Health and rehabilitation. At Brian Center Health & Rehabilitation/Statesville—these are the guidelines. People from all walks of life require skilled, compassionate care—this is the reason. Dedication, skill and caring—pulls it all together.

“Brian Center/Statesville is a place where the folks who live here or spend some time here, get good, quality care everyday,” Joyce McGuire, the Center’s administrator, shared. “Our staff is enthusiastic about our efforts to provide everyone here the best quality of life that we can.” It’s Joyce’s job to make sure that each and every resident is well cared for physically, mentally and socially.

MANY NEEDS MEAN MANY SERVICES
Skilled nursing care encompasses a wide range of services, and the residents at Brian Center/Statesville present a number of health challenges. With close to 150 in residence, Joyce relies on her qualified staff to see that each resident’s particular needs are met with dignity and respect for their individuality. “We really are dedicated to helping everyone reach their highest potential,” Joyce continued. “I’m proud of our staff. They do this work because they love it.”

Medical director, Dr. Carla Pence, oversees the skilled nursing services that are available: pain management, wound care, on-site hospice and respite care, diabetic and post-operative care, medication management, psychological and mental health therapies, and so much more. With a staff of 160, (35 nurses are on the staff and RN support is available on all shifts, 24 hours a day, seven days a week; 55 resident care specialists—CNAs—provide supportive care), and a full offering of therapies managed by health care professionals, Brian Center/Statesville accepts patients from Iredell and surrounding counties.

Each department at Brian Center Health & Rehabilitation/Statesville brings its own team to the table, just as each resident brings their own individuality, personality and health needs. Residents choose to live or stay at Brian Center for a variety of reasons. For some, short-term care is needed to help recover from a stroke, surgery, illness or injury. Short-term rehabilitation requires restorative care and therapy to help people regain lost abilities, such as walking, eating independently, dressing or speaking. Kim Rollyson is manager of the rehabilitation department. Her team of therapists works with residents daily, helping them prepare for a return to their normal activities. “Our goal is to get folks back home, back to their family, job and community,” Kim said. “We take into account the whole person, not just their immediate circumstances.”

PHYSICAL THERAPY
Whether short-term rehabilitation is needed or long-term, skilled nursing service is planned, physical therapists, working in tandem with medical, nursing and support staff, design a treatment plan that can be intensive when the situation calls for it. Therapists work with residents as much as six days each week, sometimes two to three hours a day. “We’re flexible. If we’re working with a morning person, we’ll schedule their sessions early in the day,” Kim said with a smile. “We recognize that everyone’s different, and we personalize our therapeutic care as much as we can.”

OCCUPATIONAL & SPEECH THERAPY
In addition to physical therapy, residents often need occupational or speech therapy. Occupational therapy addresses the activities of living—dressing, bathing, eating. “For someone who has been injured or ill, something as ordinary as getting the mail can be a challenge. We help people get on with their lives,” Kim told me. Speech therapy can include assisting with cognitive improvement, problem-solving skills, as well as speaking and swallowing. In all cases, restoring the highest level of function is the goal.

MAKING EVERY MEAL COUNT
Meals are an important part of everyone’s life and health. Food Services Director Jennifer Hughes and her team see to it each day that residents get nutritious, balanced meals that support their health and recovery. “We pride ourselves helping people feel at home,” Jennifer explained. “In our dining room we serve meals restaurant style and our hostesses use table clothes, china and glassware three meals a day.” Residents with particular requests, such as cultural preferences or attention to allergies or illness are taken into account. Those who require assistance at mealtime are served one-on-one to assure that their nutritional needs are met.

ACTIVITIES BRING FOLKS TOGETHER
Residents at Brian Center/Statesville enjoy relaxing and having fun. We all do. Millie Guy, activities director, has a toy box big enough for everyone to get involved, enjoy some social time and benefit from creative therapeutic activities, as well. “Our team designs an activity care plan that focuses on strengths, past interests and skills,” Millie explained. “We have some younger folks who really enjoy doing things together. One group has learned how to make beads, and they stay busy making necklaces and art.” Critical to the activities schedule is the work of volunteers from the community—churches, students, and teens all support the extensive, fun program. Volunteers are matched with residents so that their time at Brian Center is well spent. Reading aloud, teaching arts and crafts projects, and entertaining with music and concerts are just some of the volunteers’ contributions. Local churches offer Sunday services and companionship. Captain Conrad Sells is an amazing performer (you may have heard him at the Guinness World Record concert in Statesville last year) who visits regularly, playing keyboard and leading karaoke sing-alongs. Imagine having your own violinist serenading you in your room. It seems the women really love this!

Wii bowling, baseball and hula dancing are very popular. “We also have a fitness balance board game that gets folks moving,” Millie said. “We can adjust it for different people, and they can get exercise sitting or standing.” Personal computers keep people busy, too. Volunteers help residents get going and up to speed on their laptops. “Many of our folks really like to learn new things. With the Wii games and computers, even bingo, they stay busy and involved. We’re always needing donations of computers,” Millie told me. “And each month we focus on a new theme—Hawaiian month was a big success. We showed movies, had a big luau with hula dancers and Hawaiian music, and we decorated like we were in Maui!”

A NEW LOOK—A COMFORTABLE PLACE
Lots of changes have been going on at Brian Center/Statesville. A major makeover of the interior of the building is underway. Beautiful wood-like flooring has been installed, giving a warm feel to the hallways. Renovations and remodeling on the main part of the building, located off Davie Avenue on Valley Street, were started last year. Updating the wall and window treatments, as well as installing new fixtures and bringing things up-to-date should be completed in the spring.

An open house for the community is planned for October 7th, from 4 to 6 p.m. A tour of this family-oriented facility will take visitors through the courtyard, picnic area and memory garden, as well as the dining room, activities center (open 24 hours a day), chapel, physical therapy department and residence halls. “We encourage families to help residents decorate their rooms with things of their own,” Joyce shared, “things they love that make them feel at home and comfy.”

There’s plenty going on at Brian Center/Statesville. Socializing in the lobby around the old-timey radio, enjoying shows on the big screen TV, listening to the music you like best—it’s a happening place. “We’ve had a few people who arrived for short-term care after surgery, who loved being here, and they decided to move on in,” Admissions Director Linda Kendrick told me. “We have several couples who live here together. Where else can you come and be told how beautiful you are all the time?”

For a tour of Brian Center/Statesville, give Linda Kendrick a call at 704-873-0517, or just stop in. She will be glad to show you around and answer your questions. Put the open house on October 7th in your calendar and plan to visit with some of Brian Center’s very special folks.