Dennis Beard

When Dennis Beard struggled to get out of bed one morning, he knew something wasn’t right — but it was his wife and daughter who recognized the signs and symptoms of a stroke. Thanks to their actions, Dennis was rushed to TriStar Hendersonville Medical Center, where testing the next morning confirmed his diagnosis.

That moment marked the beginning of Dennis’s care journey, one that would continue at TriStar Skyline Medical Center where he received expert inpatient rehabilitation to regain his strength, independence and confidence.

A U.S. Army veteran and retired law enforcement investigator, Dennis spent years serving others, first in California, then back home in Tennessee. After researching the best place to recover, he chose TriStar Skyline for its strong reputation in stroke and neurorehabilitation care.

“I searched for the best place for me, and TriStar Skyline was it,” said Dennis, who spent five weeks in inpatient rehab. “I’m getting better every day. The therapists here really care, and they’ve helped me push myself to get back to who I was.”

He credited three primary therapists, Mallory, Shannon and Kim, for their role in his recovery. “They hold me accountable and make it easy to talk to them. They bring great energy every day and have helped me stay motivated.”

What made the biggest difference, Dennis said, were the personalized touches the rehab team provided:

• Custom reminder signs placed around his room to reinforce daily goals
• Special instructional videos showing him how to safely get out of bed and complete daily activities
• An accountability checklist that tracked his progress and kept him focused on what he needed to accomplish to go home.

“They gave me the tools, the encouragement and the plan to succeed. I’ve made lots of friends here, and the care team went above and beyond,” Dennis shared. “I definitely made the right choice. This was the right place, the right decision, all the way around.”

Dennis was officially discharged this week, returning home with a renewed sense of strength and a home health plan in place. He credits his family’s fast response, the coordinated care between TriStar Hendersonville and TriStar Skyline, and a rehab team that treated him like family.

Learn more about TriStar Skyline’s inpatient rehabilitation program at Physical Therapy at TriStar Skyline Medical Center.