The Lutheran Home was established in 1932 and chartered by the State of Ohio as a refuge for residents who, during the depression, may have otherwise been without a home. The original Kluever frame house served six residents, and in 1939 the brick structure on Dover Center Road was constructed. Additions were made in 1951 and 1958 which increased Lutheran Home's capacity to 90 residents. As The Home enters its seventh decade, the Medicare/Medicaid certified facility now houses 192 beds and has provided long-term care services to over 3000 individuals. We met recently with Executive Director Dennis Bruce and Director of Development Gregory Wiechert, and listened as they described the services Lutheran Home provides;
Lutheran Home is an independent not-for-profit charitable organization dedicated to providing a Christian residence primarily to older adults. We operate a 192 bed skilled nursing facility in Westlake having 290 employees and nearly 100 volunteers. Through the dedication of our employees and volunteers, Lutheran Home in 2004 achieved a 95% resident satisfaction survey with 100% of our residents stating they would recommend Lutheran Home to friends and family due to the quality of our care and services.
At Lutheran Home, we celebrate life every day. We strive to provide optimal health, healing, hospitality, and happiness for every resident. Our 192 bed skilled nursing facility is comprised of five different neighborhoods which have been designed around the needs of our residents, and are like little communities within Lutheran Home. We have neighborhoods designed for dementia and memory support, in addition to long-term care, and rehabilitation services such as physical, speech, and occupational therapy. We provide respite care for those needing care for their parents or grandparents while they're on vacation or away from home on business, and we have hospice care available for those nearing the end of life's journey. We're one of the few facilities in Northeast Ohio providing Vital Stem therapy to help individuals who have had a stroke learn to swallow and eat normally. Each neighborhood also has a Life Enrichment specialist dedicated to coordinating activities designed to enrich the lives of our residents.
Lutheran Home has a full time Pastor who hosts Bible Study on Thursdays and Church Service on Wednesdays and Sundays. We have a great relationship with the Catholic Churches in the neighborhood and they come in regularly to help ensure our residents spiritual needs are met. Our residents can take advantage of our on-site beauty shop, in addition to regular activities such as ceramics, quilting, and our German Club.
We provide tremendous opportunities for volunteerism and currently work with about 100 volunteers. These volunteers provide a wide variety of services, ranging from transporting residents to activities and church services, taking care of our floral arrangements and conducting programs for the entertainment of our residents.
Lutheran Home has just begun a thirty million dollar renovation program scheduled for completion in June 2007 that will include the addition of 82 new rooms and the installation of European showers and walk-in closets for the residents. We're adding more modern therapy, pool, and rehab facilities, a new Chapel, cinema with surround sound, and many other recreational components. We'll have a 1,100 gallon aquarium, a new library with Internet access, three aviary colonies, and a garden railroad. Other additions include a waterfall clock complete with ducks, and a café that will enable our residents to enjoy their favorite foods in a café setting.
Through the dedication of Lutheran Home's staff and volunteers, the Lutheran Home was identified in the book "The Inside Guide to America's Nursing Homes" as one of the best nursing homes in Ohio. The book by Robert Bua stated the Lutheran Home delivers an elite quality of care and provided the Home with a five star rating.
Lutheran Home is called to express God's love by providing an exceptional elder services continuum to enhance quality of life in the congregations and communities they serve. Call Lutheran Home today, and don't forget to tell them The Advocate sent you!
