NorthTowns Care Center sits in Tonawanda, New York, and takes care of older adults who need different kinds of help as they age, and you'll find that the center belongs to a bigger network with connections to groups like Centers Healthcare, Elderwood Group, and the McGuire Group, which means you see a range of services, with both for-profit and not-for-profit hands involved, and NorthTowns offers skilled nursing day and night, memory care for people with Alzheimer's or dementia, short-term rehabilitation, and assisted living with help for daily needs like bathing, dressing, and taking medicine, along with meal services and personal care, and when you walk around, you notice amenities made for seniors-the rooms are furnished and air-conditioned, some have kitchenettes and private bathrooms, Wi-Fi and cable TV run through the building, and you get spaces to gather like a beauty salon, a dining room with restaurant-style service and meals for special diets, a fitness room, small library, computer area, gardens, and a safe outdoor area, plus there are options for community rides and trips.
You see staff working all through the day, and that includes Registered Nurses, Licensed Practical Nurses, Certified Nurse Assistants, therapists, and many others like social workers, maintenance, and dietary staff, all unionized through 1199SEIU, and staff have been speaking up, taking part in protests to call for better conditions, more hands on the floor, and fair wages, trying to get management to improve things like health insurance and pensions because everyone knows that better staffing means better care. NorthTowns Care Center has had reports of lower-than-average staffing levels compared to state and national numbers, so people in the community and union have made that a focus. The center also offers respite care so family caregivers can get a break when they need it, and there are programs and activities built for memory care, like memory games or special routines, with a safe and secure space for residents who need extra supervision. The place tries to give a comfortable, home-like setting, with staff trained to treat each resident with dignity and respect, and it's easy to tour if you want, either in person or virtual, and while NorthTowns has faced tough contract talks, legal actions about staffing, and related company dealings, it keeps serving seniors with options for assisted living, memory care, long-term care, and skilled nursing, all in one community where many hope to age in place.
