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Long Term Care Facilities
Jennifer Kitchen
SS368-01H

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Long Term Care
As the population grows and medical advances increase the average life
expectancy there becomes a need for long term care. Many Americans live long
healthy lives but at some point they may need care for conditions that restrict their
ability to manage day to day undertakings. Long term care facilities offer 24 hour care
by skilled nursing staff to individuals with chronic illnesses and other disabling
conditions (Corr & Corr, 2009). The staff tries to maintain a quality of life for the
residents that help to keep them comfortable. The focal point of long term facilities is to
assist individuals in everyday living.
Assisted living facilities give individuals with chronic illnesses and disabilities a
certain amount of independence and a voice in their own care. These facilities may be
recognized as skilled nursing facilities or nursing homes, intermediate care facilities,
and residential care facilities or retirement homes (Corr & Corr, 2009). These facilities
may serve just the elderly or they may serve people of all ages that need long term
care. Some people who reside in these facilities are there for physical rehabilitation that
is to extensive for outpatient care. I decided to visit The Valley Inn, a long term care
facility in Mancos, CO to see what long term facilities are all about.
The Valley Inn
Outside the sign reads “where quality of life is most important.” As I walked in
the main door I got a warm feeling and could smell food cooking. Inside it has the look
of a 4-star hotel and it is set in a beautiful valley with mountain views on every side. I
spoke with Ashley, a social services director who has been with this facility for almost

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7years. Ashleystated the goal at The Valley Inn was to help the residents feel at home
and as we walked aroundI saw many of the residents in the halls and recreation rooms
talking and laughing. There is an Alzheimer Specialty Unit that I was not allowed to
enter, as to not upset any of the residents with Alzheimer’s or dementia. There are 110
beds at this facility and at this time 77 beds are filled. Ashley informed me that all the
supervisors at the Valley Inn must be CNA certified even the social service director and
activity director. This facility has been open for 17 years and was started because the
owner, Joyce, “found a need” for a long term facility in her hometown of Mancos. Joyce
is partnered with C & G Health Care Management and The Valley Inn has 6 sister
facilities in other towns in the Southern Rockies area. The Valley Inn brochure reads “a
loving environment where residents come first.” They create individual care plans for
each resident and involve the loved ones in their care.
Ashley stated that this The Valley Inn is highly rated by the people of the
community and many of them like to get involved. There are many activities that require
community volunteers. I spoke to the activity director, Tim and his assistant, Samantha
and was shown a monthly schedule of activities that are held. I was astonished at not
only the number of daily activities but also at variety. Not only can the residents take
part in arts and crafts and games they also get to go on outings to Wal-Mart and the
casino, read the news and discuss views every morning, hold book club
meetingsweekly and also get to attend balls and parties. I visited on a Monday and
seen 3 babies visiting and every Friday the residents get to visit with the pets from all
over Mancos and the surrounding area. There is a resident doctor, a massage
therapist, a beauty and barber salon, and a restaurant where the residents can order off

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a real menu at no extra charge. The residents can enjoy the music room, the living area
with a big screen TV, the solarium, the non-denominational chapel, and the flower and
vegetable gardens. There are Biker Rallies held twice a year to promote the facility and
the awareness of the community’s aging population. And every Halloween the facility is
decorated and children come by to “trick or treat”. Joyce and the partners of The Valley
Inn share ideas and discuss what is important while involving the staff and the residents
in the plans. The residents are free to give input on activities and many of the activities
they hold at the Valley Inn have been requested by residents. The Valley Inn is more
than just a place to wait to die, as Ashley put it, “it is a place for people to live.”
Discussion
When I started on this assignment I had a view of long term care facilities. It did
not match what I found at The Valley Inn. I have only been to one other long term care
and rehabilitation facility. It was nothing like this place. I know now that I should not
have prejudge this type of facility. The Valley Inn was a beautiful, comfortable place
that was bustling with activity. It was not some sterile, white walled medical center. It
did not smell of cleaning products and urine but like home cooking. I thought as I toured
the building and the grounds that long term care can be given in an enjoyable, relaxing
environment. I gained a new perspective on the end of life. Dying does not have to be
a lonesome experience. Some people live very a very long life but find they cannot
work through their end days and just need a place to live where life can be more
convenient. As the population of people over the age of 85 keeps growing people live
long healthy lives well past the age of retirement (Frontline, 2006). Family is not always
available to help care for the elderly and many do live in long term facilities. A dying

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individual does not have to feel excluded from society simply because they live in an
institution to receive the assistance they need. They have the right to continue on living
until death does come for them. Long term care facilities may give this assistance while
helping maintain a quality of life.
It is almost springtime in the Rocky Mountains and there will be many events
going on and Tim told me that“the need for more volunteers is high.” So, I have signed
up to become a volunteer at The Valley Inn. It will be an experience for me for I have
never worked in any health institution so far. I only have experience in educational and
environmental volunteering. I have worked with ESL (English as a second language)
students tutoring them how to read and write essays in English. That gives me
experience with people. I told Tim I would like to work in the garden as well as assist in
outings and the various parties. If my background check is cleared by the end of the
week I would like to take part in the Mardi Gras party next week. I am looking forward
to forming relationships with some of the smiling faces I seen and more at The Valley
Inn.

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References
Corr, C.A. and Corr, D.M., (2009). Death and Dying: Life and Living. Ohio: Cengage
Learning.
Frontline, (2006). Living Old: the modern realities of aging in America. PBS Home
Video.
The Valley Inn, 211 Third Ave, Mancos, CO 81328. (970)533-9031.