Activities from National Nursing Home Week

Out of the Well

Nancy B. came to MediLodge of Port Huron at a low time in her life. She had undergone a knee replacement that ended up getting infected. Seven operations later, she was doing all she could to keep her hope alive to save her leg. Nancy was depressed, discouraged and afraid. She felt trapped in a deep well of darkness. When she came to MediLodge of Port Huron, she felt like she entered a 4 star hotel. The staff was very welcoming and friendly, the place was clean and beautiful. “This center is the cleanest, nicest and best service I have ever received.” Her private room was a haven for healing. However, she still could not wait to get home. She was eager to start therapy so that she could get her strength back. But then another setback… yet another surgery. At this point she was on her last thread of hope. She was afraid that she could possibly lose her leg altogether. This is where staff stepped in to encourage her, pray with her and help her stay positive. Family and friends came from all over to visit with her and help lift her spirits. With everyone’s’ help, she faced her surgery bravely, ready to accept whatever God had in mind for her. She would find out if the surgery was successful at her follow-up appointment. She was finally able to start her therapy. During her time of waiting, Nancy began to talk with other lodgers in the building and make friendships there as well. She encouraged others as they also encouraged her. She got stronger. “I can feel God walking by my side during all of this”, she declared. When staff visited Nancy in her room, she now had a smile on her face instead of tears in her eyes. She radiated a sense of victory instead of loss. She was climbing out of that dark well. After much hard work and growing determination, Nancy was finally able to stand up and transfer herself on her own! This was a huge milestone for someone who was very close to losing her leg. At her follow-up appointment, the news was good…the infections were gone, her wounds were healing nicely and her heart was filled with joy again! Nancy exclaimed, “The amount of support, encouragement and friendship I received from everyone here was wonderful. I would recommend for anybody to come to MediLodge of Port Huron for top quality care and emotional support…I think they perform miracles here. “Nancy was finally able to go home to finish up her recuperation. She has decided that after she has fully healed, she would like to come back to MediLodge of Port Huron and become a volunteer helping to encourage and lift up others as they have done for her. Congratulations, Nancy, we are proud to watch you stand tall in victory on higher ground!

Jerry Corwin Write Up

Jerry Corwin has been a CNA with MediLodge and its predecessor the Evangelical Home since 1985. He brings compassion and hard work to so many during the midnight shift. His residents proclaim that he is “the best”. They describe his attentiveness such as making sure that Pat B. has her socks on when she needs to go to the bathroom so she doesn’t slip and fall. He thinks nothing of getting coffee for a resident on his way out of the building. He answers call lights quick as lightning and makes his patients feel so secure and cared for. He is a valuable asset to MediLodge and the staff and residents. Pat B. and Dorothy P. wish that he could train all the aids right from the beginning to show them all how to be great. Two residents share their gratitude toward Jerry: “Jerry, Thank you for all the wonderful things that you do. You are a wonderful gentleman. Medilodge needs more workers like you. Thank you ever so much. Your reward is waiting for you in Heaven.” - Pat B. “Jerry, Thank you for everything that you have done. Your kindness goes so very far. You have been there for me and have been a wonderful listener. You are easy to talk to and can be trusted. You are always kind to everyone and never talk bad about anyone. You never hold anything against anyone here at work. You are such a good person. If you were ever to leave, MediLodge would lose a very good person.” – Dorothy P.

Customer Service That Really Cares

Richard W. knew exactly where he was going for post-surgical rehabilitation after his knee replacement surgery. He knew because when his wife had been at MediLodge of Port Huron in the past, they loved how professional and clean the place was. They were impressed with the spacious private rooms, private showers and the fact that the staff is always friendly and attentive. “The food was pretty good and the staff was so professional” Richard states. “While I was here for my own stay, I experienced the same friendly and professional staff. The therapy folks are so knowledgeable and really helped me get back on my feet in no time.” Richard said he would not hesitate to recommend MediLodge of Port Huron to a neighbor or family member. Everyone there knew their profession and did it well. The feeling of “good customer service” really showed through.

This is MY Life

Shirley S. is one of the latest therapy graduates of MediLodge of Port Huron. Shirley had stayed at a different skilled nursing center in the past. When she slipped and fell on black ice this winter, she found herself needing short-term nursing and therapy to recover from a fractured femur. She returned to her last center only to be disappointed with the inflexible schedule and lack of private rooms. She then took it upon herself to switch centers. Shirley came to us looking for private rooms, flexible scheduling, top notch custom therapy, and personal respect. That is exactly what she found at MediLodge of Port Huron. Shirley says “I am not a sit around type of person. Other places are not flexible with their hours and respecting my personal decisions, but I love that I am allowed to plan my own life here”. The new private short-term suites allowed Shirley to continue her many social and personal activities such as church meetings with ease. She appreciated that she could participate in fun events throughout the building, or just relax and enjoy some quiet time and make a call to a loved one “This is the cleanest place I have been to and every one of the therapists are all really great. They have the best nurses’ aides here as well; they treat me as if this is my home.” Shirley also gave compliments to the kitchen staff and chef “The food is really good here too. They have the best bacon I have ever had and I need to get the recipe so I can make it at home!” As you can see, Shirley has a passion for life and she loves to be the captain of her ship. At MediLodge of Port Huron, she felt that she could continue living her life as she wanted and was also able to take full advantage of the high quality nursing, therapy and food services to help her Recover, Rejuvenate, Revitalize and Return Home.

I would just like to say that I had a wonderful stay at MediLodge of Port Huron. All the staff very just wonderful! I can see why MediLodge of Port Huron is a 5 star facility. A special shout out to Joann ( C.N.A.), she is phenomenal!!

Twice is Nice

When Anna Deni was making the decision of where to go for her post-surgical rehabilitation after her second knee replacement, she had no question that it would be Medilodge of Port Huron. Anna first came to Medilodge after her first knee replacement surgery. She thought she would be going home for her rehab, but friends and family felt strongly that she should go somewhere where she could have 24 hour care and top notch therapy to get her back on her feet quicker, safer and stronger than she could at home. When she arrived at Medilodge of Port Huron, she was struck at how caring, friendly and attentive the staff was; how beautiful the facility was; and how really, really good the food was! She found that the therapy staff was very encouraging and positive. They taught her the correct and safe ways to move, which helped her feel more confidant and safe. She was back on her feet much earlier than she ever thought possible. Anna appreciated the teamwork, positive attitudes and respect that the staff had for each other. “They are truly dedicated to their work and really care about the residents,” she says. Therapy was not some pushy, cookie cutter approach, but rather an individualized program that took her wants and needs into consideration. Anna was eager to reconnect with all the wonderful people she had met her first time at Medilodge of Port Huron and knew she would be well taken care of. She has kept in contact with many of them such as Donna, Nicole, Elyse, Amanda, Jennifer and Rose who made such a difference to her. She felt like she was going on a vacation with her friends at Medilodge, to relax, get better and eat well. To Anna, Medilodge of Port Huron turned out to be so much more than she expected. She found lifelong friends, laughter, encouragement, strength and hope. She loves the teamwork and positive attitudes that the nurses and staff have and feels bitter sweet about leaving at the end of her stay this time. She has enjoyed the Medilodge experience so much that she has decided to have her pet Pug, Sissy, become a therapy dog, and the two of them want to volunteer their time at Medilodge to help others feel better also. Anna knew she found a second home here, and didn’t’ think twice about where she was going for her post-surgical therapy the second time around. Twice IS Nice, at Medilodge of Port Huron.

John G. and His Harmonica Harmony

John G. didn’t know what to expect when he came to MediLodge of Port Huron. After Pneumonia and eye surgery, he knew he needed to get his strength back to be able to go home and get to work on his Blue Water Bridge artwork he has all planned out in his head. Although it was very out of his comfort zone to come to a skilled nursing center, he really appreciated how much he was treated like a gentleman and was able to keep his freedom. John exclaims “The staff was always ‘Johnny- on-the-spot’. The building is always so nice and clean and people really work hard at providing good service.” Therapy worked great in helping John become stronger and more confident. He felt like he is much more able to return to his assisted living apartment in a safer and healthier way. John was often caught “serenading” other Lodgers with his harmonica. At the age of 8 or 9, John was given a harmonica as a gift. He always liked music and he would practice and practice until he perfected the skill. “My Old Kentucky Home” was the first song he learned while riding home from school on the bus. If John found out that a person had a birthday coming up or just passed, he would come out and play “Happy Birthday” on his harmonica. “Silent Night” is another of his specialty tunes. MediLodge of Port Huron will miss the musical moments of John G., but we are all blessed to have had the chance to meet him. John admits that if he ever needs our services again, he would not hesitate to return to us. He really appreciated all the care and smiles that were given so freely by everyone. He went home feeling motivated, positive and full of life and energy.

I would just like to say that my stay at MediLodge of Port Huron exceeded my expectations!!!

I had a wonderful stay. I was very pleased with the staff and how they worked together as a team. From the first moment stepping through the doors everything was wonderful. The staff was very prompt with answering call lights and giving medications. Staff was always very kind and pleasant.

My family was able to schedule visits with no issues, and we had a very nice area to visit in. I would tell anyone looking for a place to recover or needing therapy to choose MediLodge of Port Huron, they are great at what they do!!

And one more thing, I loved the popcorn on Fridays.

Thank you!