Caruth Haven Court is located in an upscale neighborhood off of Central Expressway. The property’s colorful shrubbery and shapely hedges are beautifully trimmed. The two front porches, furnished with rattan rocking chairs, overlook a beautiful fountain and a nearby birdfeeder. The lobby is a comfortably furnished seating area where residents may browse the bookshelves, compose letters at the writing desk, or brew a fresh pot of coffee for morning gatherings. The concierge, administrative offices, living and dining rooms and residents’ mailboxes are all on the first floor. The facility is brightened by a combination of natural and artificial lighting.
An elegant stairwell leads upstairs to the residents’ rooms. High ceilings impart a spacious feel to the rooms, which are carpeted in green. Each has windows and a lighted vanity. Lighting in the closets comes on automatically when the mirrored door is opened. Meals are served restaurant-style in the dining room, which features a lovely view of the garden and the gazebo. Meal options are displayed in glass case outside the dining room. Residents—or their family members—also can pre-order meals. Residents who require special assistance dine on the third floor to reduce their walking distance. The tinkling sounds of the grand piano in the comfortable living room can often be heard throughout the facility. The screened porch is an excellent spot for outdoor lounging. Residents stroll along trimmed walkways or gather in the charming gazebo in the garden. Cozy furnished areas throughout the halls invite residents to socialize. The event calendar is brimming with activities. The activity director schedules movie nights, gardening and field trips to neighboring suburbs, retail shops and bookstores. During restaurant outings, residents’ meals are paid on the company credit card with fees added to individual resident’s monthly bill. In this way residents can go out without having to keep track of credit cards or cash, which can be kept safe in the manager’s office. All outings are supervised by two to three aides and the Activities Director.
Caruth Haven Court offers a high level of service. A move-in coordinator is available to assess existing furnishings to see which ones will fit and be most useful for residents moving into the facility. New residents or those with medication changes can have checks performed every two and a half hours during the night should it be deemed necessary. All aides are CNAs. Residents who need assistance with dressing, bathing, and grooming are encouraged to hire a companion supervised and training by the facility’s management. The facility has changed ownership three times since its inception; however, the original owner, still manages day-to-day operations. Many residents have memory loss, confusion and impaired executive functioning. Management is pursuing a policy whereby all employees obtain an Alzheimer’s Association’s certification in providing care for residents with dementia. The policy is grounded in the philosophy that each individual staff member is integral in caring for residents—and that anything from walking to a meal, getting dressed or assisting with a phone call are all possible learning experiences for both the caregiver and resident.
