services like physical therapy , nutritional coaching or a cognitive assessment while preparing to go home . Then the facility ’ s care team would coordinate with the health team to prepare a seamless transition for the patient ’ s care plan to continue at home .
“ Our mission is to get patients back to health and back to life ,” says Pack .
Pack describes Stonerise ’ s process and care as being similar to the West Virginian culture the network was founded on .
“ I think most West Virginians know how great a place this is to call home — that includes our natural beauty and , most importantly , our people ,” he says . “ Time moves a little slower here , and that ’ s a good thing for relationships . Stonerise is locally owned and supported by local team members . We truly are neighbors caring for neighbors . We see ourselves , our patients , their families and our team members as one very large family . Families care for one another and strive to keep one another safe . The same goes for our health system — we are a tight-knit community here , and everyone works together well . It ’ s not as fragmented as in other states .”
Long-Term Care Facilities
There are two primary types of longterm care facilities : skilled — commonly referred to as nursing homes — and assisted living , which are separated by the level of health care a patient may need .
Skilled nursing facilities feature multiple licensed health care professionals and specialists to assist the patients who reside there with their medical needs . These facilities typically accept Medicare , Medicaid , private pay and insurance . Residents of assisted living facilities also have access to licensed health care professionals but are typically more independent and need occasional support from staff . These facilities typically accept private pay from residents .
“ Though the type of long-term care differs in the level of skilled care provided , both offer tremendous opportunities for their residents to socialize , develop friendships , remain active , be entertained , go on trips and so much more ,” says Marty Wright , CEO of the West Virginia Health Care Association ( WVHCA ), a trade organization that oversees more than 130 long-term care facilities in West Virginia .
The WVHCA ’ s member facilities care for more than 10,000 residents and employ more than 15,000 West Virginians . The association serves as the support and resource system for the facilities ’ caregivers while educating the public on the benefits of long-term care in West Virginia and assisting providers in maintaining high standards of care .
“ Throughout our history as an association , the mission has been to bring providers together to advance the quality and standards of care for loved ones entrusted to our member provider facilities ,” says Wright .
The facilities are designed to make residents comfortable and build a sense of community . Often the interior of the facilities is similar to hotels , featuring exercise equipment , living rooms and other social gathering locations and even front porches with welcome mats and rocking chairs for some residents .
Prior to the pandemic , facilities offered activities such as crafting workshops , holiday parties , gardening , concerts , movie nights , dance parties , field trips and bingo .
Technology is also readily available within the facilities , which has been crucial throughout the pandemic in allowing residents to virtually visit with loved ones and providing additional services . For example , an unlimited music catalog allows residents to engage in speech therapy while singing along to familiar tunes . Residents can perform arm stretches by popping bubbles on a large touchscreen and work on dexterity while taking a virtual tour of their hometown , according to Wright .
“ Each facility is different , and I encourage everyone who may be thinking about moving into an assisted living facility or having a loved one transfer into a skilled nursing facility to take a tour or visit a potential site ,” he says .
The facilities allow for community building among residents and the health care workers they see every day .
“ There is a spirit within our state that every stranger is family , and our long-term care facilities are reflective of this West Virginia kindness ,” says Wright . “ The individuals cared for in our facilities are instant family members , and the staff in our facilities are emblematic of the genuine , caring , goodnatured spirit of West Virginia . Our staff members are caring for an old football coach , an elderly neighbor , a friend ’ s parent . Unlike anywhere else , West Virginians recognize the contributions and sacrifices made by previous generations and cherish those who made them . Anyone who chooses long-term care in West Virginia immediately becomes part of a close-knit community and family to caregivers .”
This sentiment has never been more evident than throughout the coronavirus pandemic , as health care workers continue to courageously and graciously care for their residents .
“ Our caregivers not only showed up , but they did so with smiling eyes , gentle hands and kind hearts that residents so need during these difficult times ,” says Wright . “ Despite their own fear of the coronavirus and concerns about personal protective equipment shortages , our long-term care staff continue to do whatever they can to make days seem normal for their residents . They have been courageous , dedicated and loving individuals who go to work each day with the purpose of caring for their fellow West Virginians .”
Hospice and Palliative Care
Those providing end-of-life care , including hospice and palliative care , offer services focused on compassion and comfort to patients with life-limiting illnesses . While hospice and palliative care are similar and often intertwine , there are meaningful differences between the two services . Palliative care , which is also referred to as supportive care , is usually provided alongside curative treatment and can occur at any stage of a serious illness . Although the patient is not
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