I would like to take a moment to thank the staff of Signature HealthCare of East Louisville for the care and treatment given to my mother, Ms. Albertha Harrison.
I came to live in Kentucky via the military, however, my family lives in New York. My mother had suffered from seizures and I was always worried about her because I was so far away from home. However, my mom was very independent and family was always there (in New York) to look out for her. In May of 2011, my mom had a severe seizure which required hospitalization, and then rehabilitation.
I was with mom during the hospital portion and was told that she would be moving to the nursing home/rehabilitation center after a few weeks. Unfortunately, mom suffered a setback in August, which required an even longer stay in the hospital then was originally expected. It was not until October 2011 that I visited my mom in the nursing home located in New York. The facility was overcrowded and understaffed. To say that I was very disappointed in the level of care and attention that was given to my mom does not begin to tell the story.
I immediately made plans to bring my mother here to Kentucky in order to be close to her and to monitor her care. From the moment I met with Ms. Tanita Steen of admissions, I was immediately impressed with your facility. The floors were clean, the patients were being tended to and the facility did not have that unclean odor associated with nursing homes. I was given a complete tour and was told all about the treatment options available for the care of my mom. I remember thinking that my initial visit was only window dressing in order to lure me in; however, after my third visit and my meeting with Ms. Jessica Robinson & Ms. Misty Jecker, I had decided to place my mother into your care.
In November 2011, I placed my mom into your facility. After a thorough examination, it was determined that the setback my mother suffered in August was actually a stroke. The damage was severe and my mom passed away on May 28, 2012. Everything that I am, I owe to my mom. Losing her was very hard. It is only now that I am able to write this letter. It is still very difficult for me to talk about her without becoming extremely emotional. This is another reason why it has taken so long for me to write this letter.
I would like to thank all the staff of Signature for the care of my mom. They were so caring, understanding and professional. Never once did I ever feel that my mom was just another patient. I was given constant updates on her condition and was immediately notified if ever there were any problems.
My working hours are very unusual and I don’t get off work until 3 a.m. I was allowed to come in and kiss her good night when I got off work. My mom always worried about me because of my occupation. She’d always want me to kiss her at night when I’d get home, so she’d know I was home safe. It made me glad beyond words to be able to kiss her good night, and I know it met the world to her. I also know that it bought her comfort and peace of mind in her final days. My greatest concern for my mom’s care was that she be comfortable and would not suffer. My mom was always treated with dignity and respect, and I was given what I needed to prepare her for her final journey home.
In closing, I’d like to say that you hear so many horror stories about nursing homes, and after witnessing the facility in New York, I can understand where they come from. But the facility and staff of Signature were so great that I had to convey my thanks and appreciation for the love and care you all gave to the love of my life. I thank you from the bottom of my heart.
– Sgt. Kevin Hamlin, Louisville Metro Police Dept.