Caring for seniors in an intimate, home-like setting makes Pine Hill Country Care an easy choice
By Mary Malik
When the time comes to think about assisted living, the options can be overwhelming. What’s the right choice when where you really want to be is home? Sue Lanning, owner of Pine Hill Country Care in Concord, knows the feeling and has the answer.
“If it can’t be your home, it should be ours,” says Sue.
“I began my career as a labor and delivery nurse, then as a home health/hospice nurse. I have cared for people in every stage of life. I love all areas of nursing but seniors hold a special place in my heart, so I pursued my dream of caring for seniors in a more intimate and home-like setting.”
And lucky for the Pine Hill residents, Sue realized that dream and has been caring for seniors here for 20 years.
“I lived here myself until I was married in June,” says Sue. “One of our caregivers, Manager Brandy Gallagher, now lives here 24/7—although I can’t stay away very long. This is my family.”
And that’s the idea behind Pine Hill. From the large dining table in the inviting kitchen, to the comfortable family room with old movies on the television, this is home for the residents.
“Everyone has a private bedroom and brings their own furnishings and mementos to ease the transition,” says Sue. “Two residents play the piano so things get a little festive around here when the music gets going.”
Just like at home, the residents are on their own schedules as far as eating, waking and sleeping, and other daily activities.
“I can just relax and enjoy my mom,” says the daughter of one resident. “I don’t have to worry if she took her pills or if she’s eaten today. It’s a nurturing, loving environment.”
Caregivers help residents with meals, dressing, showering, transitioning throughout the day, medications and anything else they need.
“Families often tell us how their loved ones improve after they arrive here,” says Sue. “And we know it’s because they don’t have to worry anymore about how they’ll cope.”
Pine Hill is an active place with church volunteers coming in once a week, music and games and family members visiting throughout the day.
“Our families get to know everyone so well and they watch out for each other,” says Sue. “That’s another benefit of being small. Things like behavior, appetite or memory changes are all caught right away, where at a large facility they can slip through the cracks.”
Sue knows that a senior’s decline can be very difficult, especially for his or her family.
“The beauty of our perspective is that we love them right where they are in their journey, with no knowledge of them before the day they come to us,” says Sue. “And we can facilitate all their needs, even hospice care, right here.”
And helping with that care is Annie, Pine Hill’s emotional support dog.
“We have one resident who is usually non-verbal, except when Annie visits,” says Sue. “She’s a great addition to life here.”
The staff at Pine Hill also knows that seniors don’t like to be told what to do and when to do it.
“We have the luxury of catering to everyone’s individual needs,” says Sue. “Residents eat what they like, just like home. They feel more independent here. We are happy to give them this gift and we couldn’t be more proud to care for them.”
Pine Hill Country Care is located at 7301 Ravenna Road in Concord. For more information and to schedule a tour, call 440-639-1306 or email pinehillcountrycare@gmail.com.