User Submitted Reviews

Avamere Bellingham Health Care & Rehab Services Bellingham, Washington 98225

My dad was there for rehab and within 3 weeks he was home and doing wonderful. The staff was very friendly it felt like a family there. Staff was always very attentive to the residents and their needs.

Shuksan Healthcare Center Bellingham, Washington 98225

My mother's complex medical problems have caused her to spend more than a year at this facility. As a former nurse, I'm grateful to report that the level of professional, compassionate and personal care she's received has been, in a word, terrific. That applies to every discipline: friendly CNA's; responsible RNs taking extra care; profoundly dedicated PT and RTs; a responsive, proactive administration; and Dr. Lindenbaum, who helped us take steps necessary to resolve what would have otherwise proved an ongoing nightmare. Add to all that cats, birds and dogs, a garden, activities presented with enthusiasm, and a consistent espirt de corp among staff: by my mother's lights, and mine, this is excellent facility, with far more warmth and humanity than I expected to find.

Avamere Bellingham Health Care & Rehab Services Bellingham, Washington 98225

My grandma was there on two different occasions years apart. Because of t

heir great nursing & rehabilitation staff she was able to return to her home and remain independent. It's been over two years since she has been there but to this day she still talks about the staff by their names and wonders how they are doing.u

Avamere Bellingham Health Care & Rehab Services Bellingham, Washington 98225

If I could give it 1/2 star I would. Very unprofessional management, especially DNS Leslie and admin. Melissa..very understaffed and the licensed staffed not competent enough to even recognize m dad had a UTI for weeks!!

North Cascades Health and Rehabilitation Center Bellingham, Washington 98226

My mother also was a patient at this Rehabilitation Center. This recent one star review is right on, as I have been at my mother's bedside daily as I have seen personally how she has been treated and did not feel comfortable leaving her to fend for herself! As a former surgical nurse, I am very aware what good nursing care is and believe me, this reviewer should be believed as I personally observed poor care given to my own mother. In fact, upon my mother's admission, I had to contact the head nurse as there was feces on the cIothes wardrobe which held her clothes and the grab bars next to her toilet which obviously was put there by a former patient. So I too must say, PLEASE, PLEASE DO NOT allow your loved ones to spend any time in this facility. They deserve MUCH BETTER!!!!!

Highland Health and Rehabilitation Bellingham, Washington 98225

God bless you all for the wonderful care Dad rec'd. Jo - made Dad feel comfortable when showering. Darlene - stopped in often to say hello. Elaine - very lovely and personalbe. Others and all were great! ~ Rita (Dad Gene Z.)

Highland Health and Rehabilitation Bellingham, Washington 98225

Poor communications with family.

Often patient waits for long periods for aid to respond to call button.

Some of the Nurses and aids are great and work hard but they stand out because it is not the norm here. We expected better treatment for the cost.

Avamere Bellingham Health Care & Rehab Services Bellingham, Washington 98225

I would not recommend this place for care of dementia patients especially those with Alzheimer's Disease. Their special care unit appeared to be understaffed especially in the evenings. They did not demonstrate competence in dealing with behavioral problems that are common with Alzheimer's patients and dispatched my husband to the hospital less than one week after he entered the facility, without giving me the courtesy of prior warning. I am not exaggerating in describing our experience with this facility as being very traumatic and disappointing.

North Cascades Health and Rehabilitation Center Bellingham, Washington 98226

My Mother WAS Recently a patient at North Cascades Heath and Rehabilitation Center. She had suffered two strokes which left her unable to take care of herself.

At first things were great, but as time went on, we noticed my mom wouldn't respond, was sleeping all the time, and when she was awake she was not making any sense what she was saying. It was obvious the nursing staff was medicating her so she would sleep most of the time. Also she was a tube fed patient, and with that said she was not suppose to throw up as this was a huge concern as if her vomit got in her lungs she could come down with asperation pneumodia. There was numerous of weeks that her throwing up went on and on, and it was even stated from one of the head nurses, Jill Short that she was not throwing up due to her being sick, she was throwing up because of actions the nursing staff was taking, ie, laying her down flat, right after giving her medication, or giving her meds on an empty stomach or holding her down while a toothbrush was forced into her mouth until she gagged and gagged and gagged until she threw up. She was suppose to be dressed all the time, and even after her being there for bit, We would find her laying in her bed with the curtain open, with just an adult diaper on in the later part of the afternoons, which really upset us. Also another concern of ours was that she wasn't being changed very often, she had sores on her bottom, and numerous of times and even after requesting to have her changed, she would have to lay in her own feces for over an hour +++ before they could get a nursing assistant in there to change her. After a few meeting with the staff including the social worker and head nurse, we determined that they just made excuses for what was transpiring, and stated that we were rude complained alot. well if your mom was not being dressed properly, was left in a feces filled bed, not changed properly, was being made to throw up by the nursing staffs own action not because she was sick, I will warn you PLEASE PLEASE DO NOT PUT YOUR LOVED ONE IN THIS HOME!!! IT IS NOT SAFE!!! AND THEY MAKE SO MANY EXCUSES OF WHY THINGS HAPPENED. I would also like to report that since we have moved my mom to another location, she is alert, knows who we are, talks alot, and has not thrown up once. They also have taken or winged her off of about 6 to 7 unnecessary medications. Again please think again before you put your loved one here as it may be the end of their life.

North Cascades Health and Rehabilitation Center Bellingham, Washington 98226

North Cascades is an amazing facility.. the staff is more than patient, caring, and involved. It is truly a blessing what I have seen in North Cascades Nursing Home, and the lives that have been made worthwhile day by day.

Shuksan Healthcare Center Bellingham, Washington 98225

I spent time as a nursing student doing a clinical rotation at Shuksan. I found the facility and employees to be of a caliber unmet by many other facilities I spent time in. A friendly family environment with truly caring staff. I would encourage any family member to stay there and would not hesitate to do so myself.

North Cascades Health and Rehabilitation Center Bellingham, Washington 98226

The health care system is wrought with its share of challenges faced both by patients and staff alike. The field of elderly and long term care is unique in that it demands a personal and emotional touch seldom found in other facets of the health care system. Relationships among patients and those providing care for them are fostered, due largely to the length of time patients can remain under the facilities care-often periods spanning several months.

Through my frequent visits to North Cascades Health and Rehabilitation Center I have gained an appreciation for just how challenging it can be for those residents under long-term care to feel a sense of comfort and of "home" in an environment that is designed to harbor and treat such a multitude of medical conditions and personalities therein. Similarly, stresses borne of such an environment do present themselves to staff and requires the ability to not only treat medically but to also affect longterm care based upon empathy. It is this attribute that is perhaps the rarest of commodities found in the field of today's health care system. You can pay someone to perform a job they are trained and obligated to do; you cannot, however, pay someone to care.

I'm prompted to write this review based upon how I feel the review dated July 5, 2011 misrepresented the staff at the facility. North Cascades Health and Rehabilitation Center is far from being perfect, however, within the center are individuals that do excel at what they do. Having experience working with the social worker, Kristin, both on an individual level and in witnessing her interactions with patients its my firm belief that that woman is absolutely passionate about caring for people-especially those in their final stages of life. She is part of that rarest commodity mentioned above.