An Interview with Mr. Somphop Yimsricharoenkit: A Son's Journey of Bringing His Mother for Rehabilitation at KIN – Episode 2

Interviewer: How long has your mother received rehabilitation here?

Mr. Somphop: My mother became ill toward the end of February and stayed in the ICU for approximately one week. I then began bringing her here. As of today, the date of this interview, she has been here for around two months. We followed the recommended program, including additional physical therapy every other day. The staff also assisted her with a Home Program. When I came to visit, I sometimes helped her stand and walk short distances around the room.

Interviewer: Her daily activities included physical therapy and Transcranial Magnetic Stimulation of the brain, or TMS.

Mr. Somphop: Yes, she also received TMS. The sessions were provided continuously throughout the week. The physician explained that completing the sessions consecutively over the entire week could produce better results, so we followed the full course. At times, my mother was slightly reluctant because she also needed to undergo electrical stimulation, but it was beneficial for her. Her condition improved, and she could see the improvement herself.

Interviewer: What impressed you about KIN?

Mr. Somphop: I was actually impressed from the first time I attended a seminar here. Initially, I only intended to visit the center, but there happened to be a seminar about stroke that day. My partner and I attended together and listened to the physician’s vision, as well as the physical therapy team explaining how they work and care for patients here. Shortly afterward, I made a reservation. Once my mother was admitted, I felt that the center was exactly as we had expected. It is peaceful and quiet, and all the nurses are professional. The physicians are also professional, and care is available 24 hours a day. This includes cleanliness, changing diapers, assisting with bathing and brushing teeth, and managing medications. Medication management is especially precise. The staff know which medication is running low, which one may be missing, and which medication should be on the list but is not. They inform us when they believe a medication should have been prescribed. It is not simply ignored because it is absent or discontinued. On one occasion, I checked and discovered that I had forgotten it myself. It was fortunate that the staff reminded me. Otherwise, they could simply have accepted that the family said the physician had not provided it and let the matter pass. Instead, they insisted that the medication should be checked, so I went back and confirmed that it was indeed required. It feels like another home where I can visit my mother every day. It feels as though relatives, siblings, the nurses, and the entire team are working together to care for her. I feel very reassured and impressed.

Interviewer: What advice would you give to people facing a similar situation or caring for someone affected by stroke?

Mr. Somphop: The first thing I would say is to remain calm. When an incident occurs—whether you witness your parent falling, notice facial drooping or weakness in an arm, or receive a phone call informing you about the situation—do not panic. Stay composed and learn about the condition. Understand how the disease works, which factors are beneficial, and which factors may worsen it. Once we understand the condition to a certain extent, we can make better decisions.

   When the condition becomes too serious for the family to manage alone, or when we can no longer adequately control matters such as nutrition and daily care, we need to find a center that we trust. As I mentioned, I considered many different places, not only this center. I chose KIN after visiting and considering several factors. Is the price reasonable? I believe the price is very reasonable for a facility of this standard. The prices at the different centers were not significantly different. The major difference is that everyone here is professional, and the care is specifically tailored to the patient’s condition. The rooms are also well suited for genuine rehabilitation and recovery.  They are not simply rooms where patients sleep before going downstairs for physical therapy. Family members or close caregivers can stay overnight and rest in the room if they are concerned. I personally do not always have time to stay overnight with my mother, so I trust the center to care for her. A LINE group is created so that we can communicate and receive updates about her condition, including photographs and reports showing that she is walking better.

     They might report that my mother has improved significantly. Sometimes she forgets to charge her mobile phone and the battery runs out. I can message the group and ask the staff to help charge it because I cannot contact her. It feels like being at home—simply put, it feels like family. It is like speaking with an uncle, aunt, or another relative. My mother receives everything she should receive. The center truly provides comprehensive care, including medication management, meals, and additional healthcare needs beyond rehabilitation. I want everyone to feel confident that this is not merely a place where elderly people are housed. It is not a place where older people are left without proper care. I would encourage families to see it as another home that they can visit at any time, rather than as a place to transfer responsibility. It is also not a place where recovery happens without effort from anyone else. Everyone must work together—the family and the center.

   Everyone must encourage the patient and help them understand that they have not been abandoned here. Otherwise, they may lose the motivation to recover and return to their previous condition. Patients should feel that they will be able to return home soon. While staying here, they should feel comfortable and reassured, and the family can continue visiting and caring for them as usual. We can come and go, greet the staff, and even ask the kitchen team what they are preparing for my mother that day. It feels much more comfortable than visiting a place where we feel tense or where everything feels strictly like a hospital—where we might expect physicians to scold or prohibit us from doing things, or nurses to speak sternly. That atmosphere does not exist here. I want everyone to feel confident that patients can make meaningful progress here; the main question is how much time each person may need. Recovery also depends on the patient and the encouragement provided by those around them. The team here is already doing everything they can.

Interviewer: Thank you.