Facilities Management HealthCare November 2024

Glades West Nursing and Rehabilitation Center – Miramar, Florida

November 26, 2024

Glades West Nursing and Rehabilitation Center

Glades West Rehabilitation and Nursing Center

Where Patient Well-Being is the Top Priority

Known as the “Rehab Stay that Feels Like a Getaway,” Glades West Rehabilitation and Nursing Center is a beacon of hope for its elderly residents, many of whom have a short stay at the facility before returning to the place they call home. Surrounded by gorgeous views and sunny Florida skies, customized plans ensure individuals receive supportive and intensive care that aids their rehabilitation.

Opened in the fall of 2015, Glades West boasts a 6,800-square-foot gym, with state-of-the-art equipment, amenities designed to enhance the experience, and a team dedicated to the best outcomes for every resident who walks through the door.

A Different Approach

Ken Angel, Administrator, shares, “We are a new building, and it’s beautiful. We have a very tropical courtyard with lots of palm trees and flowers. There are places for residents, families, and friends to get in the shade and relax and talk. We even do therapy out there sometimes for people that want to go outside.”

He notes that this courtyard was part of the initial build but was updated in 2024, adding, “We also have a big screened-in porch for people that don’t want to be outside but don’t want to be inside at the same time. So that’s nice in between.”

Offering single rooms and shared options, the facility is somewhat unique, in that its semi-private rooms are set up more like a suite, with shared bathroom facilities, a common area, and individual nooks for bedrooms. “So even our semi-private rooms are a more home-like environment. It’s a very nice, comfortable, and relaxing facility to be in from that standpoint,” Angel conveys.

The enjoyment of good food is crucial to health, happiness, and recovery, and Glades West takes its meals seriously, employing a professional chef and a registered dietitian to make sure residents have the best culinary experience. The dining room is designed to feel more like a high-end restaurant than that of a typical nursing facility.

“We have a hostess, they come, we seat them. We have nice menus and play jazz music. We have chef uniforms, and we do everything to provide their meals, right there for them, nice and hot,” Angel explains. “They can order pretty much whatever they want on the menu. And we have Starbucks coffee that’s served for them right in the dining room. So, it’s a nice upscale restaurant that our clientele love.”

Rehabilitation Programs

Glades West is known for its top-notch rehabilitation programs, which are designed to help residents regain their independence after surgery, illness, or injury. “We have physical occupational speech therapists in-house, along with RNs, LPNs, and amazing nursing staff, to provide the rehab, which they need,” Angel recounts.

“That’s really where we excel. They come, they get rehab, they get all their services, and they get stronger every day. It is so rewarding to watch them come in and not really be able to do much, and then slowly get better and gain their level of function back. It’s gratifying to be a part of it.”

A new addition to the rehabilitation department at Glades West is the Alter G Machine, an anti-gravity treadmill that uses calibrated air pressure to reduce the patient’s body weight. “The patient is put in a pressurized chamber that uses air pressure to reduce gravitational load and in turn the resident’s body weight.” Angel Illustrates. “It is a unique technology that allows our residents to restore their strength, balance, coordination, mobility skills, and to achieve their goals much quicker.”

Prioritizing patients’ mental health during rehabilitation, and through the transition back to the home environment is a priority at West Glades. The facility has two full-time social workers on staff to assist with meeting residents’ needs. “If you need specialized services here, they can help arrange any of that. We have psychiatrists and psychologists who are here multiple times a week who can come in if that’s something that you need. So, any of those supports are available,” says Angel.

Angel stresses the value of the comfortable, homey setting offered at Glades West. “It’s not just the building and the equipment. It is the interactions with the CNAs, the nurses, the social work team, and the therapists, all the way down. It makes a big difference in their recovery.” This family-like atmosphere extends to all aspects of treatment, right down to a graduation ceremony when residents complete therapy. Angel depicts, “They put them in a cap and gown, and it’s fun to watch and to see in the resident’s eyes what they’ve accomplished.”

Exceptional Staff and a Supportive Environment

Glades West Rehabilitation and Nursing Center takes pride in its high-quality staffing and commitment to a supportive work environment. “We’re very blessed with our staffing, not only in the quality of people but the numbers we have,” Angel acknowledges. Although staffing issues have been a challenge for many facilities, he reports that Glades West has been able to maintain staff and leadership levels. “I think the building, and our goal of what we’re trying to do, helps,” Angel says.

“Most people got into health care because they wanted to make a difference in people’s lives. Our staff sees that happen here every single day. It is a very fulfilling place to work for our staff, for us, and for our senior leaders.”

He details the center’s leadership philosophy, emphasizing, “We provide a very caring and supportive environment. We try to give you the tools you need to do your job, but then we let you do what you’re good at. It’s very rewarding to see the results when you allow employees to shine and do what they do best.”

Collaboration and Continuity of Care

Open lines of communication and strong collaboration with hospitals, home health agencies, and other healthcare providers are key to ensuring seamless patient care as residents transition from Glades West. “I think we’ve learned in the past five to seven years that this segment of the industry doesn’t stand alone,” remarks Angel. “We have worked hard to work closely with our hospitals, our doctors, and our home health agencies, so when they come here, we’re able to give them the care that they need, and when we send them home, we’re able to stay in communication with them after they leave.”

Although the goal is to help residents stay at home for as long as possible, this open communication also makes it easier for them to come back to West Glades if the need arises. “If we have questions, we can call the hospital and get what we need. When we send the resident home, if something’s not going right, or they are not doing well, they can pick up the phone and call us and bring the resident back here without having them go back to the hospital if needed,” he asserts.

Recognizing the Moments

At Glades West, the focus is on celebrating resident’s milestones as they work towards their goals. “It’s not always about the quantity of your life. It’s about quality and living in the moment,” Angel reflects. “Most of the time the residents that we get, they’re coming off of a traumatic experience, they’ve gone to the hospital, and hopefully they’re on their way back home. That’s a huge accomplishment and one that they probably had fears and worked really hard to get back. That’s why we celebrate everything.”

As for what comes next, Angel outlines ongoing plans to strive for excellence in staffing, equipment, and education, positioning Glades West as a leader in short-term rehabilitation. He points out that the healthcare landscape is constantly evolving, with the introduction of new technologies and information, and that the facility is committed to keeping pace with this.

“To keep doing what we’re doing, we have to continue to change,” he concludes. “It’s a rewarding environment. It makes you smile when you go home at night. You may be tired, but you’re smiling.”