By Steve Huffman
Salisbury Post
Autumn Care of Salisbury is in the midst of an expansion and renovation that proves the facility is anything but the stereotypical nursing home of days gone by.
“Our patient population has changed,” said Glenn Terry, the facility’s administrator. “We’re seeing more younger patients for short-term rehabilitation.”
He said that whereas nursing homes of yesteryear dealt primarily with long-term care for senior citizens, Autumn Care prides itself on being a rehabilitation clinic for patients in their 40s, 50s and 60s, and occasionally as young as their 20s.
Increasingly, they’re in for short-term rehabilitation.
“It’s always a joyous day when a patient walks out of here,” Terry said.
On Tuesday, Autumn Care broke ground for a 13,600-square-foot addition that’s scheduled for a June 2008 completion.
The expansion includes 16 private room suites and a state-of-the-art rehabilitation center. The suites will be equipped with electric beds, flat-screen televisions, individual bath and shower areas and other modern furnishings.
The new facility will also offer outpatient rehabilitation services.
The expansion will complement Autumn Care’s existing structure, which measures 33,589 square feet. That facility is also being renovated.
Terry said the center’s total number of beds will remain 100 since ó as part of the renovation of the existing structure ó 16 semi-private rooms will be converted to private rooms.
Autumn Care officials expect a big demand for the renovated facilities, catering largely to those in need of short-term rehabilitative care. Individuals dealing with broken hips and those injured in automobile accidents will take advantage of the facility’s rehabilitation offerings, Terry said.
He said that with most hospitals shortening the length of patient stays, there’s an increasing demand for short-term care facilities like Autumn Care.
Contact Steve Huffman at 704-797-4222 or shuffman@salisburypost.com.