Merit Care AFH is a small adult family home in Spokane, Washington, at 3905 East 18th Avenue, with space for up to six residents, and you'll notice right away it feels like a regular house more than a big institution, where caregivers and residents share the living space and connect every day. The home has two private rooms and two shared rooms, with some rooms having private bathrooms, and the house is wheelchair and walker accessible throughout so folks with different needs can get around safely without trouble. Meals are homemade and healthy, with options for vegetarian and kosher diets, and staff can serve special diets or soft foods as ordered by a doctor. The place has indoor and outdoor common areas, a private patio and a garden with fruit trees, and there's always fresh fruit in season from the yard, a nice touch you don't see in every place.
Caregivers here are trained in CPR, first aid, nursing help, mental health and dementia care, and are always around, with a registered nurse on call day and night and a live-in provider as well, which means even folks who need a fair bit of care-like those with diabetes, dementia, incontinence, high health needs or seniors with memory trouble or mental illness-have support without having to move to a bigger medical facility. The home offers medication management, wound care, diabetic support, help with bathing, dressing, grooming, walking, daily routines, and help with blood sugar checks and vital signs. Some care is pretty specialized, like care for people with developmental disabilities, dementia, or who've had strokes, and there's visiting nurses, therapists, and dietitians as needed, so no one has to go without ongoing support.
Staff set up group and solo activities in and outside the home like arts and crafts, music recitals with the piano, singing, bingo, story time, and cupcake baking in the kitchen, and there's always something to do if you enjoy puzzles, gardening, physical therapy, fitness classes, or just catching a game on TV, with sports and music channels for those who want that. Folks get to have family come visit in private dining spaces or sit out on the patio, and the schedule's pretty open with visits allowed from 9 in the morning to 8 at night. There's church visits, devotional days, off-site trips, and pet therapy with visiting dogs or cats, though pets don't live in the house, and the home's staff and volunteers drive residents out to social or recreational activities if they want a change of scenery.
Merit Care AFH handles board and care home services, including laundry, meals, cleaning, and medication ordering, and supports people for short stays or respite care when needed, so families get a break and the residents have a stable, people-centered place for weeks, months, or for as long as needed. The house runs on backup power if electricity goes out, so care doesn't stop, and has an emergency call system in case someone needs quick help. There's private telephones, cable or satellite TV, high-speed internet for both residents and guests, private bath options, and the home welcomes people of all backgrounds and faiths, aiming to care for everyone like family. With a hands-on owner who's a licensed nurse and an active, caring staff, Merit Care AFH does its best to make sure adults get respectful, attentive care in a quiet, comfortable place that feels like home, not a hospital.
