Helia Stories

Charles “Chuck” R. arrived at Frankfort Healthcare in the worst possible condition. A difficult bout with the West Nile virus had left the spunky and affable octogenarian in a semicomatose state.

“He was sent there on comfort care” by the hospital, says his daughter, Kathie D. “He was sent there to die.”

Unable to walk, talk or eat, Chuck’s family was preparing for the end. “But it all turned around at Frankfort Healthcare,” Kathie says.

Chuck received top-quality nursing care and host of rehabilitative services and within a short period of time, there was “a 100 percent difference in him.”

Kathie credits the skilled care and warm, personalized attention her father received for his complete recovery.

“We call him ‘our walking miracle,’ and a lot of that has to do with the excellent care he received,” she says.

She recalls one nurse aide who sat and shared breakfast with Chuck every morning in his room when he was too ill to get out of bed.

“She talked to him and she would engage him — they talked about their hometown [Marion, Ill.,] and the people they knew in common.”

Chuck says he particularly enjoyed interacting with the staff.

“Everyone was really friendly, nice and very helpful,” he says. “They treated me like family.”

Now happily back home with his wife, Margie, Chuck has only positive things to say about our facility.

“I would recommend Frankfort Healthcare to anyone without hesitation or reservation,” he says. “They saved my life.”

Sarah S. came to ARCH Energy after major spinal surgery that left her immobilized and needing assistance with all of her routine activities.

“The ARCH team assessed my needs and took charge in all areas — pain management, physical and occupational therapy, nourishment and personal hygiene/care,” says the 48-year-old from Marion, Ill.

Sarah struggled at her early attempts to regain mobility. But with the therapy team’s customized care plan, Sarah was soon able to walk with a walker, navigate stairs and perform exercises.

“The therapy department is experienced and the employees truly worked as a team to achieve the best results for my recovery,” Sarah says.

Sarah was also impressed with ARCH’s round-the-clock nursing care.

“The nurses and their staff cared for me in a professional, yet kind, way. No matter what hour of the day or night, I could count on them for assistance,” she says. “Overall, the friendliness of everyone on the staff stands out as one of the best parts of my experience at ARCH.”

And she has many positive things to say about ARCH’s amenities, activities and upbeat atmosphere.

“The dining room was very busy during meal times with varied menus — including a salad bar that was offered every day during lunch,” Sarah says. “And it was also busy during activity times as well.

“One of the highlights of my stay was a visit from an Elvis impersonator.”

After six weeks, Sarah condition was much improved, and she was able to return home, perform daily activities and finish her therapy on an outpatient basis.

Says Sarah: “If you are in need of rehabilitation therapy, consider ARCH.”

Joanne has Alzheimer’s disease.

In April 2011, her husband, Daniel, brought her to Helia Healthcare of Greenville to recover from a broken hip that she had sustained in a fall. Although Joanne recovered from her injury, Daniel was no longer able to care for his wife at home.

And when Daniel died that October, John — the couple’s son — had some important decisions to make regarding his mother’s care.

Daniel had been a podiatrist, and he had visited many of the skilled nursing facilities in the area over the course of his long medical career.

“He had always liked Helia. He felt that Helia was the best place for my mom,” says John, who was living in Georgia when his father died.

John considered moving his mother down south. But after visiting Helia, he changed his mind.

“I spent a couple of weeks and got to know the people at Helia. I was really impressed with how the nurses and CNAs — as well as the [administrative] staff — interacted with the patients.”

None of the long-term care facilities he considered in Georgia were “as loving and friendly,” John says.

“And my mom had started to come to think of the people working [at Helia] as family.”

Instead, John — who was running a software company at the time — moved his family to Greenville to be near Joanne.

John, who is now retired, visits his mother every day, and is consistently impressed with the quality of care she receives, he says. John’s wife and daughter also stop in frequently.

“All of the staff go out of their way to welcome us,” he says. “And it’s not just [our family].

“That’s the way they treat everybody.”

Mary “Woody” W. was living in an assisted living building when a horrible bout of pneumonia landed her in the hospital.

From the hospital, Woody went into rehab at Helia Healthcare of Benton. Woody’s daughter, Jeanita S., a former operating room technician, had been in our facility many times on business. And she and her six siblings agreed it was the best place for their mother to recover from her illness.

“I knew a lot of the staff, and felt comfortable with my mother being there,” Jeanita says.

Woody made a full recovery, and when it was time for her to return home, she told her children something surprising.

“She said, ‘I’m not going back. They like me here!’ ” Jeanita recalls. “She told us, ‘I want to be someplace where I can be taken care of and my kids can live their lives.’ ”

Woody has been a resident of Helia Healthcare of Benton since January 2013.

“I never want for anything, because it’s all right here in front of me,” says Woody, who lovingly calls several of our staff members “my kids.”

“The care couldn’t be any better.”

Jeanita says her fun-loving mom enjoys many things about Helia — including the food, activities and social life.

Says Jeanita: “I know in my heart she’s happy.”