Valley Grande Manor, over in Brownsville, Texas, is a nursing home with 162 certified beds and usually about 111 residents, so it's not always full and that helps with personal attention, and you'll see they have both private and semi-private rooms, some even have their own bath and kitchenette with a fridge and central air, which can really make things more comfortable for folks living there. It's a for-profit place under individual ownership, fully sprinklered, and not in a hospital, but it does take both Medicare and Medicaid, and they're signed up and certified for those programs, plus they've got a 4-star rating from CMS and a 3.5-star average from 19 public reviews, so people can look that up if they'd like. The staff provide about 1.43 hours of care per resident every day-this includes registered nurses, licensed practical nurses, and certified nurse aides-and they offer nursing care around the clock and cover a lot of ground, like respiratory therapy, ventilator and tracheostomy management, even having in-house dialysis available, and since they've got a big 1,200 square foot rehab room, folks can get physical, occupational, and speech or language therapy right there.
The place helps with high-acuity, long-term needs, covering things like memory care as well, with a secured unit and Alzheimer's-specific programs, where residents get more direct supervision and support and there's locked areas to keep those with dementia safe, so people don't wander off. They do daily living help like bathing, dressing, bathroom support, and if someone needs insulin shots or help getting in or out of bed, that's often possible but should be checked with the staff just in case. There are activity programs, including music therapy, animal therapy, games, movies, exercise, reading rooms, and creative activities, plus some support for joining faith groups, running errands, or traveling to doctor's visits. Residents can also use outdoor areas and fitness rooms, and there are barbers or hairdressers who visit, and they do three homemade meals daily, with diets adjusted for health needs like diabetes or high blood pressure. You'll also find things like a beauty shop, hot tub, social nights, and game rooms for more engagement.
Valley Grande Manor has a physician and psychiatrist who visit, plus a registered dietitian, podiatrist, and other support specialists, and they offer counseling and support groups for those who need it. There's always a Certified Medical Director overseeing nursing care. Social services, restorative nursing, pharmacy, and physical, occupational, and speech therapies are all available on the grounds, and nursing staff is there 24/7. They work toward keeping things homelike and respectful, encouraging folks to join social, spiritual, and special events, but the numbers show some challenges, too-19% of short-stay residents and 21% of high-risk long-stay folks have pressure sores, and almost half of the low-risk long-stay group have issues with bowel or bladder control, so families should think about these and ask questions. About 5% of residents are physically restrained, 9% of long-stay residents have lost too much weight, and vaccination rates for pneumonia and flu go from 64% up to 87% depending on short or long stays, which is something to consider if those are important.
The facility's not a continuing care retirement community and it's not owned by a big chain, so that can affect policies and staffing, and even though you won't find family councils, there are resident councils for people to speak up about their needs or concerns. Valley Grande Manor has had some citations for administration, like needing qualified social workers and making sure their licensed staff provide proper care, so it's wise to review recent inspection reports. The bed occupancy is about 69% which means there might often be space, and they try to make things as homelike as possible while still offering round-the-clock care, rehabilitation, and specialized help for older adults, whether they're there for just a little while or for the long haul.
