ELLINWOOD — Ellinwood Country Living gave visitors a glimpse of an option for long term nursing care during a community-wide open house on Dec. 3. They served snacks while getting a tour of the eight-bedroom home, located in the heart of Ellinwood.

ECL, formerly Ellinwood Country Place Senior Living, is a Home Plus facility designed to give residents and their families an alternate option when a loved one physically can no longer stay in their own home due to memory or physical impairments that come with advanced age or dementia. The facility provides 24-hour care by CNAs and CMAs, and a nurse is available either in the facility or minutes away by phone at all times.

"We’ve made some important but simple modifications to our facility so that we can care for residents with memory impairments such as forgetfulness, wandering, confusion and mild behavior problems," said Kara Brauer, staff nurse. Brauer said that these modifications mean the home is now equipped to care for residents with greater mental and physical needs and than it was able to care for previously. In addition to facility changes, the staff has received training from Dr. Catherine Strecker, PhD, an educator with the state of Kansas who specializes in disorders of the brain and memory. The staff receives ongoing education based on the individual needs of each resident.

The Director of Ellinwood Country Living, Casey Pohlman, explained that she finds people are looking for a warm, safe place for their loved ones who just can’t stay home anymore. "We are seeing a need in the community for dementia and memory care, and we understand that a smaller, intimate home setting offers all people – but especially people with dementia – the optimal environment to thrive and live out their lives," Pohlman said.

To provide the best care for each resident, ECL limits the staff to resident ratio to 1:8. "We can check on them, do their nails and visit with them during meals," said Maretha Washington, CNA.

The home also collaborates with Ellinwood Elementary School, which sends children each week to read or do crafts with the residents.

Ed Spangenberg said location was part of the reason he and his two sisters chose to move their mother, Alma Spangenberg, to ECL in 2007. One of the sisters lives in Ellinwood. "It’s simple," said Spangenberg. "We wanted her close to us and to know she was getting good care. We don’t have to worry about her here."

In addition to long-term care, ECL provides daycare and short-term respite care, which is available for families needing temporary care due to a caregiver being unavailable because of surgery, illness or vacation.

For more information, call (620) 564-2100, or stop by for a tour.