Amputee Coalition Training > Florida Hospital Waterman

Tavares, FL: With training materials and resources provided through the Amputee Coalition, the Rehabilitation Institute at Florida Hospital Waterman hosted a training day on Saturday, March 5, 2011 to certify ten peer mentors who have experienced amputation, as well as three caregiver peer mentors. These peer mentors will be available upon request to meet with amputees in the community, and with Florida Hospital Waterman patients who will be undergoing or have undergone an amputation, to help support them through the process.

“This training program is the next step in community outreach from “W.A.L.K.” (Waterman Amputee and Limb Loss Konnections), the amputee support group at Florida Hospital Waterman,” says staff facilitator Tracey Estok, PT,DPT. “The goal of this program is to help amputees successfully adjust to limb loss. Peer mentors allow new amputees to observe others who have successfully coped with limb loss. A strong support network is invaluable in terms of helping these individuals develop coping strategies and practice newly-learned skills in a supportive environment.”

The Amputee Coalition is a national, non-profit amputee consumer educational organization representing people who have experienced amputation or are born with limb differences. The Amputee Coalition includes individual amputees, amputee education and support groups for amputees, professionals, family members and friends of amputees, amputation or limb loss related agencies, and organizations.

For more information about the amputee support group at Florida Hospital Waterman Rehabilitation Institute, please call 352/253-3892.

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