ADMINISTRATOR’S COMMENTS
Martin Klein, President and CEO: “We moved here from another facility that was about 10 miles away and consisted of three attached buildings that had been renovated many times. Severe limitations prevented us from making further improvements there, so we decided it was time to build a new facility. The move took four days. We expected a large turnover, but 95% of our staff stayed, and all of our residents moved to our new facility. Our staff members love working in the new surroundings-we haven’t heard a single complaint about its utility or appearance. Our new two-story, 125,500-sq.-ft. building accommodates 186 residents, which translates into 674 sq. ft. of common space per resident.“We’ve tried to create something other than a nursing home here-an actual home. For example, there is no visible nurse call system, and there are no lights over doors or room entrances. The drug room and all medical/dietary services, equipment, and supplies are out of sight, behind the desk that serves as the only visible nurses’ station. A more residential look also has been achieved by recessing the entrances to the residents’ rooms, so that they aren’t flush with the hallway. The hallways themselves were kept short for the comfort and convenience of residents, and there are only concealed double doors. Windows are low, with wide sills where residents can display decorative items. “The main community area is a reproduction of the nearby Atlantic City Boardwalk, with working stores and a lifelike, three-dimensional depiction of the ocean, beach, and piers in the 1930s to 1940s era. When people walk into this area for the first time, we see their eyes grow wide with amazement. “Our long-term care ‘neighborhoods’-each of which consists of five resident rooms built around a living room-are on one side of the Boardwalk, and the one- and two-bedroom assisted living apartments are on the other side. Each LTC neighborhood is uniquely decorated. For example, the French Quarter has large pictures depicting Paris in the 1930s, and the Seaside neighborhood has an ocean theme and beach pictures. The assisted living area has an art deco theme, featuring medium cherry and light wood finishes. On the LTC side, residents have shadowboxes outside their rooms for displaying memorabilia, and on the assisted living side they have shelves. AL residents also have their own secure storage areas, conveniently located on each floor. Every resident throughout the facility has his or her own phone number, and all rooms are wired for computers. |
