Cedar Creek of Bedford

Jim Hillenburg

My father stayed at Cedar Creek for several months, before his passing on Oct 31st, 2024. He had severe COPD, and was on oxygen. A few days before his passing that day, my mother had fell extremely ill with a stroke. I was struggling very hard to deal with both parents, with mom in the Indy hospital and dad slowing losing his cognitive abilities. During that time, the director at Bedford was such a comfort for me. She talked with my dad when he was convinced that everyone was out to get him because of his mental confusion. He knew she was the boss lady, and being a former policeman, he understood authority. I just wanted to commend her for all of the love, and the leadership she displayed every day taking care of my dad. I saw her often while I visited. I saw her manage her staff, and kept them professional, at all times. Her leadership helped to run Cedar Creek in a way that residents, at least my mom, loved living there. I knew she was safe and well taken care of daily. My wife and I talked often about how the director was an absolute BOSS, in the best meaning of that word. She treated us, the family of a resident so well, so comforting, and I just feel so blessed that she was on our side every day with our struggles, which were very hard, especially with both parents ill at the same time. After Dad passed, and mom was able to get out of the hospital on blood thinners, she wanted to live at Cedar Creek. Mom lived there from Nov 2024 till her passing recent passing. My mom was the total opposite of my dad when it comes to outgoing friendliness towards everyone around her. Mainly because dad had been a policeman and was wary of people. My mom loved everyone, and she loved living there. She loved talking to and getting to know “the girls”. She loved the activities, like bingo and crafts, and outings with the other residents. The staff made her “Ambassador” and hung that title in her door. She was so proud to be able to do that. The activities director was just outstanding working with mom. I’m sure she loved having mom too, because mom lit up the room and the director told me it wasn’t the same without mom. Also, the director of nursing was also just outstanding working with mom. On mom’s last day, she came in really late after work when hospice called needing help setting up special medicine. My wife and I loved the Director of nursing and she was also a take charge type person. The day mom came back to Cedar Creek before her passing, she was in extreme pain and director of nursing came down to room, took total control, and was ordering ALL HANDS ON DECK on her walkie talkie to when mom was getting transferred off the gurney to he bed. The girls that came in during the hours from 12am till 7am the last night mom was alive, who turned mom every hour were also so comforting to me and my wife. They were so respectful of our presence and did not bother us, and even used a flashlight. I know that was likely from great training too. The maintenance man was also very kind to my mom. We had several interactions with him for repairs, like the AC unit. He is a treasure. The receptionist at the front desk is the final person I’d like to mention. She had a special way of greeting me when I came in. Hard to explain, but she knew me and she is just such a genuine person. She would tell me how mom was doing every day, as I was checking in. I loved her doing that. She also kept me calm the day I was trying to get my dad’s obituary written while mom was moving in, and how I was about to blow a gasket because WBIW had re-written the whole thing that I gave to the funeral home. She kept me calm, which is hard thing to do when I am stressed out getting ready to explode. Anyhow, I don’t know anything about the corporate entity that owns Cedar Creek of Bedford. But I do know one thing, that people “in the arena” make the magic happen. If I was in charge, I’d make sure all these people were acknowledged, and get a raise, and I would NEVER let them get away, because they are irreplaceable. All of them. Especially the director because she runs the place. I feel so blessed to have had Cedar Creek be available in my town, and have it so clean and well managed with caring people. The hospice nurse told me and my wife something that is so true. She said “I love coming to Cedar Creek in Bedford. Around Louisville, you have run down looking assistive living facilities with great people, and you have great looking facilities with terrible people running it. She said she always tried to steer people to the facility with the great people, because it made the most difference. But at Bedford you get it both ways, you get it all ! Thank you!

Mike

My aunt has been at Cedar Creek of Bedford for almost a year now. It is exceptionally clean, and the staff is excellent. The residents get well cared for. Each day, they have different activities for the clients that are there. It is a wonderful place. When we talk about the food, sometimes my aunt likes it and sometimes it's so-so. I've been there when they serve the food, and it all looks good to me. They have a big family room where the clients can watch TV, plus they have different rooms for their activities. They have some type of different activity every day of the week. In the morning, they always have devotions. And then they have a church service on Sunday morning at 10. They are very, very good there. They've got the best well-being care for the patients. They will take them to doctor's appointments or whatever.

Rebecca

I toured Bliss Place. I like that it was a one-floor facility and small. I think it only had 50 units. When I visited, I got to see exercise time. I got to tour the facility. There were two buildings and more of a square. Inside the middle of the two buildings is an open garden, where they have gardening activities for the residents and entertainment music activities in there. All around the facility, they had furniture and wide hallways. Bliss Place looked a little bit dated, but the furniture was more the type of furniture my mom would have had in her home; it was older antiques looking stuff. It had several locations where they had two or three different pianos throughout that tour that I saw. They had the atrium. You could go out, and the doors could be locked to keep people from going out. If they got outside and they didn't get in before the inside doors were locked, it would never allow people to not be able to get in from that atrium part of the building. They weren't out there overnight. I liked the people, and there was just something about Bliss House that I think my mom would prefer (if that's where we ended up sending her). I can't continue to take care of her with a hospice out. Every time I saw a patient, I saw somebody within four or five feet of them. They were usually talking and interacting.

Carol

I thought Bliss Place was fabulous. If I ever get to a point where I need to go somewhere, that's where I'm going. The person who toured me was amazing. I think her name was Katrina. She was kind and considerate. Everybody in that place was amazing. One of the nurses, Deb, talked to us after the tour too. The rooms were beautiful. They have a room set up for you to come in and see what the possibilities are. They took me to the room that my aunt might be eligible for, and it was amazing. It had a lot of possibilities because it was an empty room. They have this courtyard that has a garden in it with beautiful rose bushes that some of the people can plant. They also have a piano in the common area and a craft room. They're all socially distant so I was appreciative of that. I just can't say enough good things about them.

Monk's Son

My father is a resident at Bliss Place in Bedford, Indiana.  He is suffering from Alzheimer’s and was diagnosed in July, 2019.  He moved into Bliss Place in Nov. 2019.  He was ambulatory and actually carried some of his personal belongings during the move-in.  The staff was very helpful and communicated clearly what was to be expected of my father as a resident and what services Bliss Place would provide.  My father's decline has been rapid.  By March of 2020 my father was no longer able to walk.  Shortly afterward Dad was also unable to feed himself.  The reason I share this information is to give you an idea of the progression of his disease.  The Bliss Place staff has clearly communicated my father's decline and needs.  The staff is very caring and compassionate. They have always suggested ways to improve my father's quality of life as his health has declined.  The struggle that we all have endured with Covid-19 has been tough.  For several months the Local Health Department has prohibited in-person visits.  The Bliss Place staff understands the struggles residents and families have experienced.  They have offered internet video conference, telephone, thru window visits, porch when it was allowed, and now face-to-face visits in a conference room with social distancing and masks.  I cannot think of a way the staff could provide a better service to my father.  If anyone has a family member needing an Assisted Living Facility the best way to say I LOVE YOU is to have them live at Bliss Place. David Dwyer,

Lee35

Bliss Place had spacious, clean apartments and a good set up for laundry. They did not provide a lot of health care, but they had places in the city where they sometimes sent their residents. The staff was very helpful and showed me one-bedroom and two-bedroom apartments, which I thought were quite spacious. You could bring your own furniture. They had transportation to take you to doctors' appointments, grocery shopping, and some entertainment events.