Nursing home takes woman from hospital to home Nursing home employees are unique and special in the work they do every day. And every day, our employees are faced with challenges ... which they turn into successes. Here is one of their stories.
After a painful fall and a 10-day stay at a Rapid City, S.D., hospital, Beth was sent home. She was unsure what medications she was taking and worried about her unpaid bills. Her husband was diagnosed with Alzheimer's disease, and his ability to help was limited. Beth was frightened and confused.
This scenario is devastating to the person involved, but it's fairly common for employees in a nursing home, who are trained to handle this type of situation.
Jackie, the account manager at the Rapid City nursing home, learned about Beth's circumstances and made a courtesy call to her home. Beth's weakened condition made it hard for her to understand how a nursing home could help her. She thought nursing homes were places where people went to die.
Jackie explained that nursing homes offer healthcare services too. Her goal for Beth was to stabilize her medications, and provide her with nutritious meals and physical therapy to get her strength back. Beth could then return home to a less stressful environment. Beth agreed and was admitted. Jackie also knew Beth would be comforted if her husband were there, so she arranged for transportation so he could visit each day.
Dr. David Sandvick, Beth's physician, had high praise for the nursing home: "I refer my patients to Beverly because of the total rehabilitation approach to healthcare. That means my patients are more likely to go home or to the most independent living arrangement possible for them." |