Dear Family Member,

Welcome to Mapleton Care Center. We understand that placing a loved one in a skilled nursing community is a very difficult choice to make. It is natural to feel overwhelmed, guilty, sad, and unprepared. In an endeavor to ease your anxieties, we want to provide you with as much information about the aging process and the long term care industry as possible. It is terribly important for you to be well informed and have realistic expectations as this will assist you in contributing to the best overall care for your loved one.

The general public today has many misconceptions about “nursing homes” and the care they provide.
We consider ourselves to be a “nursing community” offering residents the security of skilled nursing care
and certified staff in a comfortable and friendly environment. This means we are attentive to changing
medical and psychosocial needs, and that we are able to respond more promptly to emergencies. In addi-
tion, when people live in skilled nursing communities they have access to special menu options, rehabilita-
tion services and equipment, social service programs, comprehensive activity programs, and are provided
with call lights and the medical equipment they need. In spite of the benefits a skilled nursing community
offers, it is a common myth that such communities can provide one-on-one care 24 hours a day. Even with
70-90% of the care provided in a skilled nursing community funded by Medicaid and Medicare, it is
financially infeasible to provide one-on-one care. In addition, it is important to understand that no matter
how much staff is assigned or care provided your loved one is in a naturally declining state and may
experience a fall or other medical conditions that commonly afflict a typical nursing center resident in spite
of medical and nursing care interventions.

Whether we agree that Mapleton Care Center is a good fit for your loved one or not, it is our goal to ade-
quately prepare you for the many difficult decisions ahead.

If at any point you have questions, please feel free to call us. We care very much about you and your loved
one and strive to make your journey as comfortable as possible.

Stephen Wester
Nursing Center Owner /Administrator