Testimonials
For Alpine staff and anyone searching for long term care:
My mother, Panzie, was in this facility for 4 years. While there is no perfect long term care facility, I have to say, the staff there gave amazing care to my mom.
They were always professional and responsive to her needs as well as those of our family. As she was there during the “COVID” years from 2021-2025 there were multiple challenges for the staff, families, and residents. The facility was diligent with their testing of residents as well as staff in an effort to maintain safety for everyone. Sometimes this required isolation and quarantine when there were outbreaks. But they continued to strive to keep activities open for the residents every chance they could because they realized how important it was for them to maintain some form of socialization. They provided good food and multiple staff members took a liking to Mom as they spent extra time with her when they could to fill in the gaps when we weren’t able to be there.
If and when any concerns were addressed with the administrator, Chip Lacey-Sellers, he worked with staff and our family to achieve the best possible outcomes for a given situation. Chip is also very much involved with every aspect of Alpine. I’ve witnessed him conduct himself on the business side as well as pitching in on construction updates. I’ve even seen him wheel patients into the dining room and assist his staff with patient meals. If my sister or I had concerns with Mom’s immediate needs related to illness, hygiene, physical therapy, medications, etc. , the staff were always receptive to our concerns. They relayed our concerns to Mom’s physicians as well as other members of her care team in order to expedite appropriate care for her. They also called us back in a timely manner for updates on her as we requested.
My Mom had Parkinson’s disease as well as Lewy body dementia. The reality of having your mother suffer such debilitating health issues that were complicated by outbreaks of COVID and the flu ( she had both several times ) was heartbreaking to witness. It has been a long, hard, emotional roller coaster for our entire family.
Unfortunately for our elderly population, these are the things many of them are faced with in their golden years. While it should be a time for them to live their best lives in retirement to travel and enjoy their grandchildren, they’re often robbed of all of that. Add to that, they have to go into a long term care facility because they lose their independence and can no longer care for themselves. Their families have begun to have families of their own and are not always able to provide the care they would need in their homes because they just don’t have the resources and they still have to work outside the home to make ends meet.
I say all of this because I feel it’s very important to stress the reality of what it truly means to patients and their families when they’re faced with the decision of having their loved one placed in a facility. It is not their actual home and it never will be. There is nothing that can ever prepare you for this journey of having other people take care of your loved one. So I’m writing this in my review for anyone out there who is looking for a good facility to express that sometimes the relationship you have with any given facility is also based on what you put into it. Most “nursing homes” get a very bad reputation because the bottom line is they are taking care of very sick people at the end of life. Let’s face it. If you’re reading this, you’re probably facing the daunting task of finding a place that will provide care to someone you love. I cannot stress the importance of staying on “top of it” when it comes to finding, choosing, and working WITH a facility no matter where you choose. I’ve often heard people say, “those places only give good care to the patients whose family members visit on a regular basis.” I personally do not believe that is necessarily the case. At least that was not our experience. And if there is any truth to it, I don’t believe it’s just because families visit. If anything, it’s because the families that do visit develop relationships with the staff and are very valuable in assisting the staff in understanding their patient’s needs. So if you find yourself being that caregiver who also relies on a facility to assist in caring for your family member, please do not abandon them. You are still very much needed to ensure they live out their remaining days and possibly years with comfort and dignity.
In an effort to close, I must share our experience of Mom’s final days before she passed. We had Hospice brought onboard to provide palliative care. Their staff did an amazing job of explaining what they do, what we should expect, and they were always readily available for any questions and/or concerns.
As for the staff at Alpine, we couldn’t have asked for a more compassionate experience! They provided a nutrition cart for the family around the clock as well as offering free meals if we desired. They were very accepting and accommodating to all of our friends and family who came to visit. Many staff who had cared for Mom at some point but were then working on other units stopped by to offer condolences to us as well as to hug and love on Mom. They laughed and cried with us as we all shared some of our moments we have had together. Multiple staff members sent flowers to the funeral home and they used their lunch breaks to come to her visitation.
Losing my mother has been the hardest thing I’ve ever experienced. Her decline, especially in those last 4 years, was unbearable at times for all of us. But her strength and the connections we all made with many of the staff is what got us through it. The staff provides a much needed service to the community and they must be acknowledged for the priceless support they provide to their patients and their families!
Forever indebted for the care we received.
Sincerely,
Kimberly J.
May 9, 2025
Dear Sherry,
On December 16, 2024, when my family and I moved my dad, Russell, into Alpine Health and Rehabilitation, we really had no idea of what the next 4 months would hold. But we soon came to view all of you as an extended family. We never had the opportunity to even meet most of those who cared for Dad – those who cared for him during the night, those who brought his breakfast and his dinner, and those who put him to bed at night. We are so thankful for all those caring and remarkable people even though we never met.
The daytime staff was remarkable as well. So many we came to know on a first name basis. Dee was such a pleasant “first face” to see. She was always smiling and greeted us with warmth and friendship, although we had just met. Heather was an exceptional nurse. She was always willing to do whatever she could to make Mom and I comfortable when we were there. Bria was a great nurse too, always taking the time to cheerfully greet us, and very attentive to Dad’s needs. Bernadette brought me to tears one day as I watched her lovingly help Dad maneuver from his wheelchair to the edge of the bed so he could eat his lunch. The care she gave was amazing. She was always so patient with him and treated him as if he were her own dad. That meant so much and I told her so.
Brooke was with us the day Dad passed. For hours, she checked in on him about every 10 to 15 minutes, making sure he was comfortable. She answered our questions and offered Mom, my husband and I any assistance we needed. And whoever brought refreshments into the room earlier in the day, thank you and God bless you. We did not want to leave because we knew Dad would pass that day, and the food was such a blessing.
After Dad’s passing, Brooke and Bria were there to comfort us. They were great. There are so many that I will never forget – the sweet lady that so cheerfully cleaned his room every day, always greeting us with a very pleasant smile, the ladies who did his laundry – oh, God bless those ladies for such a wonderful job! They never complained, but I know their job was nasty! The young lady that brought daily snacks was so pleasant. And the maintenance men were always very friendly. Those who brought his meals, changed his linens, cleaned him when he had an accident – the list goes on and on. How could we ever adequately say thank you for all that was done for my dad? Our family was totally pleased with the care he received. We could not have asked for better. We are forever grateful.
Dad wanted to go home to be with Mom, but he knew she was unable to take care of him, and he couldn’t take care of himself. He is “Home” now – home with the Lord. He can walk and talk, and we have the hope of seeing him again.
Thank you again for everything you did for Dad.
Sincerely,
Debbie R.
