A Family’s Journey: Selecting Skilled Nursing Care for Their Loved One
Denise Randall alongside her mom, Diana, at Laurel Ridge.
Denise Randall and her family wrestled with the difficult decision of when to place their mother, Diana, in a skilled nursing center. For years, they had noticed small signs of her memory fading, but by 2023, her behavior had become increasingly unpredictable. Nights when paramedics had to be called for help became more frequent, and Denise knew that something had to change.
In an attempt to maintain her mother’s independence, the family tried private duty care. However, the constant change in caregivers and schedules proved unsettling for her mom, and it quickly became apparent that this was not the right solution. Determined to find a safe and stable environment, Denise began visiting skilled nursing centers, hoping to find a place that felt like home.
“I didn’t know what to do and was looking at the staff,” Denise said. At many places she toured, the staff appeared unhappy, which left her feeling uneasy. But then she visited Laurel Ridge.
“I walked in [at Laurel Ridge], and the staff were talking together,” she said. “They were friendly, they were smiling, and people were engaged with the residents. All the staff are wonderful. They are always welcoming, it’s like a family. I call them all angels. I feel you have to be a special person to work in healthcare and I truly feel like they are all angels.”
One day, she arrived at Laurel Ridge to take her mom out for lunch and found her mother laughing and smiling with the staff and other residents. Her mother didn’t want to leave, and this reinforced to her that her mom felt at home.
“It’s been wonderful. The staff here go above and beyond. They smile, they hold the door, such a courtesy from everyone.”
Laurel Ridge is a skilled nursing facility offering short-term care following a hospitalization, long-term care options, as well as respite and hospice services. The center offers physical, occupational and speech therapy as well as recreational programming seven days a week.
The center also includes a reminiscent room specifically designed for individuals diagnosed with dementia. This peaceful, home-like space features a play iron and ironing board, yarn, a laundry basket with towels to fold, and other similar activities. Although these may appear to be mundane household tasks, they offer meaning and purpose to those with dementia, explains Jennifer Bittner, Memory Care Coordinator for Laurel Ridge. Denise shared that her mother loves to sit in this room and use the iron and ironing board, as it was a daily task she always used to do.