"Unfortunately, roadside bombs and cumulative exposure to blasts are causing more Marines to sustain mild traumatic brain injuries," said Lt. Cmdr. Kristin R. Hodapp, department head, Physical and Occupational Therapy Department, Naval Hospital Camp Pendleton. "This rehabilitation resource is going to be very powerful and have a significant impact in people’s daily lives."

The Activities of Daily Living (ADL) apartment is only the third facility of its kind throughout the Department of the Navy. Other ADL facilities are located at Naval Medical Centers in San Diego and Portsmouth, Va. The one-room apartment affords therapists critical insight into the patient’s functioning skills, such as memory, problem solving, and the ability to perform multiple step activities during daily activities.

"The fundamentals learned by gathering ingredients at the store to bake cookies are the exact same skills needed to prepare your pack for deployment," said Lt. Cmdr. Leah Y. Geislinger, assistant department head, Physical and Occupational Therapy Department, NHCP. "Cooking, cleaning and laundry are real-life activities that will act as building blocks for a better transition from rehabilitation services."

Planning for the Corps’ first ADL apartment began early last year and was made possible by congressional Traumatic Brain Injury funding.

"We now have more resources to do more jobs and get more people back to duty," said Geislinger, who has participated in developing all three DoN ADL apartments. "This gives me an opportunity to really push therapy to the limits in a real-time, real-world setting."

The simulated living area on NHCP’s eighth floor has everything you would expect an ordinary apartment to have, including a kitchen, dining room, bathroom and living room.

Last December, Lance Cpl. Emilio Vasquez, a warehouse clerk with 1st Supply Battalion, 1st Marine Logistics Group, was involved in a five-car collision on base. Vasquez suffered a traumatic brain injury and is now utilizing the ADL apartment to overcome his hardships.

"I have trouble with short-term memory," said Vasquez, who is the first of two Pendleton ADL apartment patients. "Sometimes I have a hard time trying to get the words to express myself. This type of injury is really frustrating," he added.

During a patient’s time at the ADL apartment, therapists observe and challenge daily thought processes to encourage and facilitate recovery.

"It’s hard to say how many people are going to benefit from it," said Hodapp. "Anyone that walks through that door with a physical or occupational therapy need could potentially benefit from this apartment and training program."

The ADL apartment allows therapists to utilize all of their training and skills to return service members back to their jobs, said Hodapp. Having this apartment means retaining more Marines.

"It gives me a sense of hope of being able to function somewhat normal," said Pfc. John M. Wilson, electronics technician, 9th Communication Battalion, I Marine Expeditionary Force, and second Pendleton ADL apartment patient. "Only time will tell."