I was a patient here for 9 days following a hip surgery at Cottage. I was scheduled to be there for 10 days, and truthfully it took me a couple of days to make my own arrangements to leave early. I wanted to leave at day four. I felt like I needed to leave in order to actually heal. They are really there just be a pair of eyes in the middle of the night...and who doesn't need that right after a surgery? Make sure you have the nurse button, don't close the door
to your room.
As an elderly person who lives in my own home, alone, I really appreciate the presence of another human, especially after a major surgery like hip replacement. My standards are actually pretty low, as I was okay with just having a human there who could call 911 if I ran into trouble.
The people are super sweet, but overwhelmed. They appear to be understaffed. They try super hard, empathetic, but too many patients to deal with. They are tired, frenzied and seemly pushed to do more than possible.
I got to take one shower during my stay, they lost my clothes in the laundry. The first night I woke to a dementia patient was going through my things in my suitcase. Harmless, but unnerving.
The food was akin to a bad TV dinner, with all the microwave rubbery stuff that comes with it. Minimal serving size. They offer PB and J sandwiches as snacks a few hours after the meals, which were a godsend and the best food there. The nurses were on the stingy side of giving them to me...doling them out half sandwich at a time...waiting...every...half...hour....to ...bring...one.
They need to beef up their nutrition standards. It was hard to find water, and things to drink. They did not want you to wander out of your room and go look for yourself, but response time was slooooow. I felt hungry a lot of time. I am an athletic, fit person...not overweight. Again a staffing issue with bringing enough food. Thank God for Uber Eats and my credit card. I ordered Burgers, water and coffees.
I felt I was challenged to heal without *good* nutrition, exercise, water, human interaction, hygiene or PT. Again, not the staff's fault. I felt like I needed to make plans to get home, so I could actually start eating, drinking water, walking...and actually start healing. The stay there seemed like the longer I was there, the more depressed, tired, dehydrated and malnourished I became.
Super high five to a male nurse "Jerry" for being kind to me every night, when I was sniveling and in pain at 3 am. Love the laundry people who looked for three days to find my clothes. Thumbs up to the front desk who accepted the outside food I ordered for myself . I loved the gal in PT, but we didn't ever seem to get to any PT other than walk with my walker.
If you find yourself here make sure you find initiative to get yourself resourced. Don't be afraid to ask for what you need, sometimes LOUDLY. Walk on your own. Find the water. Seek outside nutrition.
I'm glad they were there, but super glad to get to leave. Best wishes to you if you are reading this review to the end! read more