Elderwood at Cheektowaga

Elderwood at Cheektowaga sits near the NYS I90 Thruway and Buffalo/Niagara International Airport, offering 172 certified beds for both short-term rehab and long-term care, and it's been managed by Warren Cole and Jeffrey Rubin since 2011, with both men owning half the facility. The place is run by 225 Bennett Road Operating Company LLC and affiliated with the Elderwood network, so you'll find both assisted living and memory care, plus a New York State-certified Assisted Living Program. Residents can pick between private and semi-private rooms, and there's round-the-clock nursing supervision, weekly housekeeping, laundry, and restaurant-style meals, along with organized activities, outings, and wellness programs, and they keep things lively with regular social events and comfortable community spaces. Family can visit in a private dining room, and residents get to enjoy gardens, walking paths, patios, a main entrance, and some even have access to a balcony.

The facility operates on a for-profit basis and averages about 154 residents per day. Its nurse staffing level is 3.91 hours per resident per day, which breaks down to about 38 minutes from registered nurses and 58 minutes from LPNs/LVNs, plus 6 minutes of physical therapy each day for those who need it, though it's worth noting the nurse turnover rate is 50%. Elderwood at Cheektowaga provides skilled nursing, respite care, subacute and post-surgical rehabilitations, therapy for oncology and memory care, and there's a big therapy suite with modern equipment. Residents have access to WiFi, a TV lounge, and there's a Resident Council to help residents voice their needs and ideas to staff.

There are deficiencies to be aware of-18 cited in inspection reports as of June 18, 2024, including two linked to infections, one involving antibiotic monitoring (F0881), and others for pharmacy management like drug reviews (F0756) and drug storage (F0761). The place didn't get any fines or federal penalties in the last three years, but it does have a 1-star overall CMS rating and 1 star for health inspections, meaning the inspectors found more issues than average, especially around safety, though the staffing and resident care both scored 3 stars, putting them at an average level for these areas.

For health outcomes, Elderwood at Cheektowaga reports 22.8% of short-stay residents return to the hospital, and staff administers flu shots to 82.5% of short-stay residents and pneumonia vaccines to 63.5%. The rate of pressure ulcers is 3.0%, higher than the national average, and for high-risk patients this rises to 11.7%. About 1.5% of long-stay residents have falls with a major injury, while 15.3% experience declining mobility and 13.4% need more help with basic tasks over time, and 15.5% live with moderate to severe pain. The facility reports a urinary tract infection rate of 0.8% and the same percent for catheter use, which gives a sense of their medical practices.

Residents in special care units, like those with dementia, receive specialized attention, but there've been mentions of issues in certain areas-North Hall, Unit 1, has had odor complaints, and in some rooms residents sometimes feel ignored or miss wake-up calls for meals. Still, the areas are generally comfortable and decorated, and the grounds are quiet and wooded. The staff includes an onsite Administrator and Director of Nursing, and the site offers virtual tours or scheduled visits. The facility offers on-site COVID-19 testing when supplies are available. Elderwood at Cheektowaga provides a range of services and has both strengths and some challenges, and it continues to serve as a care setting for seniors in the Cheektowaga area.