EAST MOLINE, Ill. — National Skilled Nursing Care Week was last week and Hope Creek Nursing and Rehab Center in East Moline held multiple festivities for its residents in commemoration.
News 8's Joe McCoy spoke with residents and staff to see how Hope Creek Nursing and Rehab Center in East Moline is working to create a welcoming, homey environment for its residents — and looking to reverse the stigma that facilities like themselves tend to face.
"Of course, everybody still wants to be at home, but if you need to go somewhere, we try to dispel those rumors that it's a bad place to come," Hope Creek's Director of Human Resources Kenny Shuman said.
The celebrations for the week kicked off with the playing of the taps by the American Legion Honor Guard. It included a talk from Kenny, as well as State Senator Mike Halpin.
Hope Creek offers short and long-term rehab, as well as respite and a memory care unit. Arllyn Haynes is Hope Creek's Resident Council President. Although she would like to live in her own home, she has made the most of her four years at the nursing home.
"My favorite activity is to give Kenny a hard time," she said with a laugh.
It's celebrations like these that bring the 153 residents together. And sometimes the small things, are the most important.
"It's nice to go down the hall and have someone say 'Hi Arllyn,'" she said. "You don't have to go into a big conversation, it's just acknowledging each other."
The nearly 170 staff at Hope Creek make the nursing home a comfortable environment to live in. But it's residents like Arllyn that bring the place to life.
"If you can't laugh, life gets very dull," she said. "If you don't have a sense of humor, it's even duller.
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