Krueger Independence Square

A Powerful Idea

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Krueger Independence Square Village gives therapists the means to provide an alternative to all the old methods of weights and pulleys in a sterile gym. Now patients can hone their skills with simulated situations of everyday life in a convenient, attractive, safe, and highly motivating environment.

In the unique world of Independence Square, the usually unpredictable conditions of life can be completely controlled. The weather is always fine, no-one ever stares or gets impatient, opportunities for practice are always available, and in the case of awkward or dangerous moments, medical help is always close at hand.

An Integrated Program

Krueger Independence Square Village recreates the feeling of a typical Tennessee town, with full-scale replicas of a bank, market, dentist’s office, gas station, cafe, and a fully furnished apartment. Within the town’s boundaries are also many kinds of road and sidewalk surfaces to navigate and even real vehicles for mastering the art of getting oneself in and out and loading and unloading cargo or groceries.

Instead of therapy that can, unfortunately, often be fragmented or counter-productive, this setting allows a team of physical, occupational, speech and recreation therapists, as well as psychologists and nurses, the perfect opportunity to carry out a comprehensive and integrated approach to rehabilitation.

Patients can work with more than one therapist at a time, and family members or significant others can be brought in to help and to learn, making it possible to treat the patient as a whole person with an overall goal.

A Positive Force in the Community

Krueger Independence Square Village offers a unique, patient-centered and highly effective approach to helping people overcome physical challenges. There is a wealth of opportunity within this model town to discover new strengths and recover old skills after a stroke, arthritis, trauma, amputation, joint replacement surgery or degenerative disease.

The use of Independence Square can also be expanded to include proactive therapies aimed at the growing number of older people in our area. Keeping life skills sharp can help our aging citizens stay active in the community and out of increasingly scarce and overwhelmingly more expensive hospital beds and nursing homes.

Find Your Way Around the Square

Generous contributions by many of our local business partners have enabled us to create realistic stops along the way that are sure to promote faster and fuller recovery for all of our physical rehabilitation patients.

Merchant’s Restaurant

This replica of one of Nashville’s landmark eateries features various types of seating to give patients a chance to perfect skills whether they are in a wheelchair or ambulatory.

Vehicles sponsored by Bradshaw Collision

A real car and truck bed are parked on Independence Square to be used for learning transfer in and out of a wheelchair, for simulated driving, and to find ideal ways to stow and remove luggage, cargo and groceries.

SunTrust Bank and ATM

Patients can practice personal money management in our typical bank environment and navigate their way around teller stations, desks and chairs, file cabinets and the Automatic Teller Machine.

Kroger Grocery and Pharmacy

This model store gives patients a complete shopping experience from beginning to end. And, as they master the mechanics of making purchases, they also have the opportunity to learn or review good nutritional habits and smart shopping tips.

MAPCO/Williams Travel Center and Gas Station

This important stop helps patients become proficient with all aspects of car care and travel logistics.

Peterbilt Motors/Paccar Foundation

This setting lets patients reclaim the physical skills they need to return to active employment in a workshop environment.

The Ed Medical Model Apartment

Our 900-square-foot furnished apartment is outfitted with a fully operational kitchen, bath and bedroom, which allows patients to practice daily life skills in a safe and realistic setting.

Golf Putting Green

Being able to relax and enjoy leisure time is at least as important as the challenging work of rehabilitation. This attractive spot lets patients take a breather, refresh their spirits and have a little fun, too.

Walkway Surfaces

To prepare patients to get around in the real world with all its many variations, we have created pathways throughout Independence Square that simulate slick, rocky, uneven and smooth surfaces.

Town Clock

The clock tower is a wonderful focal point and convenient landmark for locating therapy destinations and, along with attractive lamp posts and street signs, makes everyone who visits Independence Square feel at home.

Boat Dock

For people who love life on the water, this simulated environment will help patients restore or relearn various elements of water sports and safety.