Banning Healthcare

I had my second major brain surgery at the end of April, 2022. After 4 days in the hospital, at my request, I was to be discharged to a skilled nursing facility (SNF) for rehab. Banning Healthcare was the only facility that had accepted me in time for discharge. At first, I was a bit alarmed by the ...

I had my second major brain surgery at the end of April, 2022. After 4 days in the hospital, at my request, I was to be discharged to a skilled nursing facility (SNF) for rehab. Banning Healthcare was the only facility that had accepted me in time for discharge. At first, I was a bit alarmed by the negative reviews on the Internet, but I decided that I would make up my own mind. I should add here that I was not your average consumer, as I am (1) a retired social worker with a 30-year career, experienced in evaluating nursing homes for my senior clients AND (2) that I grew up as the son of nursing home administrators, so the setting was familiar for me. As an experienced geriatric social worker, please know that being discharged home is generally not the best idea. So, embrace the idea of going to a SNF, even if the idea frightens you (provided that you have good insurance coverage). I was discharged home after my first brain surgery in 2019, and it was a very bad idea, something I vowed would not be repeated this time. I was happy to learn that the Admissions Director had reached out to my emergency contacts by phone prior to my arrival, a nice touch. All that said, I was relieved to discover -- in stark contrast to the negative reviews -- that it was actually a very good facility staffed with experienced and caring professionals. All of the staff took wonderful care of me -- arriving there feeling somewhat fragile -- as I slowly recovered from an invasive surgery. My room was decorated with welcome balloons (from Activities), and a basket of toiletries and a word puzzle book (new balloons arrived toward the end of my stay!). I was glad that I had packed earplugs and a sleep mask, as you will need both in any SNF. As a social worker, it became obvious to me that this was primarily a permanent home for long-term nursing home patients, many of whom had varying degrees of dementia. As a social worker, I was pleased to see that the “memory care” (dementia) patients were not segregated from the rest of us, but rather, included, and supported. During my stay, there were several parties – a Cinco de Mayo party and a Mother’s Day party, both joyful and engaging. I participated in daily activities, in addition to having daily occupational therapy and physical therapy. The food was good. They will handle the ordering and dispensing of your medications. They even did my laundry! And, I played BINGO for the first time in 50 years! Banning Healthcare is not a fancy place; it is an older, unassuming structure. So, if you require a fancy spa-like rehab, this would not suit your needs. Here’s what I learned from 30 years as a social worker, and from growing up observing my parent’s nursing home: The MOST important quality of any rehab is not in the atmosphere, but rather, in the CARE. And what I experienced – and observed --over my 8-day stay at Banning Healthcare was skilled care, combined with kindness, compassion, attunement, and empathy. This is a staff that works as a team, and the joy they exhibit in their work – and with each other -- is obvious. I am very grateful to them for helping me bridge the time between hospitalization and home by encouraging me and helping me to feel stronger each day. I am grateful to the discharge planners who organized a referral to a local Home Health Care agency, which has already dispatched nurses, a social worker, an occupational therapist and a physical therapist. On the day of discharge, there was a delay in the pharmacy delivering my home medications, so I told them to just return the medications, as we were unable to wait any longer. I was surprised and appreciative that they mailed my medications to my home, at their own expense. And so, to sum up, I felt safe and cared for at Banning Healthcare. I recommend them highly. Not fancy, but quite wonderful. Ten days after discharge, I still smile thinking of them and looking at my welcome balloons now hanging on my apartment wall.

We went to check this place out. The entry way was full of people sitting in chairs & wheelchairs. I asked for my mother, why are they all sitting here. ''Waiting for meals''. They didn''t look comfortable to say the least, all piled tightly next to each other. It seems they don''t have enough room...

We went to check this place out. The entry way was full of people sitting in chairs & wheelchairs. I asked for my mother, why are they all sitting here. ''Waiting for meals''. They didn''t look comfortable to say the least, all piled tightly next to each other. It seems they don''t have enough room in a dining room....if they have one. The rooms were unpleasant & very noisy if you have someone with a huge, ancient looking oxygen tank nearby...hissing & banging. Nothing about this facility seemed comfortable or pleasant. I wouldn''t leave my mother there., not even short term.