Avantara Park Ridge — Attraction in Maine Township

I recently stayed at Avantara Park Ridge for a significant amount of time, and although I was asked to write a review, I believe that I would have done it no matter what, given the care I received and my experiences as a patient there. In order to be fair and maintain some level of control over the length of this assessment, I am using a minimum of 90 days of work experience for each individual staff member that I am reviewing. I apologize for possibly missing some people. I'm going to do this review utilizing metrics to measure performance, behavior, and skill sets, which was my strong suit throughout my career. I have to split up my evaluation into 3 parts/reviews because of Google’s maximum character policy. The two following reviews below are the rest of this evaluation and I used two other borrowed email accounts (GV and VG). The intention is for the review to be read in its entirety.

Patient Care I felt that the medical personnel was genuinely interested about your care and wellbeing, and your needs were always addressed. I had nurses who went above and beyond the call of duty. When you are a patient in a medical facility, you are vulnerable, therefore it makes all the difference when someone offers a helping hand when you need it or offers words of encouragement. In my instance, they did that and more, and I appreciate that.

Patient Safety This is probably an area where they can use some help. In some of the rooms in one of the units, I did notice and experience some space confinement problems that probably need to be looked at and resolved. I never witnessed any flagrant dangerous behaviors by members of their staff or any egregious acts or bad treatment of patients.

Staffing Although this is a challenging topic, I'll discuss it in sections.

Permanent Staff CNA’s These women make significant contributions and exhibit excellent work ethics. Irene A., Connie, Beata, Franny and Suzy are some of the hardest working ladies I have ever encountered. Even though their work is not always enjoyable, they put in a lot of effort, always smile, and go out of their way to ensure that the patient feels taken care of and that all of their requirements are being met. These women are incredibly skilled at what they do and do it very well. I can't discuss this group of women—who are all exceptional—without mentioning Irene specifically. When I first met her, I was still becoming acclimated to my surroundings and she was crucial in making me feel at ease. It was wonderful to have someone in my corner like her taking care of me because she treated me with such kindness. Irene has a particular place in my heart because of how she assisted me and how compassionate she was. She excels at working closely with patients, so I hope she keeps doing that, and I know she will be successful in everything she undertakes. Irene is and will...

This facility calls itself a rehabilitation center and we found it to be a place where, with the exception of some limited physical therapy, my father received no treatment at all. Upon his arrival (not before) we were told he was under quarantine and could have no visitors for 14 days (even though he had just come from the hospital following (COVID-free) successful surgery for a fractured femur. I contacted the social worker and insisted on at least one visitor. During my in-person visits and visits by my siblings outside the window we found this: Hours would go by before any staff entered the room. The first night my dad remained in the same position for hours, as he could not turn himself. We often found him uncomfortable with soiled undergarments. Hot drinks such as coffee were served cold. An uneaten bowl of soup remained in the room for four days. It was critical that he sit up to keep from developing pneumonia, but there was no set schedule and we did not see any staff member change his position. If he was sleeping or eating when the physical therapist came, the session was skipped. When physical therapy did occur, it was the therapist (not the staff) that pointed out the bedsore on my dad's foot. When I tried to take a photo, the nurse shooed me out of the room. Ultimately I was able to get one a few days after the staff started treatment for it. The therapist (again, not the staff) pointed out that my dad's lips were blue, which meant he was not getting enough oxygen. I informed the nurse, and she told my dad to inhale through his nose and out through his mouth. A few days later the same scenario occurred, but this time he was given oxygen. We requested tests to determine the cause of the low oxygen and were first told he had pneumonia and then told it was fibrosis of the lungs. After the 14-day quarantine period ended, my dad was moved to the second floor where his condition worsened and the nurse set his oxygen at the maximum. At this point the family decided to move him back to the hospital. The staff said transport would arrive in 15 minutes; hours later it hadn't arrived and we made the decision call 9-1-1. That call routed to the Avantara switchboard and my brother had to tell the switchboard to call the actual 9-1-1 center. My dad was taken by ambulance to the hospital where he died the following day from double pneumonia. RECOMMENDATION: DO NOT PLACE YOUR LOVED ONE IN THIS FACILITY. IT IS UNDERSTAFFED AND THE CARE IS...

Avantara Park Ridge was one of the nursing homes for which my mother required a transfer. Upon reviewing the evaluations, I received a mixed response. I opted for an in-person tour. I was shown a beautiful floor upon entering the building, and I was informed that my mother would be present on that floor. When my mother was relocated there, it was a complete disaster; however, it was spotless and well-maintained when I first observed it. The floor was filthy and filled with a pungent odor of urine. Proper care was not provided to the patient, my mother. My mother, who was diagnosed with C. diff, wasn't cleansed or changed for more than 10 hours per day. Consequently, she developed an abscess after only three days in the facility. When I contacted the director to discuss my concerns, she appeared friendly and inquired about what she could do to improve the situation. I responded that I desired my mother to be relocated to the floor that I had seen during my initial visit. I was assured that she would relocate to that floor and that I should not be concerned. The following day, I visited and conversed with one of the LPNs. She informed me that the patient would not be transferred to a different room. I requested to speak with the director, but she informed me that she was absent for the day. After approximately an hour, I stepped outside to inquire about the nurse. I was surprised to see the director at the desk with the nurse. It was as though she had never met me and had never engaged in that conversation with me before. I inquired about the room, and she informed me that we were unable to relocate her there due to the fact that the floor was already full. However, I personally visited the floor and discovered that there were a few rooms available. They are dishonest and will present you with the information you desire; however, after the patient arrives, the narrative shifts significantly. This is an inhumane and horrific situation, as they would have only one licensed practical nurse (LPN) and two certified nursing assistants (CNAs) to care for 22 patients in the evening. No, I would not inflict this upon my most vile adversary. Inadequate staffing levels, inadequate food quality, inadequate hygiene and cleanliness, and a failure to address resident...