LETTER: St. Croix Health Center is first class

To the Editor:

I am moved to write this letter to bring to your attention to the amazing gem of help and healing you have right in New Richmond. I am speaking of the St. Croix Health Center. 

I recently came to New Richmond to help my sister-in-law who was recovering from hip replacement surgery. She was lucky enough to spend a week at the St. Croix Health Center. I live out of state and came to primarily continue her care at home once released. I arrived a few days prior to her release. What I found at the St. Croix Health Center was beyond my imagination.

First off, when you arrive at the center, it does not “smell” like what one has come to expect of a nursing or rehab facility. You smell aromas coming from a kitchen preparing home cooked meals. You are greeted by a sign that states: “Our residents don’t live in a facility, we work in their home.” I think this says it all.

Over the next few days I saw excellence of care on every level. The staff, nurses, therapists, coordinators and volunteers treated everyone with care, compassion and respect. Even when visibly being drawn in multiple directions, they never complained.

I was moved by the respect and dignity given to each resident even when some seemed incoherent. I have to add that, even as a visitor, I was treated with care and consideration, being asked on more than one occasion if there was anything I needed. I could go on endlessly of the gracious things I saw, but I’m not sure I would find ample words.

Sometimes places like this are unnoticed or underappreciated. Being from out-of-state and knowing what I have seen elsewhere, New Richmond should be proud of what they have in their community.

Perhaps you haven’t had the need for these types of services. You have been blessed. But everyone will, at one time or another, need a service such as this. If you have a parent you can no longer care for or need a little help while recovering from a surgery, I can’t tell you enough how incredible this facility is.

From the nursing, staff, housekeepers and activities director, St. Croix has it all. Bravo New Richmond. You are a compassionate community.

Jeanne Bruntyn

Fox Lake, Ill.

Tags: letters to the editor, opinion