After suffering a traumatic brain injury and requiring a tracheostomy, Paul's family had one paramount goal: find the clinical team best equipped to help him breathe independently again.
Like so many families navigating critical illness, they suddenly found themselves asking questions they never expected to face: Where do we go next? Who has the expertise to care for someone with complex respiratory needs? And who can give him the best chance at genuine recovery?
Their search led them from the Pittsburgh area across state lines to Ohman Family Living at Briar in Middlefield, Ohio—a five-star skilled nursing and respiratory rehabilitation center recognized for its specialized tracheostomy, ventilator, and pulmonary step-down care.
For Marsha Demnyan, Paul's wife, the decision was never about simply finding the closest geographic facility. It was about finding the right one.
“We did some research into finding out the best facility that would be able to help Paul get through this trach and get it removed. I found that Ohman Family Living was a five-star facility, and that's where we wanted to be.”
— Marsha Demnyan, Wife & Family Advocate
For families throughout Middlefield, Northeast Ohio, Cleveland, Akron, Youngstown, and western Pennsylvania, finding a rehabilitation center with advanced respiratory expertise isn't always easy. When a loved one is recovering from a traumatic brain injury or living with a tracheostomy, choosing the right care team can significantly impact their long-term recovery and quality of life.
Specialized Respiratory Care After a Traumatic Brain Injury
A traumatic brain injury can affect much more than cognition and physical mobility. For many patients, neurological trauma directly impacts respiratory drive, airway protection reflexes, and safe swallowing mechanisms. Some patients require a tracheostomy to safeguard their airway and deliver reliable mechanical or supplemental respiratory support during early recovery.
That is where dedicated, high-acuity respiratory care becomes indispensable.
At Ohman Family Living at Briar in Middlefield, Ohio, our interdisciplinary team provides comprehensive pulmonary rehabilitation for patients with tracheostomies, ventilator dependence, and other complex pulmonary conditions. Our mission is to help each individual rebuild physical stamina, restore independent ventilation, and work safely toward decannulation.
Why Families Choose Ohman Family Living at Briar
When researching post-acute options, families carefully evaluate CMS star ratings, clinical staffing ratios, and proven respiratory outcomes. Marsha conducted that exact due diligence.
She wasn't searching for an ordinary skilled nursing facility. She specifically sought a specialized pulmonary care team with verified experience in ventilator weaning and tracheostomy management. That search led her directly to Briar, where patients benefit from:
- On-Site Licensed Respiratory Therapists (RRTs): Physical presence 24 hours a day, 7 days a week.
- Comprehensive Tracheostomy Care: Active airway clearance, speaking valve (Passy-Muir) trials, and safe decannulation protocols.
- Advanced Ventilator Management: State-of-the-art VOCSN multi-function ventilators and remote pulse-oximetry.
- Targeted Pulmonary Rehabilitation: Coordinated with physical, occupational, and speech-language therapy.
- 24/7 High-Acuity Skilled Nursing: Seamless clinical oversight without frequent transfers back to acute ICUs.
- Interdisciplinary Medical Leadership: Direct collaboration with attending pulmonologists and hospital discharge teams.
Individualized Clinical Pathway
Every patient's neurological and respiratory profile is distinct. At Briar, care plans are continuously calibrated to match clinical readiness—ensuring airway support is systematically reduced only when the patient is physiologically prepared to succeed.
More Than Medical Care—A Partner for Families
Recovering from a traumatic brain injury is never a journey a patient takes in isolation. Families become caregivers, advocates, researchers, and surrogate decision-makers almost overnight.
At Ohman Family Living at Briar, we understand that supporting the family is an essential component of clinical care. We believe transparent communication, family education, and genuine empathy are vital cornerstones of every patient’s recovery plan.
Whether a patient is stepping down from an acute ICU, transitioning from an LTACH after prolonged hospitalization, or initiating pulmonary rehabilitation, our clinical team walks alongside the family at every turn.
The Recommendation That Means the Most
The greatest benchmark of our clinical care isn't simply our CMS 5-Star rating—it is the enduring trust of the families we care for.
Today, whenever friends, relatives, or fellow caregivers ask Marsha where Paul received care, her response is immediate:
“I tell everybody when they ask me where Paul is, I tell them about Ohman Family Living and how if they ever have any need for a facility of this kind, that this is the place for them to come.”
— Marsha Demnyan
Personal testimonials like Marsha’s underscore why specialized respiratory rehabilitation matters—and why every patient deserves a dedicated clinical team committed to helping them reclaim their independence.
Frequently Asked Questions
What is a tracheostomy?
A tracheostomy is a surgically created opening in the anterior neck directly into the trachea. It provides a stable airway for patients who cannot breathe effectively on their own, require long-term mechanical ventilation, or need help managing secretions during recovery from neurological trauma.
Can someone recover enough to have a tracheostomy removed?
Yes. Depending on their underlying health, neurological recovery, and airway protection abilities, many patients can safely achieve decannulation. Specialized pulmonary therapy, speech-language swallowing assessments, and gradual downsizing protocols are essential to successful tracheostomy removal.
Why should I choose a specialized respiratory rehabilitation center?
Patients with tracheostomies or ventilator requirements need clinical capabilities far beyond traditional nursing care. Specialized centers provide 24/7 on-site licensed respiratory therapists, emergency airway equipment, pulmonologist oversight, and aggressive physical rehabilitation designed to restore function.
Where can I find specialized respiratory rehabilitation near Pittsburgh or Northeast Ohio?
Ohman Family Living at Briar in Middlefield, Ohio offers specialized 24/7 respiratory therapy, ventilator weaning, and tracheostomy rehabilitation for patients throughout Geauga County, Cleveland, Akron, Youngstown, Ashtabula, Warren, and western Pennsylvania.