I was recently a patient at the Caribou Nursing and Rehabilitation Center. When I was told while at Eastern Maine Medical Center in Bangor that I would need to have professional rehabilitation services because of a crushed right shoulder, I literally was crushed spiritually and emotionally.
I was raised in a day when a “nursing home” meant your days were numbered and everyone forgot about you. The memories of old family stories raced through my mind of my grandmother Claudia Paradis and her years of being ignored in her bed by one person who kept 9 elderly people in her home. I had to do a deep soul search and acknowledge that there was nothing left for me but to accept this and move on hopefully with a smile.
I am so impressed with the quality of care and of comfort I received at the Caribou Nursing and Rehabilitation Center. The rooms are kept absolutely spotless, the staff is well trained and always ready to assist you with a smile on their face. The medical, physical and occupational therapy could not have been better. The owner takes daily walks throughout the facility to say, “Hi, how are you today?” with every single patient. He uses each person’s name when he speaks with them. The activities are well scheduled and patients are sought out each day to see what he or she might like to do. The staff is always willing to wheelchair you down to the home’s beauty shop, or the manicure sessions, movies, games. There was just so much available to help you keep your mind busy and your attitude happy. The meals were well planned and snacks seemed to be constantly available. If I hadn’t had the pain of a crushed shoulder (which, by the way, was well managed) I would have thought I had discovered a great place to vacation.
My thanks to Phil Cyr and to all the employees and volunteers at the Caribou Nursing and Rehabilitation Center. You made my ordeal a great blessing. I am so fortunate I chose your facility.
Norma Milton
Caribou
