Nursing Home of the Future: Oak Hollow Pioneering Resident-Centered Care
Since opening 40 years ago, the Oak Hollow Nursing Center has always sat on the same spot of hilly land along a winding, leafy country road in a rural part of Middle Island.
But there is a difference. These days, it is a far healthier-looking Oak Hollow visible through the forests.
The 164-bed facility, one of the oldest nursing centers on Long Island, has undergone a powerful transformation in the last two years, spending some $2 million — the biggest upgrade in its history -- to completely improve lighting, floors, furniture, walls, resident rehab facilities, dining rooms, and comfort areas.
The overhaul has given Oak Hollow a fresh new look that staff and administrators say goes a long way to contributing to resident health and care.
“I’m extremely proud of what we’ve done,” Michael Morrone, the center’s administrator for the last two years, said in an interview Thursday. “It’s been a big undertaking. Change is big for people here,” he said, referring to the approximately 200 staff members and 164 residents.
“It was stressful at times, but I’ve got to give it to my staff and to the residents, who came through it all fine.”
Other renovations and improvements had been made over the years, but staff and owner Dr. Jacob Dimant felt that a major overhaul was necessary to keep Oak Hollow in the forefront of the highly competitive healthcare industry. Fund-raising efforts began and work was started in 2010. The work is about 99 percent complete, Morrone said, and an open house is planned for October 25th, with invites going out to political figures and community leaders.
The major renovations include:
· Replacing all of the lighting in residence areas, with more energy-efficient fixtures, giving those areas a brighter look.
· Putting in entirely new flooring on all three floors of the facility.
· Re-painting and re-surfacing the residents’ rooms. Over the years the walls and doors had been damaged by wheelchairs moving about the halls. These new surfaces protect against such damage.
· The purchase of all new therapy equipment, including treadmills, bikes, and parallel bars.
· The purchase of 60 new beds that are electronically-engineered for resident comfort and safety.
· More beds are being purchased so that each resident will eventually have a new bed that meets their needs.
· The re-building of nursing stations with new countertops and chairs.
· Putting new furniture, including dressers and chairs, in residents’ rooms and adding new 22-inch television screens to each of the rooms.
· Fifty-five inch flat screen TVs were placed in the dining areas and therapy rooms.
· Installing new blinds throughout the building.
· Replacing the center's antiquated call bell, wanderguard, and overhead paging systems to help residents with their safety and well-being.
“This is work that had to be done,” Morrone said. “It’s not like nothing had been done before, but this building is now brand new.”
Oak Hollow provides both short and long-term care. Morrone said residents’ ages vary from those in their 40s to a lady who is now 102 years old, but the average age is 65 to 70. Morrone and other staff members stress that Oak Hollow is more than a nursing home, where in older and darker times, people went to spend their last few years.
The changes have helped with resident care, said Richelle Rugolo, the center’s director of nursing services. “When you renovate like this, it brings about a more upbeat feeling among residents and staff,” said Rugolo, who has worked at the facility since 1998 and supervises a staff of 150.
“People are excited now,” Rugolo said. “People like to see things be more beautiful. The renovation changes have been very positive.”
Allan Fuchs, the center’s director of rehabilitation, who has worked at the facility for 16 years, said he has seen several renovations take place in the past. “I think this time we’ve got it right,” said Fuchs. “We can now compete with and excel over the other healthcare facilities in the area.”
Diana Hawk is a volunteer resident advocate for New York State, who visits healthcare facilities on a regular basis, and speaks to residents and staff. “It really does have a different feel here now,” said Hawk. “It all now has a homier look.”
Residents have reacted positively too. Adele Albert fell in her home in Manorville and has been a resident now since July 2011. The other day, she sat in the center’s therapy room, awaiting treatment. “Some of the [upgraded equipment] I’m not yet ready for,” she said. “But I’m looking forward to trying them.”