Bronson Commons Patient and Family Guide

Our team specializes in post-acute care and rehabilitation to help bridge your transition from hospital.to home. Medical, pharmacy, nursing, therapy, nutrition and social work professionals monitor your progress and work together to ensure you are healing comfortably and working toward your goal.

Nursing

Your unit coordinator partners with you, your doctors and therapists to coordinate your care and monitor your progress. You may also include family and friends in these updates. Nurses assess and evaluate your health needs every day. They bring your medicine, care for your wounds and provide other care as needed. Nurses provides updates and will talk with you about meeting your goals. Work with your nurse to control your pain before your therapy sessions. This allows you to get the most out of each session. Nursing assistants (CNAs) work as a team to make sure you are comfortable. Your CNA will help you with getting up and down, dressing and washing. CNAs serve your meals and help you with eating if needed. If you need to be ready for an appointment, therapy session or to attend an activity, your CNA will help you to be ready on time.

Providers

We have physicians, physician assistants and nurse practitioners who will be involved in your care. A physician will see you for an admission assessment within 48 hours of admission. Because your medical condition is considered stable, you will be seen by one of our providers on an as needed basis. If you feel you need to see a provider, please ask a member of your care team.

Rehabilitation

During your stay, you may work with the rehab team. This team includes occupational therapists, physical therapists and speech-language pathologists. Occupational therapists help you to learn or regain skills needed for daily living. They help you to make tasks safer and easier to do. They work with you to practice self-care, household duties or other skills needed to live independently or with minimal assistance. Physical therapists help you to regain strength, ease pain and move about more freely. They teach you how to use mobility aids if needed, such as a walker or cane. They design an exercise program to help you recover safely and keep up with movements such as getting out of chairs and walking. Speech-language pathologists can help you recover or learn new skills for communication, memory and swallowing.

Registered Dietician

Our registered dietitian combines your food preferences and treatment needs to recommend a diet that helps you heal. They work with the care team to help you maintain your nutritional health.

Social Worker

A social worker will be assigned to coordinate your discharge. He or she will support you and your family through this process. If needed, your social worker will provide information about safe places to live.

It is important to manage your pain so you can take part in therapy and other activities to reach your goals. We want you to enjoy greater comfort while you heal, get enough rest, and return to your normal level of health. Let us know when you are in pain. Ask for pain medicine when you need it. To help describe your pain, your care team may ask you to use a pain scale. You will rate your pain level on a scale of 0 to 10. Please tell us what kind of pain you are having (such as sharp, dull or aching), where your pain is located, if it comes and goes, and what makes it feel better or worse. We may supplement pain medications with other treatments such as ice packs or heat packs, repositioning, activities to help keep your mind off the pain, relaxation techniques or music. Let us know what works best for you.

Your safety is a top priority at Bronson Commons. When you first arrive at Bronson Commons, the staff will assist you in getting up and walking. We need to evaluate your abilities and needs. This practice is in place for your safety. Falls can delay your recovery and extend your stay. Please do the following to avoid falling:

• Use your call light to ask staff for assistance. We will do our best to respond to your call light as quickly as possible. Please wait for help. This is one of the best ways to prevent falls.
• Lock the brakes on your walker or wheelchair.
• Keep a clear path in your room. Large furniture and personal belongings should be out of the way. This helps to reduce tripping hazards.

To protect the privacy and dignity of all our patients and residents, Bronson Commons does not permit electronic surveillance of any kind in patient care areas. In addition, it is not permissible to take pictures, record audio or make videos that show patients or residents without prior written consent. For safety purposes, Bronson Commons does utilize video surveillance of the building’s exterior, parking lots and interior public spaces.

Bronson Commons has four places where you can enjoy your meals. Let the staff know your preference and they will assist you.

Dining Room

The dining room is located at the entrance to East Court. Any patient or resident is welcome to eat lunch and dinner in the dining room. The dining room offers the opportunity to enjoy your meal in a social environment.

Gathering Areas

Each court has a gathering area with one or two small tables. The gathering area is near the nurse's station and has a community television. Gathering areas are often used for residents or patients who may require additional help eating. But everyone is welcome to use this space for any meal if they choose.

Meal Delivery to the Cafe

You can choose to have your meal tray delivered to the Bronson Commons Cafe area. This space is often used if you have visitors who would like to share mealtime with you. It offers a social environment and plenty of additional space.

Room Service

Meal trays are delivered directly to your private room unless you choose otherwise. Enjoying your meal in your room gives you the comfort of your personal space during your meal

We offer a variety of entrées, sandwiches, soups and salads every day. A menu of options is provided at bedside. Tune in to channel 3 on your television to see the featured entrées for the day. If you would like the featured entrée, you do not need to call in your order. Note that some items may be changed if you have a restricted diet. For substitutions or changes, call FOOD (extension 3663) from your room telephone during the following times:

Breakfast - The night before until 7 p.m.

Lunch - 8a.m. to 10:30 a.m.

Dinner - Noon to 3:30 p.m.

Bronson Commons Cafe

The Café offers hot and cold drinks, soups, salads, sandwiches and snacks. Meal specials may also be available. The Café is open to the public, as well as patients and residents. The Café accepts credit/debit only – no cash.

Group activities are scheduled in the mornings and afternoons. Activities include bingo, live music, movies, crafts, worship services, games, dementia care activities and exercise. A calendar of activities is included in our monthly newsletter. Check channel 3 for daily updates.

Playing cards, jigsaw puzzles and puzzle books are available from the Activities department. The library has books to borrow, too. The Administrative Conference Room can be reserved for private gatherings. Call the Activities department at (269) 283-5236 to reserve this room

Clergy Visits and Spiritual Activities

Your clergy member or spiritual leader may visit you any time. If you would like spiritual guidance but do not know whom to contact, the Activities department can help. Local churches work together to provide ecumenical services in the dining room on Sunday afternoons. Eucharistic ministers provide Catholic communion weekly. Rosary and mass are held monthly. Check the monthly activities calendar or channel 3 for more details.

Visitors are welcome anytime you wish. Groups may use the Café and gathering areas on a first-come-first-served basis. The Administrative Conference Room can be reserved for private gatherings as well. Call the Activities department at (269) 283-5236 to reserve this room

Pets

Pets are welcome to visit at Bronson Commons on a case-by-case basis. Your pet should be comfortable with new places and people. There are guidelines for a pet visit. Stop by the reception office for more information.

Mail, Newspaper and Package Delivery

To protect your privacy, all deliveries are received at our reception desk. Our goal is to deliver mail, newspapers and gifts by the end of the day they are received. You may drop off outgoing mail at the reception desk. You can buy stamps if needed. If you wish to transfer your newspaper subscription to Bronson Commons during your stay, please contact the newspaper’s circulation department. The Activities department can help you find the right number to call.

Salon

Salon services are available during your stay. Charges are included on your monthly statement. Your unit clerk can provide you with a price list and help you schedule an appointment. Same-day appointments may be available. Patients and residents are welcome to use the salon space outside of normal operating hours. Any employee can help you access to the room.

Laundry

Your clothing should be labeled. We can help to label your clothing if you send it to laundry in the mesh bag provided in your closet. Staff can assist with this. You may have your clothes washed at Bronson Commons or by your family at home. Your clothing should be labeled, even if your family is washing your clothes at home. We can help label your clothing if you send it to laundry in the mesh bag provided in your closet. Staff can also help with this. We also have a family laundry room. It is by the Café near the entrance to North Court. There is no charge to use the equipment. Laundry soap is available for purchase at the Café.

We will take every precaution to ensure that your stay with us is successful. However, if an unexpected complication arises, we want to honor your wishes. On admission, you will be offered a copy of an Advance Directives form if you don’t have one on file. This will provide guidance to your care team should you be unable to make decisions while you are in our care. Staff can help with completing an Advanced Directive if needed. We can also provide financial Power of Attorney paperwork upon request.

It is your right to leave the facility during your stay. You may need to leave for an appointment or procedure. You may want to leave to attend a family event or church function. Please be sure to alert your nurse or CNA in advance. We ask that you sign-out at the nurse’s station as you leave. This includes your departure time, when you plan to return, and who is responsible for your transportation. This information helps us plan your medication, next meal and scheduled therapy sessions. It also ensures we have a point of contact in the event of an urgent need.

We will do our best to meet your needs throughout your stay at Bronson Commons. However, we understand that you may have concerns about your care. Please share concerns with your social worker, nurse or unit coordinator so we can adequately address them. If you ever feel you need to escalate a concern, there are Concern Report forms available for you in our Café. You may also access our most recent State survey investigation results in this location. Lastly, if you feel you need further guidance, you are welcome to contact the local Long-Term Care Ombudsman. Staff can assist you with contact information.