To Nursing Home Administrator:
I would like to take this opportunity to express my feelings about the excellent services that my good friend and ward have received through the Bridge at Monteagle. I will enumerate more specifics later in this letter.
His name is Cyrus Jerome Brown whom I have known for more than 30 years. I first met him when I had an opportunity to attend a church service where he was the director of music here in Nashville. I was so impressed with his musical skills I stayed after the services to meet him. Needless to say, he was talented and could read and improvise at the keyboard almost anything you ask him to play. He has played for churches here in middle Tennessee for over 50 years.
In fact, he kept those skills in the forefront of his mind. Even though he was suffering from dementia and would not necessarily be verbal and often times unable to recognize me but still remembered his early trainings as a musician.
Let me now fast forward and say that over the last 4 years it has been a challenge to step up and facilitate Mr. Browne’s affairs, for he was unable to do for himself without issues. The court appointed me as his conservator on September 10, 2010. He does not have any relatives after a divorce in ’90 saving for a few cousins who live in Memphis. After several attempts to contact them, they failed to return my called and provide assistance. Thus, I have been on my own.
Since I live in Nashville, which is approximately 90 miles one way from the facility, I have been limited to weekly or bi-weekly visits. However, I have felt connected for I constantly get updates via telephone calls from the staff. While this is Mr. Browne’s seventh different nursing home, he has lasted longer here than any others combined. I attribute his longevity to the support services that he receives daily from a host of staff members and their willingness to step up to the challenge of a confused patient who has sometimes been combative. The first time he exhibited combativeness at the other facilities, they have called me and said, “Come and get him”. Not the Bridge. They redirect him, and he has now been with the Bridge for 18 months.
Additionally, let me enumerate the following qualities that I see at the Bridge that I wish other facilities would have used:
1. The team approach that The Bridge uses to assure him optimum care.
2. The follow-up on any calls I make about questions that I may have.
3. The weekly calls that are initiated by the nurses, physical therapist, social worker, and others to keep me informed and gain my permission for medical procedures.
4. The business office representative, Elisa Frith and social worker, Patsy Baker, have been exemplary in working with me on countless issues.
5. Most importantly, the nurses and assistants take pride in working with him. I see it every time I make the announced visits-they to talk, feed, and redirect him continuously. They even provided special apparatus to minimize falls.
I cannot say enough about the holistic approach that the Bridge at Monteagle utilizes in behalf of Mr. Browne. It gives me a peace of mind that my ward is getting the best of services even though I am 1.5 hours away. I am indebted to all of your staff for what is done in his behalf and for the countless other patients.
Grateful, Eugen Howard Wade