Speech Therapist Joins Otsego Manor

INDEX – Within a week of assuming ownership of Otsego Manor, The Focus Family of Companies has added a new program: A full-time speech therapist.

Sarah Bruml, a speech-language pathologist since 2008, is already working with her first five patients at Focus – the first time in at least five years that the former Otsego Manor has been able to admit patients who need this kind of therapy.

“Adding specialties like speech therapy ensure that every patient gets the maximum amount of treatment to improve their health and lifestyle,” said Focus CEO Joseph Zupnik. “As we add more speech therapy cases, Sarah will add to her team to accommodate the need.”

Of the five patients, three have been newly admitted and the other two are long-term residents who had already been at Otsego Manor. One of the patients being treated is having trouble swallowing. The others have communications disorders.

“It is very exciting to come in and build a new department that is going to truly help patients right where they live,” Bruml said. “Speech therapy is not just about speech. For example, we can help a patient who can now only eat pureed food be able to chew and swallow solid food. That’s a tremendous improvement in quality of life.”