Nora is a resident of Blossom Hill’s Center Ridge House (CRH) in Westlake, Ohio, and an active participant in activities at our day program, Abilities Enrichment Center. She came to us after her previous residential care home recommended that Nora live somewhere with 24-hour nursing supervision.
This set off an intensive search by Nora’s sisters, Katie and Mary, who have been responsible for Nora’s care since their parents passed away. “We needed a home with round-the-clock nursing care, and one affiliated with a day program,” said Katie. “Because Nora loves going to her day program and we couldn’t take that away from her.”
Coincidentally, Blossom Hill had just opened Abilities Enrichment Center around this time. It’s a day program the offers daily experiences, peer and community interaction, enrichment, and activities both inside the center and out in the community. “Nora has been going to some kind of day program since she was a teenager—she’s now in her early 60s. It’s a huge part of her life and something that is very important to her.”
Staff longevity and homey atmosphere
The family knew Center Ridge House was the right fit for Nora from the moment they walked in. “We were so impressed with the facility. We knew from the first day Nora would be happy there,” said Mary.
They appreciated the longevity of so many Blossom Hill team members, whereas other residential homes where Nora had lived experienced a lot of staff turnover. “There’s a core group that has been there for a long time. Nora does better with that kind of consistency. They have been so good to her. For the first time, I feel like I can really trust that all her needs are being met,” said Katie.
“It was two miracles,” said Mary. “The first was finding Center Ridge House. The second miracle came in the form of Abilities Enrichment Center. Nora isn’t happy if she not doing something. She needs action.”
A day program with something more
Katie and Mary love that Abilities lets family members participate in activities as well. “I go to the center a lot,” said Katie. “The staff is so accommodating. I can have lunch with Nora, work on an art project right next to her. We can play games together. We like to spend time in the Sensory Room. Some days, we take her out to lunch. It’s such a welcoming environment for everyone.”
“The staff is creative,” said Mary. “Nora used to go a salon every few weeks to get her nails done. She thrives on that kind of personal attention. Now, someone takes her into a separate room to do her nails and give her that one-on-one time.”
Nora also regularly participates in the community outings that are a daily part of the offerings at Abilities. “If there’s an opportunity to go somewhere, Nora will be the first to raise her hand,” said Katie. “She enjoys going to the museums, visiting the greenhouse, and interacting with as many people as she can.”
“Our parents taught us well how important it is to make sure Nora is getting proper care in a loving environment. When we had to suddenly find a new home for her that could better manage her medical needs, we prayed to our parents. Blossom Hill and Abilities were the answer to that prayer.”