After having experienced three different nursing facilities for my aunt and uncle over the past eight years, discovering Bear Creek Nursing Center has been a wonderful find. I was the trustee for my aunt and uncle, Ray and Karola. Eight years ago, it was necessary to move my aunt and uncle into assisted living, memory care. Over the past eight years there have been times after hospital visits, they needed to go to skilled nursing and rehabilitation to recover. Two other nursing centers were closer to the assisted living location and felt like a good fit for my aunt and uncle. However, until I discovered Bear Creek I did not know what was missing. My only regret is I did not find Bear Creek sooner.
About three and half weeks ago, Karola went to the hospital and the doctors recommended Bear Creek as a place she "may" gain some strength but really needed 24-hour care and the specialized lifting devices (Hoyer lift) nursing centers have. There was talk of hospice care and making Karola comfortable. Overall, her outlook was not positive, but I was also hopeful that what my aunt needed was great care and the best chance to recover even though others were telling me that she may continue to decline.
This is not a story about Karola's recovery and a miracle. She passed away on October 31, and was almost 92. I'm writing this review because despite the odds, Bear Creek and its wonderful staff, nursing, hospice, and administrative management was professional, attentive, caring, and incredibly patient with my aunt and me. I also needed a lot of help in navigating all the decisions I would make. Teresa Timmons, Executive Director, Bear Creek, sensed how much I cared about my aunt, and she could also see that I was overwhelmed with choices. Teresa put together several teams. I met with the food/nutrition team, nursing staff both day and night shifts, hospice care team, and the rehabilitation team. Teresa attended those meeting where she was needed, but she followed up with me after each meeting and always was available to talk. Her patience with me was amazing, and I'm profoundly grateful to her.
Prior to Karola's passing away, each care giver, nurse, and even food service staff was an Angel. I often caught them treating my aunt with love, compassion, and care. I knew this was not by accident. My schedule is so busy, that I showed up unannounced at all hours of the day and night, even late at night when the doors were locked, and always caught each and every staff at their best. It is not easy to care for patients who are in pain, suffer from dementia, are confused at being at a new location, may be in their final days, and have family involved in the decisions.
Bear Creek administration and staff, even at the front desk reception level, are truly angels. They worked to care for my aunt under difficult circumstances and made the best of it for her even at times it must have been very difficult for them. They were all positive, professional, and caring to my aunt until the last minute. Even when they called me to tell me she had passed away, that message could not have been delivered to me any better. If your loved one is at Bear Creek, based on my experience, they are in good hands. read more
