Brandon Woods of New Bedford sits over on County Street, a little less than a mile from St. Luke's Hospital, and it has been serving seniors in the area with a steady hand for many years under the family-owned Essex Group Management Corp. You'll find 135 beds in its skilled nursing and rehabilitation center, where folks get all sorts of care, like short-term and long-term help, rehab after hospital stays, hospice care, and specialized support for people with Alzheimer's disease and other dementias. They also have an Adult Day Health Program that runs six days a week and a Dementia Special Care Unit, certified every year by the Massachusetts Department of Public Health, for people who need extra support staying safe and engaged.
There's an emphasis on making sure people stay as independent as they can for as long as possible, and care plans get tailored so each person gets the help they need, whether it's with bathing and dressing or remembering medicine and managing meals. Therapy services go beyond the basics, so you'll see physical, occupational, and speech therapy available for both short-term recovery and long-term improvement. The place has been recognized by awards, including a 2010 national quality award, and reviews say the staff are helpful, joyful, and kind, which goes a long way when someone's looking for a friendly place to be.
Meals focus on nutrition, and there are plenty of activities-social, educational, and entertaining-which keep people engaged in mind and body while trying to prevent loneliness. The community's got transportation for seniors, as well as home care services that stretch into people's own homes, covering nursing visits, therapeutic care, comfort care, and even dementia support. They'll also provide respite care for caregivers who need a short break, available daily, weekly, or monthly.
Brandon Woods has worked to be accessible, with staff who speak mainly English, though some might speak other languages as well, and has programs that accept Medicare, Medicaid, major health plans, and VA benefits. You'll see a lot of focus on safety and trust, with all staff carefully chosen and checked, and a commitment to quality through programs on wellness, falls prevention, and infection control. They're a part of the Massachusetts Senior Care Association and focus on helping families find the right level of care and plan for what's ahead. The facility provides support during the week for home care from Monday through Saturday and keeps up connections through other community and regulatory organizations, always aiming for good standards and a caring atmosphere, but they aren't currently taking new patients right now.
