THE HEART OF Compassion Cherokee County Health & Rehab Center

Compassion is at the heart of everything at Cherokee County Health & Rehab Center, and Cherokee Village Assisted Living Facility. A walk through the halls with Donnie W. Lowe II, Administrator, is frequently interrupted as he stops just to say hello and ask how a resident is doing. If he’s not stopping to check on a resident, he is speaking with one of the staff or a family member.

The Continuing Care Retirement Community in Centre has served Cherokee County residents for more than half a century. It opened in 1960 and has been owned by the people of Cherokee County through the Cherokee County

Health Care Authority. The facility has been managed since 1990 by Preferred Health Services, Inc., founded by Jerry Culberson. PHS also manages the Piedmont Health Care Center in Piedmont.

CCHRC is a dually certified Medicare and Medicaid 185bed facility. They offer traditional 24-hour skilled nursing, long-term care, a special memory-care unit, and complete rehab services. The facility also has a 36-bed specialty care assisted living facility and nine independent living units on the same campus.

The rehab wing has 17 dedicated beds and has the flexibility to convert other beds as needed. The rooms are all private and situated close to the therapy department, which is staffed with nurses and certified nursing assistants with specialized training.

Lowe said the rehab unit focuses on returning patients home as soon and healthy as possible. “We provide them with fantastic round-the-clock care and excellent therapy, so they can transition back to home and regain independence so they won’t need to be readmitted.” Once a patient goes home, staff will follow up with calls to ensure the recovery process goes well.

The memory-care wing has 44 beds that also have the ability to fluctuate. It began as a 40-bed unit, but as families preferred private rooms, additional rooms have been made available while keeping the 185-bed limit. “This exceptional unit is designed for those who are still mobile, and the activities are specially planned for them. There is nothing like this design anywhere around. New wall colors and flooring installed within the last year have created a bright and airy atmosphere. High ceilings intentionally create less of an institutional feel.” The nursing station is in the middle of the unit, rendering everyone visible from the nurse’s desk. Many of the activities in the memory care unit are musically based and are led by Tammy Culberson and four assistants.

The rest of the facility has anywhere from four to six activities scheduled every day to keep the residents stimulated and moving. “The activity leaders keep things upbeat and cheerful. They’re how you want activities to be. I can’t keep up with them,” Lowe says. There are putt-putt greens, movie nights, book readings, and, of course, Sunday church each week. Beauty shop services are also appreciated by a majority of women residents. “They get a lot of perms, cuts, and styling. If they want it, it is there for them.”

Recruiting the right staff is critical. “You want someone you can trust to care for your loved one,” Lowe explains, “We want compassionate, loving caregivers on every level of the organization. For example, maintenance men do more than fix things and make improvements. They interact with the residents. The same thing holds true for the dietary staff and environmental services.”

Once staff is brought on board, they receive continuing education at the skills development center, where the training covers a broad spectrum of healthcare needs., Kelly Hutchins, Director of Training, is passionate that everyone is qualified to meet residents’ needs.

A state-licensed daycare facility is also available for employees, which has helped recruit and retain quality staff. Babies from six months old through school age are eligible to attend. The ratio of staff to children is one to five for babies and toddlers, with lots of activities and outdoor time for the older children. It’s open Monday through Friday from 5:30 in the morning to 5:30 in the afternoon.

“Being in the Atlanta, Birmingham, Chattanooga triangle, there’s enough population to recruit quality CNAs and nurses. Our continuing education and training offer a great professional pathway, but it is also vital to maintain a welltrained staff - which is a top priority.

Turnover among staff at Cherokee County Health and Rehab is significantly below state and national averages. A familiar face is important in providing residents and their families with whom they can establish a comfortable relationship.”

CCHR invests heavily in training and development and recruits hard for the best and the brightest compassionate caregivers. Lowe said, “Our responsibility is to provide families with peace of mind. It is our privilege to care for those who cared for us.”

For more information visit www.mycchrc.org