Avista Nursing and Rehab

Renee L.

My mother was sent to Avista from Covenant Hospital as it was the only place available to take of her and her needs and had a room. I was very skeptical as many people only rate this place by the location. Turns out, I will argue with anyone that ever tells me this place is not a good place to place your family member. How would they know anyway? They've never had anyone here!! My mom had a brain tumor and the beginnings of dementia. The brain doctors were optimistic that the radiation may help shrink the tumor that was so far imbedded that they couldn't take it out and that rehab would help. (turns out God had different plans) That first night when she arrived at Avista, after 10pm, when the ambulance transported her there, I met everyone at that time of night, I was impressed. I visited her 5 days a week. Each day the workers impressed me more and more. The girls at the front desk work their butts off and are SO SO SO friendly and they know each and every patient and know how to communicate with them. There were days I waited for my mom to get ready for a visit so as I waited, the more days I was there, the patients would come up to me in either their wheelchairs or walk up to me to chat. (I took care of her for months at home and it does take about 20 to 30 minutes to even take them to the bathroom!) People are in wheelchairs sometimes by the back corridor wall when you go in but I found out, to them it's like sitting on their porch, getting out of their room, interacting to the best of their ability with others. They would smile and wave at me and some would race up to chat with me. I fell in love with them. (I will truly miss the patients also). I got calls all the time from nurses, CNA's the social worker, the nutritionist and other people I don't know their titles with updates all the time. I mean, I would be going there after I got out of work anyway that day, but they always called with questions or updates. My mom was on a pureed diet and once I ate some of this shredded mexican chicken thing and mashed potato side and it was fabulous! She always had fresh ice water and yogurt, pudding, etc. I seen the menus and dang! It sounded fantastic. I seen some of the patients dishes in the dining room and it looked great. My mother did pass away there as I watched. I got so many calls that morning and went there early that afternoon to be there. A lady that works there in the office that I would talk to about things with my mom, stayed with me for over an hour that afternoon after I was there a couple hours. When my mom was slowly and quietly passing, she asked if I wanted to be alone with her and my insides screamed, "NO! PLEASE STAY", yet I said aloud, "Oh no, that's ok, you can stay". I will be forever grateful for her! I know she has tons of paperwork to do and yet she stayed! Who does that???? Throughout my mothers 2 month stay there I have paid attention to every person there, worker and patient. The patients are happy. The workers CARE! The workers work long long hours and have to go home and handle their own lives and families and possible personal family problems like everyone does, yet not only has every single person that works there that took such incredible care of my mom and all the other patients, they also took care of ME! They cared about me also! The first month my mom was there and she was much more cognitive, I would always ask her how people are treating her. She would go on about how nice everyone is and how they treated her SO good! The afternoon she passed away as I waited for the funeral home person to pick her up, nurses and other people, many people, that cared for her came in the room and gave their condolences and told me stories of how sweet my mom was. In my honest opinion, I think people should visit their loved one more than once a month or one hour every other weekend and truly pay attention to what is going on. The world doesn't revolve around someone's opinion of how old the building is or here-say from people that have never had a loved one ever stay here or people that have only visited once. I was there! I was there all the time! Listen to me! I am impressed with the care, compassion and professionalism I have seen with each and every person that works there. I know they have fun activities that the residents have done. I would look into the rooms of other patients and sit with my mom in her room sometimes and it was always clean. The evening when the funeral lady came to take my mom away, she stayed in the room and we chatted for over a half hour! Dang! When she wheeled my mom out and put her in the vehicle a nurse was leaving her shift. She could have just walked to her car and ignore me and go home to deal with her own life, but she didn't. She stopped as I quietly cried behind her going to my car and asked me if I was the only one? I said, "Yes, I am her only one". She put her arm around me and I tried to thank her for all her hard work and she told me she just got off a 12 hour shift! This is NOT an easy job for everyone that works there! I think that even when no one thought I was watching, I was totally watching everything and I could not and will not find the words to Thank Avista enough for absolutely everything!

Laura

I would never send my mother to Avista Nursing and Rehab again, no matter what. She was there for rehab. I don't believe she received the care that she needed, not even close. Their level of care is what I liked least about it, and the communication with the family members. My mother was left in a chair for hours and couldn't get out. Feces-covered blankets were left on the floor for days. I don't like anything about this place, not the care, not the housekeeping. I've left messages for several people, and nobody ever called me back. So, it starts right from the top, all the way down to the bottom. The staff were 50/50. I wasn't happy with some of them, but some of them were very nice. My mother didn't eat there because she was TPN. I'm not sure about the value for money; her insurance picked up everything.

faithanne

my sister there less than one day this week,horrible care if any.given no water for 20hrs,had to piss herself,cause no staff answered her call lite for over an hour.then the 3rd shift gal came in and said you are my my patient,sorry.when her aide finally came in,she covered piss with pape towels,and did not change urine soaked bed..no oral care ,no washing her up for the day,no rehab therapy,not even dressed in street clothes for therapy,accused her of lying(staff) no call liteto use,was on her floor entire time.i took her out of this awful place 20 hrs.after admission

Provider Response

jcdavis1

The staff does an excellent job making sure each patient's need is being met in a timely manner. I stayed for over a month for rehabilitation and would recommend this facility for anyone in need of care of permanent living.