Glen Haven Health Care

Elms Convalescent Hospital sits on a busy street across from a large grocery store and less than a block away from a major shopping mall. The attractive building, with brown double doors and a matching roof, has a moderately sized covered patio with plants and comfortable furniture. Colorful flowering pear trees, affectionately referred to as “Nina trees,” commemorate the life of a resident whose husband donated them. Although small, the facility is cozy. Hanging photographs depict residents and staff members at events and engaged in activities. Two cushy armchairs extend an invitation into the reception area. Throughout the facility, potted plants help create a homey environment. Several tables covered by pink cloths seat four to six residents each in the intimate dining room. The facility provides several snacks and three meals daily. When we visited, the entrée selections included Hungarian goulash and baked fish. In the multipurpose room, a piano and a small birdcage add pizzazz.

Residents live in spacious rooms, sometimes sharing with up to three others. Pink blankets and curtains brighten the rooms, which get abundant natural light through large windows. Personal keepsakes and photographs characterize each resident’s space. Residents appear happy and energetic. Three of them, we learned, are 100 years old&#8212the eldest recently turned 105! Alert and friendly, she’s a talented woman who plays the piano beautifully. Staff members seem pleasant and attentive. Many have been with the facility for years and, in some cases, decades. In response to the staff’s outstanding efforts, many loved ones of past residents write in to the facility to express their gratitude. The administrator showed us one such letter that read, “I always felt secure in the knowledge that my wife was lovingly cared for in a clean environment of caring individuals.” …. SHOW MORE