Where Better Care is a Family Matter

Post-Surgical/Orthopedic Rehabilitation at EECC

Orthopedic rehabilitation at Elmhurst Extended Care Center goes beyond your therapy at our facility. We’re there every step of the way to make sure your post-surgical experience sets you up for success upon returning home.

Following any surgery, it’s important to make sure that your musculoskeletal system is brought back to a proper functioning level. This includes your bones, muscles, cartilage, tendons, ligaments, and joints. Orthopedic rehabilitation provides the necessary care and treatment through physical therapy that allows you to return to your level of functionality before surgery, and in some cases, puts you at a greater level of functionality than before.

Post-surgical, orthopedic rehabilitation through Elmhurst Extended Care Center offers many advantages including:

Individualized Care Plans

At Elmhurst Extended Care Center, we understand that each and every person’s needs are uniquely theirs. Likewise, each person’s care should be unique to their own needs and situation.

For any patient receiving physical therapy at our facility, we sit down with you and create an individualized care plan that encompasses your needs following surgery, your goals during your stay, and your vision for what it will be like when you return home.

Our dedicated and knowledgeable staff put together a plan with you that is centered around the care that you need, not anyone else. If you have family members joining you for this process, we also work closely with them to ensure that your needs are being met because at EECC, your family is our family.

Home-Like Environment During Your Stay

Staying somewhere other than your own home during rehabilitation can be a difficult transition for anyone. Our facility is designed to feel as much like home as possible. We offer many private rooms that include their own private restroom, bed, sitting area, and TV. Our courtyard is a wonderful gathering place that brings that feeling of the comforts of home outdoors, and our aviary is a unique touch that allows our facility to not feel like a facility at all, rather just an extension of your home.

We hear repeatedly from both long and short term residents and their family members how much Elmhurst Extended Care Center doesn’t have the sterile feel of most nursing care facilities. It’s our goal to make you as comfortable as possible, no matter how long or short your stay.

Assistance Upon Returning Home

Post-surgical, orthopedic rehabilitation through EECC doesn’t stop the moment you walk out the door. We know in order for you to be successful following therapy, you need to be able to return to functioning well in your own home environment.

Our staff works closely with you and your loved ones to ensure that your return home is an easy transition and that your needs are being met. We are always here to help if any needs arise after your return home.

If you or a loved one is preparing for a surgery, stop by Elmhurst Extended Care Center today to see how our dedicated team of rehabilitation therapists can assist you with your recovery.

The Difference a Family-Owned Facility Provides in Skilled Nursing Healthcare

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When the time arises that you’re focused on mental images of nursing homes and the negative connotations that can sometimes accompany those thoughts, you may feel like you’re admitting and recognizing that either you or a family member is getting older, and their needs have changed.

What’s more, you’d love to find a facility where the focus is not so much on “group care,” but rather on aiming to offer a superior, individualized quality of life approach for you or your loved one.

A Family of Caregivers Focused on Your Family

Since 1960, Elmhurst Extended Care Center has solved this dilemma in skilled nursing care by taking a different approach: the “small home,” family-owned model.

Instead of multi-story buildings where residents share rooms along bleak, long corridors – facilities that resemble hospitals at worst and corporate hotel chains at best – we try to create a home-like environment, where your loved one receives the individualized care and attention they deserve.

Our approach is simple … we truly are a family of caregivers focused on you and your family.

A Setting That Feels Like Home

At EECC, our smaller, family-owned model moves away from the hospitalization-like treatment of seniors. Within our facility, we try to recreate the personalized, patient-centric care given to a loved one in a home environment.

The big difference between large, traditional skilled nursing care facilities and smaller, family-owned facilities is the organizational structure. Traditional care facilities are hierarchical, task-centric organizations, where large staffs focus on executing a strict routine of tasks associated with the care of patients.

Elmhurst Extended Care Center is family-owned and run by a small, self-managed team, meaning the residents’ voices are heard and listened to – and our skilled nursing staff can better cater to each of their needs and preferences.

Enjoy More Staff Per Resident

The core attributes families are looking for, no matter what type of out-of-home extended care they are considering, include quality healthcare; staff who are compassionate, friendly and responsive; and security, safety and peace of mind that their family member is taken care of like their own.

EECC excels in these areas, where as larger institutions may fall short. A low ratio of residents to staff means staff members are more likely to notice problems early, when they are small, and help patients get treatment before those problems become serious.

Ability to Meet Specialized Needs In A Small Community Setting

For anyone with specialized needs, whether it’s a doctor-mandated diet, certain lifestyle choices or a cognitive disability such as dementia, EECC can be the ideal choice. Our facility more easily caters to these specific, individualized needs because of our incredible staff-resident ratio and our in-house specialists such as our physical therapists and dietitians.

You and Your Family Always Come First

EECC offers the opportunity for close relationships with the caring staff and other residents. We are not a large corporation with multiple branches and locations, so the setting feels comfortable, inviting, and simply like a natural extension of your home.

Elmhurst Extended Care Center raises the bar for skilled nursing standards and cares for you and your loved ones like they are family.

From excellent, unparalleled healthcare, to a host of amenities such as physical rehabilitation, long-term care, memory care, and respite stays, EECC is deeply committed and connected to you and the communities we serve. We work to meet the physical, emotional, and personal needs of residents in a caring, compassionate environment where families always come first.

To learn more about how Elmhurst Extended Care Center can meet you and your loved ones needs today, call or stop by!

Elmhurst Council Approves Expansion for Elmhurst Extended Care Center

Elmhurst Extended Care Center will be expanding their facilities to offer more private rooms and many other benefits.
A rendering of the planned addition to the facility.

Our vision at Elmhurst Extended Care Center has always been to provide the highest quality of care for our residents and their families centered around a home-like environment filled with love, compassion, and a positive outlook for any that stay with us.

In pursuit of continuing and advancing our already high level of care, we purchased land adjacent to our current location and applied to expand our facility to ultimately provide our residents with the accommodations they deserve.

Elmhurst City Council Approves Expansion

The new, two-story, 31,000 square foot building has officially been approved by Elmhurst City Council and will expand our current Lake Street facility onto Fremont Street. The new building will attach directly to our current location.

This new addition to our facility will bring so much more to our current and future residents. Here are just a few ways the expanded Elmhurst Extended Care Facility will benefit those that stay with us:

More Room for Residents

Once the expansion is complete, our facility will be able to fully utilize its 108 bed license. Currently, the facility operates approximately 85 beds to prevent overcrowding.

In an effort to afford more privacy as well as the home-like environment our residents truly appreciate, the enlarged facility will offer 54 private rooms. These private rooms provide the ability to enjoy extra comfort as well as an increased level of patient care.

For those that are paying privately and are looking for ways to save money, we will also have 27 semi-private rooms.

More Variety in Nutrition

Something we are very excited about at Elmhurst Extended Care Center is the coming of cook-to-order option we will be able to offer with the completion of the expansion!

Residents will have the option to place orders for their meals similar to ordering room service at a hotel. This option is another that really drives home the importance we place on having our residents feel like they’re at home.

For any residents that aren’t able to order for themselves, we will still feature a set menu full of balanced, nutritious meals like we do now.

We are excited about expanding our facility! These improvements will amplify our continuous, high level of care, allowing our residents and their families to feel confident in knowing they’ve chosen the best place for themselves and their loved ones.

While a definitive date has not yet been set, Elmhurst Extended Care Center hopes to break ground this fall!

Interview with Anne, Short Term Rehabilitation Center Patient

Former short term patient, Anne, discusses how EECC’s expert staff at our rehabilitation center helped her after she broke her hip.

When Anne found herself in the hospital after a fall that broke her hip, she wasn’t sure where to turn for her short term rehabilitation care. After choosing to use our rehabilitation center, she found that she received more than just the ability to get back on her feet.

We caught up with Anne to see how her rehab at EECC helped her get in even better shape than she was before.

What procedure or situation occurred that required you to need a rehabilitation center?

I was at home when I felt the urge to use the restroom. I live in a split level and had to go up a few stairs to get to it.

I’m not sure what happened but next thing I knew, I had fallen and slid down a few stairs and was in a lot of pain. I called my son, and he told me to call 911. The paramedics arrived and took me to the hospital.

When I got there, they took x-rays and told me my hip was broken. I was bruised all over.

How easy did you find the process to be in setting up rehab through EECC?

It was extremely easy for me.

Because I was stuck in the hospital there wasn’t much I could do to research where to go. I chose Elmhurst Extended Care Center because they visited me in the hospital and explained what would happen next and what to expect. It was nice because they offered to explain and help me whether I chose to go to Elmhurst Extended Care or not.

They seemed like the only ones that really cared. They just wanted to make sure I understood what was going on and were there to help.

What was your stay like? The staff?

I couldn’t say enough about my stay. First off, the place is extremely clean and well maintained.

It doesn’t smell!

I’ve been to other places to visit friends, and it either smells bad or like too much air freshener. At Elmhurst Extended Care it doesn’t smell like anything. It’s just clean.

My room was nice and bright. It had a big window letting in lots of light which looked out into the neighborhood. I had my own bathroom, fridge, and big screen TV. The room was well decorated.

Although the aesthetics were nice, the staff is really what makes Elmhurst Extended Care Center a hidden treasure. The CNAs were attentive and so kind. They always were smiling and happy to help.

The therapy staff was amazing. They saw me within an hour of me arriving and were there everyday to work with me. Because of them, I am in better shape than before I even broke my hip.

What did you enjoy the most about choosing to go through short term rehabilitation with EECC?

I enjoyed being around so many wonderful and caring people.

I was nervous about going anywhere but when I arrived at Elmhurst Extended Care, my worries went away immediately. The staff cared for me and wanted me to be happy. I could feel I was in good hands.

My son didn’t have to worry about a thing either. I hate being a burden on him, but he didn’t even miss a day of work.

How do you feel your mobility, health, and situation have improved since going through EECC’s short term rehabilitation program?

Like I said before, I’m better now than I was before I fell down the stairs.

I recommend Elmhurst Extended Care to anyone who needs help. If anything happens to me in the future, I’ll definitely go back to see my friends at Elmhurst Extended Care.

If you or a loved one are in need of a short term rehabilitation center that offers much more than just physical therapy, give Elmhurst Extended Care Center a call today!

8 Questions to Ask Before Choosing a Long Term Care Facility

Before choosing a long term care facility for you or your loved one, make sure you ask these eight questions.

When it comes to choosing a long term care facility, whether for yourself or a loved one, the decision can be difficult. It’s often challenging to know what to ask and where to pick, and the decision shouldn’t be made lightly.

We’ve compiled a list of eight questions to ask before choosing a long term care facility to make the struggle of choosing a skilled nursing facility easier to bear.

1. What are the staffing ratios?

Staffing ratios are a serious matter when it comes to choosing any skilled nursing facility. You need confidence in knowing that the staff isn’t stretched so thin that they won’t be able to attend to you or your loved one’s needs when they arise. Ensuring the extended care center you’re examining has more staff to handle the needs of the facility is key.

2. What are the inspection ratings?

This question is of utmost importance as it gives you an understanding of how the skilled nursing facility operates on a daily basis. Every year, nursing facilities are inspected by the Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services and put under rigorous examination to ensure they are properly rated according to the care they provide. Their rating reflects this exam, and it’s a number you don’t want to take lightly. Take a look at the top rated nursing homes from U.S. News & World Report.

3. What services are offered?

Not everyone needs a long term care facility. Some might simply need a short term care facility, others might be in search of Alzheimer’s care, and some might be looking for a rehabilitation center following a health event or procedure. Knowing the different services offered at a skilled nursing facility gives you a better idea should other needs present themselves down the road.

4. Are Medicare and/or Medicaid accepted?

Whether you’re in a position to need it or not, you should know the answer to this question. There may come a point in time that money runs out, and you’re unable to afford the long term care being received. Knowing beforehand if the option to utilize Medicare and/or Medicaid is or isn’t there could make a big difference for you down the road.

5. Are the care plans individualized?

Just like in everyday life, no two people are the same. Much in the same manner, no two people’s care plans will be the same either. Look for a long term care facility that focuses on providing individualized care plans so that you or your loved one can get the care you need and deserve.

6. Is there a RN available at all times?

What happens when you or your loved one needs attentive care in the middle of the night? Will a registered nurse be available? Or will they be forced to wait until the next shift arrives, or worse, be delivered care by someone unqualified? Make sure the skilled nursing facility has a RN on-site 24/7.

7. What kind of activities are available?

It’s important that you or your loved one stays active even when residing at a long term care facility. Find out what activities are scheduled, how often they occur, and if any are open to family members. Knowing that you can join in the fun with your loved one will be an extra plus for both you and them.

8. Are personal belongings allowed?

Making the transition from home to a skilled nursing facility can be a challenging one. Often times, the comfort of having something from home can make it easier. Find out if personal belongings are allowed in resident rooms of the extended care center you’re checking out.

For more info, take a look at this comprehensive checklist from Medicare of things to think about and look for when choosing a long term care facility.

If you’re looking for a place that fits all of the above and more, stop by Elmhurst Extended Care Center. We offer Alzheimer’s care, a rehabilitation center, long term care, and so much more!

Short Term Care Benefits at a Facility vs at Home

Elmhurst Extended Care Center offers short term rehabilitation services specialized to each individual.

You’re preparing to have a procedure done that will require short term rehabilitation, but how do you decide whether you should go to a skilled nursing facility with a rehabilitation center or head back to the comforts of your own home? While home is typically the “feel good” answer, it isn’t necessarily the best solution in the long run.

Specially Trained Therapists

As you well know, the therapy done following a procedure is crucial to your overall outcome and determining how well, or how poorly, your body heals. A rehabilitation center in a short term care facility provides you with specially trained therapists that have dedicated their professional lives to focused therapy that not only enriches a person’s life but also gives them the best chance at successful healing.

Constant, Professional Access

Short term rehabilitation in a skilled nursing facility allows you constant access to medical professionals, allowing your needs and concerns to be addressed when they occur instead of waiting for someone who can get back to you on the phone or stop by your home for a visit.

Accountability

More often than not, those who choose to tackle their own short term rehabilitation at home seldom do their follow up exercises and therapy as often as needed. Utilizing a rehabilitation center ensures your therapy is done correctly and as often as required so that you may achieve your therapy goals much quicker.

More Than Just a Rehabilitation Center

Choosing the benefits of a short term care facility for your rehabilitation needs offers so much more than just follow-up therapy after a procedure. The social aspect alone allows for an environment you might not otherwise get at home, and being around others has proven to provide a positive mindset, which in turn, helps the healing process. A skilled nursing facility also provides you with a setting where comfort is a priority. Enjoy amenities you won’t find at home while taking advantage of the ability to relax so that you can heal.

Elmhurst Extended Care Center offers a rehabilitation center in Elmhurst unlike any other. Our skilled therapists go above and beyond to make sure that your stay is one of great success, and we create individualized care plans for each of our patients so that you, your family, and EECC can ensure your goals are achieved.

If you invest time now in choosing a skilled nursing facility to manage your short term rehabilitation, you will prolong your quality of life down the road.

Interview with Administrator, Love Dave

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Elmhurst Extended Care Center takes great pride in our staff. Our skilled nursing facility is filled with a great group of caring people, making it a welcoming place for residents and their families. Our administrator, Love, is no exception. Having started as an intern in 2007 with EECC and then coming on full-time the following year, Love has helped in every department, and eventually accepted the position of Administrator as he truly valued the family-first mentality of our facility.

We sat down with Love to get an exclusive view of what brought him here and why he continues to be at the heart of Elmhurst Extended Care Center.

What brought you to choose to intern at EECC?

I wanted to intern at Elmhurst Extended Care Center because I was looking for a career path. I honestly had no idea what I wanted to do going into my last semester in college. I talked to family and friends and my mom was the one that suggested I go to EECC to see if it would be a good fit. She had been employed at EECC for long before that and thought it was a great place to work. I agreed once I started coming in.

What does your day-to-day look like as the Administrator?

My day-to-day changes everyday. That’s actually one of the reasons I like this position so much. It never gets dull or repetitive. My job is to oversee all of the operations, supplement the departments, and give them the tools that they need to succeed. That includes hiring new staff, creating and revising policies and procedures, negotiating contracts, resolving conflicts, handling investigations, ensuring compliance with state and federal regulations, and whatever else comes to my attention.

What do you believe sets EECC apart from other skilled nursing facilities?

Elmhurst Extended Care Center is different than other skilled nursing facilities because we are a small family business. We are here everyday and care about the people that have trusted us to help them. We treat our staff, residents, and their families like we would our own. The staff are our own employees, they aren’t contracted from another corporation. Our residents are cared for by the same people everyday and are able to build relationships with us. For people that want a personal touch when they get care, come to us.

EECC’s family-owned skilled nursing facility offers many avenues of care including a rehabilitation center, a certified Alzheimer’s Care Center, and long term care. It really is a place where better care is a family matter.

The Elmhurst Extended Care Center Difference

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Elmhurst Extended Care Center isn’t your average, cookie-cutter nursing home. As the only family owned and operated nursing home in DuPage County, we focus on the family aspect and the compassionate, home-like environment of our facility to provide every resident and their family peace of mind in knowing they’re receiving the best possible quality care. Our staff-to-resident ratio is one of the highest in Illinois, and all of our residents receive individualized care plans to ensure both their goals, and their family’s goals, are met.

Skilled Nursing Facility

Our passion for providing a skilled nursing facility for short term rehabilitation, long term care, and a memory care unit for those with Dementia and Alzheimer’s disease is reflected in that we are on the preferred provider list of many local area hospitals and have a five-star rating with Medicare – not to mention U.S. News and World Report ranked our facility as one of the Best Nursing Homes in the country. We also hold a three-year special commendation from Commission on Accreditation of Rehabilitation Facilities because of the excellence our experienced and caring staff exhibits.

Rehabilitation Center

The rehabilitation center at Elmhurst Extended Care Center utilizes the most current medical equipment to ensure you’re able to get back to your highest level of function. We take great pride in the rehabilitation care we provide our residents, and our dedicated, in-house team of therapists has over 70 years combined experience to help you achieve improved health and quality of life.

Short Term Rehabilitation

When you’re looking at short term rehabilitation, it’s important to choose a facility that will be able to handle your needs around the clock. Our nursing staff is on-hand 24 hours a day, and all our therapists are in-house – allowing you the access you need to get back up and running. We’re also Medicare certified, and our short term rehabilitation services include physical, occupational, and speech therapy.

Long Term Care

Deciding where to pursue long term care can be a challenge. That’s why we make the decision easier on you by providing a skilled nursing facility designed to give a home-like environment with private and semi-private room options priced far below other nursing home centers. We also facilitate ease of daily life by providing complete, comprehensive care including blood sugar monitoring, medication administration, laundry services, housekeeping, and assisting with meals as well as providing activity programs and amenities such as a beauty salon, patio, aquarium, and much more. We know that each person has their own set of individual needs as well as their own challenges in transitioning to a long term care facility. To make certain those are met, our team focuses on person-centered care, rather than on the facility as a whole.

Making It Even Better

We’re always looking at ways to improve the quality of life for our residents – whether you’re with us for short term or long term care. Just this year, we’ve made several improvements to do just that. We now offer refrigerators in our private and semi-private rooms for short term rehabilitation patients. Our front lobby was renovated to create a reception area and admissions office to provide a more comfortable and private admissions process, and before the end of the year, we’ll have an additional dining and activities area on our secured second floor Memory Care Unit.

To experience the difference our family-owned facility has to offer, check out our skilled nursing facility, and give us a call or stop by for a tour.

EECC Makes U.S. News & World Report’s List of Best Nursing Homes AGAIN

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Elmhurst Extended Care Center is proud to announce that our skilled nursing facility has received another “5” rating – the highest rating able to achieve – and are considered one of the Best Nursing Homes by U.S. News & World Report. We work hard to make sure our facility is the best it can possibly be for our residents and their families, and we’re excited that we continue to make this distinguished list.

Who receives a Top Performing rating?

Every year, U.S. News & World Report evaluates over 15,000 skilled nursing facilities across the country. These nursing homes are rated from a 1 (poor grade) to a 5 (top performing), and any that receive a grade of 4.5 or higher qualify for the Top Performing rating.

How is a skilled nursing facility rated?

Data is pulled from Nursing Home Compare, a program run by the Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services (CMS). CMS is a federal agency that sets and enforces standards for nursing homes. Each skilled nursing facility is looked at in the following three areas of performance to help determine their grade:

  1. State-conducted health inspections
  2. Nurse staffing
  3. Medical quality measures

When looking for a long term care or rehabilitation center, you can trust that Elmhurst Extended Care Center is providing you with the best.