Groton Community Health Care Center

Pros

• The aides at the Groton nursing facility are wonderful and very nice to the residents.
• The facility provides excellent meals for the patients.
• The staff makes an effort to get everyone up every day.
• Family members visit regularly and appreciate the care their loved ones receive.
• Residents receive assistance when they need help, even though staffing is limited.

Cons

• The nursing facility is understaffed, particularly in terms of aides available to assist patients.
• Patients often have to wait an hour for assistance to go to the bathroom due to insufficient staffing.
• The lack of adequate staff makes it difficult for aides to give timely assistance, especially when two people are required for certain tasks.
• There are only six aides available during the day and just two at night, making it tough for residents to receive proper care.
• Sharing a room with another incapacitated resident may add to the challenges faced by patients needing assistance.

Review

In the heart of Groton, a local nursing facility faces significant challenges when it comes to staffing, particularly in its aide department. While the quality of care provided by the aides is commendable and they are described as wonderful and very nice, the sheer number of patients relative to available staff raises concerns about timely assistance for residents. The facility accommodates a substantial number of patients—reportedly around 40 per floor—which places considerable demands on the existing staff.

A crucial aspect of life in such nursing facilities is ensuring that residents receive adequate assistance for their daily activities, especially for those who require help with mobility and personal care tasks like using the bathroom. Many elderly residents, including individuals like my mother, can’t manage these activities independently and rely heavily on aides for support. Unfortunately, with only six aides on duty during the day and just two at night to serve an entire floor full of patients, waits for assistance can become prolonged. These delays can lead to uncomfortable situations where patients may have to wait an hour or longer before receiving help.

The skill and kindness displayed by the aides shine through despite these staffing shortages. They work diligently under challenging circumstances, attending to their responsibilities with compassion and professionalism. Their commitment to providing quality care is evident in their interactions with residents and families alike. For instance, my mother appreciates how well they manage their duties even when stretched thin; however, there’s an unmistakable need for more personnel to ensure that all residents receive prompt attention.

Living arrangements within the facility can also affect patient experiences. My mom shares her room with another lady who is significantly incapacitated herself. This situation poses additional challenges as both require assistance throughout the day; sharing space means resources are split between them during peak demand times when aides may already be overwhelmed with other tasks involving numerous patients needing immediate attention.

Despite these struggles regarding staffing levels and room sharing dynamics, it’s important to recognize that Groton's nursing facility does provide many positive aspects that contribute positively to resident life. Residents enjoy well-prepared meals each day and are generally encouraged to engage in daily routines that foster a sense of normalcy amidst their medical needs. These efforts demonstrate that although staff availability may be limited at times, there remains a genuine dedication towards maintaining residents’ quality of life.

Overall, while there are many admirable qualities defining this nursing facility—including dedicated caregivers who genuinely care about their residents—it is clear that increasing staff numbers would tremendously alleviate pressure on current aides. Enhanced staffing would not only improve response times for personal care needs but also elevate overall resident satisfaction within this community setting further enhancing its reputation as a supportive environment for senior citizens requiring consistent care as they navigate complex health challenges.

Physicians

• Groton Family Practice (0.1 miles)
• Family Practice Associates of Dryden (6.9 miles)
• Finger Lakes Dermatology (6.9 miles)
• Asthma & Allergy Associates (7.8 miles)
• Benjamin McClintic, MD (8.2 miles)
• Guthrie Ithaca (8.2 miles)
• Cortland Hearing Aids (8.2 miles)

Restaurants

• Subway (6.9 miles)
• Lake Como Inn (7.4 miles)
• Salt Point Brewing Co. (7.7 miles)
• Applebee's (7.8 miles)
• A&W Restaurant (7.8 miles)
• Moe's Southwest Grill (7.9 miles)
• Doug's Fish Fry (8 miles)

Parks

• Montgomery Park (7.6 miles)
• Fillmore Glen State Park (8.2 miles)
• Sapsucker Woods (8.4 miles)
• Ludlowville Falls (8.8 miles)
• Cortland Waterworks (8.9 miles)
• Suggett Park (9.4 miles)
• Lansing Myers Park (9.8 miles)

Pharmacies

• Walmart Pharmacy (7.7 miles)
• Kinney Drugs (8 miles)
• Rite Aid (8.4 miles)
• Walgreens (8.4 miles)
• Top's Markets (8.5 miles)
• Medicine Shoppe (8.5 miles)
• Kinney Drugs (9.1 miles)

Cafes

• Brewer’s Cafe and Taproom (8.1 miles)
• Coffee Mania (8.6 miles)
• Ithaca Coffee Company (9.3 miles)
• Bru 64 (9.6 miles)
• Coffee Cookies & Creamers (9.7 miles)
• Gimme! Coffee (9.8 miles)
• Allechant (9.8 miles)

Transportation

• Ithaca Tompkins Regional Airport (ITH) (8.1 miles)
• Autorental America (10.1 miles)

Theaters

• Plaza 6 Cinemas (8.6 miles)

Places of Worship

• Bible Baptist Church (8.8 miles)
• Church Bible Baptist (8.8 miles)
• Christian & Missionary Alliance Church (8.8 miles)
• Grace Christian Fellowship (9.2 miles)
• Newman Hall Catholic Center (9.3 miles)
• O'Heron Newman Catholic Chapel (9.3 miles)
• Free Methodist Church (9.5 miles)

Hospitals

• Cortland Memorial Hospital (9.4 miles)
• Cortland Regional Maternity (9.4 miles)