the treatment because of the great pain she is experiencing and the therapist would give an understanding look and shows great tolerance towards the patient. 

From left: Emilio Francisco, RD and her brother, Ate Hilda, Erica Bango, Khalisha Eugenio, Lorenz Garcia.

REFLECTIONS

          The world is a playground, you knew that when you were a kid. But somewhere along the way, some people stopped playing the game of life.
      Experiencing my first clinical exposure in Mandaluyong C.A.R.E.S. was life-changing in a way that it encouraged me to give the best of what I have on my chosen course. Honestly, being a physical therapist wasn’t among my choices so it was really a tough decision to enter a world I was not familiar of—the world of a physical therapist. After my first year in UP, I was really in doubt of myself. Suddenly I came to realize that I am not interested with my course and that I wanted to be a psychologist. Until I experienced my clinical exposure, and just like a snap of a finger, everything changed. My doubts and fears all went down the drain because of one reason, the people we met in C.A.R.E.S. RD, a cerebral palsy patient, was our observed patient during our 3-hour stay in Mandaluyong C.A.R.E.S. She is a jolly girl with a strong determination to improve. We observed a physical therapy intern from UST do some manual exercise on her. Being a person with lots of fears in life, I couldn’t stand the cries of RD. At that moment, I asked myself, will I be able to bear the painful cries of my future patients? I don’t know but I have to. At a very young age, she had been battling her disability since birth. Just with that fact alone encourages me to pursue on being a physical therapist and to be able to help people restore their normal functions. Aside from her, I also appreciate her brother. If her brother alone carries RD every Wednesday for her check- up, what more can I do for her in the future?

We will always be little kids in this world playing our own games in life but never forget to stop for a while and look around us because there are some people who need our help. One thing I know is for sure, somewhere along the way if some people would stop walking, I would be there to help them.

- Erica Lois Bango

“I still have a long way to go…”

As I watched an intern, a crew and ma’am Karen work with a patient; I had come to realize that I still need to allow myself to be moulded into someone better and more experienced before immersing myself in the same situation for I would not have the composure, the skills, and the knowledge to be able to perform my work with excellence.

Excellence comes with 3 things-attitude, knowledge and skills. A good PT is someone who can work well in any situation with all kinds of people and with different patients. As we were observing the therapists with the children at C.A.R.E.S, we noticed that they do not only concentrate on building a good relationship with their patients but also with the other professionals they worked with as well. This would make sure that the patient would receive the best treatment that can be offered by the various therapists that are working with him/her. Another is knowledge. PT’s would not be able to make a good and proper rehabilitation plan for their patient if they do not undergo the rigorous training and study that could only be given by a school. The patients deserved the best from their therapists. Only a well-trained PT should treat the patient to obtain excellent results.

Lastly, I realized that I also need the proper skills to become a good PT. I need to equip myself with the proper techniques and methods that will ensure a patient’s improvement. Without all these characteristics, I would not be able to serve other people the way I wanted to. Now I know why we all have to wait for four years before being exposed to the real world-so that we would perform with excellence the work given to us.

-Khalisha Griffith Eugenio

The experience I had at C.A.R.E.S. was enjoyable and at the same time fulfilling. I am very thankful that there exists a rehabilitation center here in the Philippines that prioritize patients who cannot afford to pay for their needed treatment. What I really liked about C.A.R.E.S. is its primary goal of community involvement. Ma’am Karen (PT head) facilitates and observes while Ate Gladys (PT intern) and Ate Gilda (Crew Member) apply modalities (exercises and stretching) to RD, while RD's brother sits beside her for support. I appreciate its aim to increase the awareness of the needs of persons with disabilities and to show that they too can live a normal life by just helping them achieve it.

I also like what C.A.R.E.S. does in involving family members because they play crucial roles in the development of the patient. With their help, family members can apply what the PT instructs them to do because patients spend most of their time at home and so family members can really help in improving the patient’s condition. Just like how Ate Gladys instructed RD’s brother some stretching exercises so that he can apply them to RD when they are at home.

At the end of the day, I realized that being a Physical Therapist is definitely not an easy profession. The patient’s development and improvement is in your hands and it is up to you on how you’ll apply what you’ve learned and more importantly, to practice professionally and whatever you do, do it with all your heart. I also realized that despite all the stresses that you experience, they will all be gone as soon as you see your patient improve until he goes back to his normal functioning.

-Emilio Angelo Francisco

When we first went to C.A.R.E.S. for our clinical exposure, I was rather disappointed since we weren’t able to observe a physical therapist (PT) in “action". We were then asked to go back the next week and observe another patient. Luckily, the patient arrived and we were able to observe how physical therapists practice their profession.

As we observed the methods and the modalities applied by the PT intern to the patient, I was very eager to see how the rehabilitation process takes place. The PT intern told us that when we start handling patients, we must be very creative and resourceful with all of the equipments and modalities available and we must use these modalities to their fullest potential so that improvements regarding the patient’s condition are evident after all the sessions with the patient are completed. With that in mind, I knew it was easier said than done since you must be very confident when handling patients or else, people won’t trust your capabilities in executing interventions with anyone.

As we continued with our observation, I felt that being a physical therapist was truly a gratifying profession. I considered shifting to a course in engineering during my first year but I have decided to continue with the course since the feeling of helping people regain their maximum potential and functional ability from the time they were having a hard time to move until they are able to stand and walk properly by themselves again seems more rewarding than connecting wires together.

With that being said, I’m really looking forward to the time we take up our other major subjects and practice the concepts learned during internship until the day we become certified physical therapists.

- Herr Lorenz Garcia

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Because we CARE