Riverbend Of South Natick

Riverbend Of South Natick sits in a quiet neighborhood in Natick, MA, and serves up to 55 residents in a small, family-owned setting that feels comfortable and home-like for those who stay there, whether for short-term or long-term needs, and you'll notice right away that the staff focuses on personal care and comprehensive mental health services as well as specialized rehab, with access to physical, occupational, and speech therapy, which comes in handy for folks recovering from surgery or a stroke, or who need support after other medical events. The facility's dedicated staff, trained in the latest techniques, offer individualized care plans and provide skilled nursing care with 12 to 16 hours of nurse coverage a day, which is above the state average for staffing, but there's a higher nurse turnover rate than the state average, which is something families often ask about. There's a range of care types, including long-term nursing care, short-term stays, post-acute care, respite, rehabilitation, and hospice, all under one roof, and people have access to restorative nursing, post-surgical and cardiac rehab, stroke recovery, and nutritional counseling as part of their overall wellness support. For day-to-day life, residents enjoy amenities like an arts room, garden, fitness room, and library, with regular activities such as movie nights, music, and wellness programs, and transportation services help folks get to appointments or out for recreation, while an emergency alert system and 24-hour call system offer peace of mind because help's always nearby. Riverbend accepts Medicare and Medicaid, and also encourages involvement from both a resident council and a family council to make sure everyone has a voice, although it operates as a for-profit corporation and is mainly owned by Marion Thisse, with management control by Rehabilitation Associates Inc since 1985. The staff handles everything from assistance with bathing and dressing to medication management, transfers, and non-ambulatory care, with a focus on fall prevention and infection control, though recent inspection reports flagged some deficiencies in communication about health declines, restraint use, and infection control for flu and pneumonia; in the June 2024 state review, 11 deficiencies were noted, 3 related to infection, and over time, there have been 23 total deficiencies on record. Riverbend's team supports ongoing education for staff and families, participates in state and industry wellness initiatives like the Fight the Flu Campaign and Sepsis Smart, and works on keeping the environment safe and supportive for everyone, while offering end-of-life support with hospice and palliative care teams focused on quality of life. With 55 certified beds, a blend of private and community spaces, and a steady focus on individualized planning, Riverbend has a reputation around town for supporting seniors through many stages of health and rehab, even as they keep working on improvements flagged in inspections, making it an option worth knowing about when looking for senior care or skilled nursing in Eastern Massachusetts.