WHEN LUCKEY, OHIO RESIDENT Jane Welling’s dementia had advanced to the stage where she needed intensive memory-care services, her family investigated a wide variety of care facilities to find one that would not only keep her safe, but also conscientiously and diligently attend to her other care needs. According to Jim Welling, Jane’s son, they found everything they were looking for—and much more—at The Gardens of St. Francis, a member of CHI Living Communities.
Jim recalls, “We landed at The Gardens of St. Francis because Mom was diagnosed as a wanderer and a lot of facilities won’t accept those cases. We found out through numerous visits that their facilities, accommodations, and safety and security features are far superior to what we saw anywhere else. We just loved it and felt it would be the safest, most caring environment for her.”
Shortly after Jane was admitted to the secured memory care campus, the family brought their father, Russell Welling, to live at The Gardens of St. Francis as well. Russell had been residing at St. Clare Commons, also a part of CHI Living Communities. Though all the memory-care residences at The Gardens of St. Francis are licensed for dual occupancy to accommodate married couples, Jane and Russell lived in separate parts of the facility due to Jane’s worsening dementia. However, the staff did their best to bring the two together for at least an hour every day so they could have an opportunitty to see each other.
Elaborating on the many elements that set The Gardens of St. Francis apart and convinced him it was the right facility for his parents, Jim remarks, “As soon as we went inside, we were struck by the spotless cleanliness and pleasant ambience of the place and by the quality and cleanliness of the food-prep area. Mom’s room was unbelievable. Plus, the facility offers numerous areas for relaxation and visiting as well as for activities like arts and crafts and bingo. The living area really is an A-plus situation for families. Even if you just want to visit for an hour, there are leisure spots where you can spend time with your loved one. The Gardens of St. Francis is also a faith-based community, and there’s definitely a very strong spiritual feeling there, which was what Mom and Dad really needed. A lot of facilities make claims about what they’re able to do but then can’t back them up. The Gardens of St. Francis not only met but surpassed all our expectations.
Jim is highly impressed with the exterior of The Gardens of St. Francis as well, noting that the grounds are always perfect. He wonders how they find the time and energy to maintain all the grass on the property as meticulously as they do. Also, there’s a nice pond on the property and the staff has even taken his dad there to do a little fishing.
Jane lived at The Gardens of St. Francis from January of this year until May 2 when she passed away. Jim observes that toward the end of his mom’s life, the facility staff really shined brightly. “I can’t say enough about how impressed I was with the staff. Mom’s dementia really took a turn for the worse at the end, but they were amazingly caring and compassionate. They just went above and beyond in everything they did for her,” he says.
The Gardens of St. Francis is located at 930 S. Wynn Rd. in Oregon, Ohio. For more information, please call 419-698-4331.
