River Garden Hebrew Home for the Aged

I came to River Garden after a two week inpatient stay at Baptist Downtown. River Garden came highly recommended, so I was happy to go there. It wasn't a good experience. The The bathroom had only a curtain with no door and there was no shower. The room was tiny, the A/C was broken and the room was roasting. I asked about taking a shower, and was informed that it was down the hall, and someone had to take you there. I wanted to return to inpatient....which is a very sad state of affairs. The intake nurse supervisor kept going on about how young I was, how surprised she was, and that she had never had someone so young in there...I am 62...her comments made me very uneasy. I explained that I had problems with coughing at night. Her response was that everyone does. That really wasn't the thing to say to someone who just spent two weeks inpatient, was told by staff five days in that they had been very worried about me, and who didn't resolve with intensive treatment. I was in RG for mobility issues and extremely severe asthma. No albuteral was left in my room for the nebulizer I supplied. I had a severe asthma attack and rang for a nurse...I finally went out into the hallway and motioned for help because I was unable to breathe. There was no rescue inhaler left for me, either. The nurse kept it with him. I came in on Thurday, and although I had asked about showering, that did not happen. On Saturday, I finally got frustrated and asked when I could shower. I was told by the nurse very rudely that I could shower on my assigned day like everyone else. I asked for a supervisor, because no one ever bothered to explain to me that we had designated days, and I didn't appreciate the nurse's attitude. I simply requested a shower. Then I was informed that Tuesday, Thursday and Saturday were my days...which turned out to be false, because they don't allow bathing on the Sabbath. In all fairness to admin, a supervisor came in an offered to bend the rules, but I assured her that was not necessary. I respect others' religious practices. I did convey to her that I had asked on Thursday, which was indeed my day, and got crickets. I got to go get cleaned up on Sunday, and my sweet CNA gave me a bath. Like a baby elephant. With a handheld shower, while I sat in the tub. She even helped me shampoo my hair and it is thick and almost to my waist. They cannot leave you alone due to liability. Thank God I love Marie, because I haven't been naked and vulnerable like that in front of a stranger since my spa trips in Bali. Even when I had by knees replaced and spent almost three weeks in Brooks, it was my mother who came and helped me bathe. I also had to track down a nurse on the floor, when one was needed as no one was to be found. It took ten minutes. Marie was my saving grace. And I liked my PT and OT therapists. The food was meh... and many times not what you ordered. I am easy going, so I didn't stress out on it. I was just supremely happy to leave. A two week stay ended up as eight days, and I was SO glad to go. The only reason I am not leaving fewer stars is because of Marie. She was SO amazing and put me at ease. I was very disappointed because I heard such good things. And, tbf, the intake nurse was correct. I was the youngest person there. My therapists were also really wonderful. I just think it was a bad fit for me, but maybe not for others. I think it depends on why you are there, how old you are, and who you end up with. I got lucky with Marie. Praise the Lord.