Suzanne Betts
Oct 2023
Legacy at Noel Manor, as a “memory care facility” and it’s staff, has been and will forever be a truly blessed memory for myself and my family. I came to WI from NC on July 4th, to assist in the care of our second cousin after he was supposed to have had surgery. Due to unforeseen circumstances, this never happened. Instead, on the 7th of July, he was diagnosed with a terminal brain tumor! We were told by the attending physician at St Mary’s Hospital, that he would need to be placed in a “memory care facility” until his impending death. It was a shock to hear such news. Due to the fact that my cousin refused to listen to the truth, with the location of the tumor and how it had dramatically changed his otherwise gentle disposition, to say I was overwhelmed by the task of having to find a “home” for our cousin is an understatement! My sister flew in from NC to support me and him, together we set out to find that place that our cousin would be until his death. We set our criteria, we would look for a place that offered the best care in terms of professionalism , cleanliness is paramount, didn’t want smells of urine etc, and we would have to believe we could stay there if it had been us instead of him moving into such a place! After visiting 3 other locations, and speaking with the Directors and residents, we came upon Noel Manor via a patron of another facility who had expressed to us that if he himself had the opportunity, he would relocate to Noel Manor. So we set up an appointment with Kelsey Bakken, and we’re not disappointed at all with what we saw there. Besides the beautiful resort like facility, large spacious bedrooms and bathrooms, main dining and sitting rooms, we noticed that the residents were smiling, they were happy, and when the Kelsey would come upon a resident, she stopped, she called them by name, touched them on the hand or shoulder and made sure their needs were met, questions answered , she never once disrespected or dismissed their presence. (We had just left a facility whereby the woman who was taking us on a tour, totally dismissed a resident who had stopped us and she said,” just ignore her, she’s a wanderer.” That would be the last place I would have wanted our cousin to be in!!) We immediately placed a deposit down and began the lengthy process of getting him accepted and moving him in. It took almost 3 weeks before we were accepted. We moved him in from the hospital on August the 8th. He was not a happy camper about being there. I had to return to NC to work and was devastated to have to move him in and leave the next day. I was assured that he would be cared for and that it was probably better for his adjustment period that I wouldn’t be there! We were worried he wouldn’t adjust but, with the care and concern for him that the entire staff doled out, he adjusted and settled into life at the “Manor” as I refer to it, just brilliantly! He was cared for, loved and seen! Upon my return to WI just 9 days after he had moved in, his attitude made me feel like we had picked the right place! In the 6 and a half weeks that our cousin lived there, I got to know the staff really well. I have nothing but praises for the entire staff!! We became like family! Their care of our cousin was nothing short of amazing. When I would ask for assist with him, their response was immediate. He was happier, he was kept clean, his room was clean, we couldn’t have asked for more.<br>Not being too familiar with a “memory care “ facility, I noticed immediately that the staff encouraged the residents to be as normal as they could be. They never spoke down to anyone and included everyone in activities, engaging with the residents in conversation about how they were, what they were focused on etc. The facility itself is set up to support the needs of the residents, security and a double door locking system with alarms, are in place. No one can get out or in, without a staff member entering in a code to open the doors. As far as room security, each room has a door lock which can be accessed from the outside with a key.
