Mission: Provide quality of life with comforts of home
Mission: Provide quality of life with comforts of home
By CHERYL ODDEN
When the Garrison Nursing Home was built in the late 60s, it resembled other long-term care facilities. Standard construction design included long hallways and few creature comforts to provide a home-like environment.
How things have changed! Over the years, an attempt has been made to create an atmosphere that more closely resembled a typical “home.” The walls were decorated with attractive wall displays and painted with a more colorful palette. Residents’ care also became more personalized and they were given greater choices about their daily routines. Menu options were also expanded. Some aspects of care, including time to rise in the morning, were tailored to better meet each resident’s preference.
Even though each of these changes – and others – had been positive, they were, essentially baby steps – steps that helped set a new standard for care.
One giant leap
This past July, the Benedictine Living Center (former Garrison Nursing Home) began undergoing a major transformation. While the exterior of the building hasn’t changed, the interior renovation has been dramatic. Two areas of concentration have been completed and are now in use.
Phase I, the initial renovation, provides attractive households for BLC neighbors (formerly called residents) to live.
Amenities in the Sunflower (memory care) household include a modern, spacious kitchen, a dining area and a living room complete with a flat screen TV and comfortable furniture. Before the Sunflower household is complete, it will include access to a private, outdoor patio. A special sensory room will offer a variety of stimulating activities.
