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Mercy Nursing Facility at OLV

Address

55 Melroy Avenue
Lackawanna, NY 14218

Main Number

(716) 819-5300
(716) 819-5309 (fax)

The Mercy Nursing Facility at OLV offers skilled nursing and rehabilitative care. It previously was located at Mercy Hospital and moved to the OLV Senior Neighborhood on May 31, 2008.

The 84-bed facility features four floors of 21 residents, each living in a household model. On each floor, you will find:

• a living room with a flat screen TV and fireplace
• a spa bathing area
• kitchen and laundry
• a large dining and activity area

Residents are able to be part of all activities in day-to-day living. Each resident has a private room with individual temperature controls. Dutch doors allow a resident to enjoy the hubbub of activity while having the privacy of their own room.

Respect and compassion for the dignity and diversity of life are essential in caring for residents, regardless of age. The associates of Mercy Nursing Facility at OLV understand the importance of caring for the mind, body and spirit of each person.

Services

• Physical Therapy
• Occupational Therapy
• Speech Therapy

Therapy for Residents with Memory Disorders

For residents with memory disorders, Mercy Nursing Facility offers Snoezelen Therapy.

Our Snoezelen Room features twinkling lights, projected imagery, aromatherapy, soft music and hands-on tactile stimulation to help residents reduce their anxiety and depression, as well as manage pain.

Snoezelen is a combination of the Dutch words "snuffelen," meaning to seek or explore, and "doezelen," meaning to doze or relax.

By adjusting and monitoring therapy, many nursing homes report that residents are eating, sleeping, moving and communicating better, with less of a reliance on medication and supplements.

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News

• Social Workers Can Help Ease the Transition to Long-Term Care
• Adding Value to Late Years with New Approach at Nursing Homes – Buffalo News – August 2010

Ask Us Anything

• How much can I expect to pay for long-term care? Patricia Weeks O'Connor and Karen Shalke respond.
• My father is in his 80s and is in fair health. However, he experiences loneliness but does not live near any relatives. What can I do to help? Patricia Weeks O'Connor responds.
• Can Sundowners Syndrome affect patients during the day? Patricia Weeks O'Connor responds.

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Safety Features

For residents who are at risk of wandering, Mercy Nursing Facility at OLV employs the following safety measures:

• Closed-circuit cameras at exits
• Stairwells and service elevators that can be accessed only with employee ID badges
• A dexterity cover over the buttons in the visitors' elevator – to select a floor, users must push a pen through a hole, a task that deters residents who have dementia

"We don't want to do anything to discourage their movement around their units," says Patricia Weeks O'Connor, executive director. "But we have security measures to keep them from going into areas where they would be misdirected."

Internet Access

Wireless internet is available to residents who own computers or who borrow laptops from Mercy Nursing Facility.

Although our laptops are not equipped for video chats, staff may be able to accommodate video chat requests with advance notice. Visitors are welcome to bring their own laptops to arrange for video chats between a resident and a remote family member.

Recognized by New York State Department of Health as Providing Excellent Care

Mercy Nursing Facility has received a “deficiency-free” survey from the Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services (CMS) and the New York State Department of Health (NYSDOH), a designation that reflects our quality and safety of care.

CMS contracts with state health departments to visit nursing homes periodically to ensure providers are meeting national regulatory standards. The survey team looks at many aspects of quality and safety, including the care of residents, the interaction between residents and staff, and the nursing home environment.

According to the DOH, only seven percent of all nursing homes surveyed in New York State in 2009 were deficiency-free or received only minor deficiencies. In 2009, nursing homes in New York State received an average of seven citations during their health department surveys.

 

The Mercy Nursing Facility at OLV is a proud participant in the WNY Alliance for Person-Centered Care, the first community-wide initiative of its kind in the U.S. aimed at transforming the way nursing homes and senior care providers deliver care to elders. Its vision is to educate, promote and develop person-centered care and to improve the quality of life for elders, their families and the community at large.

Becoming a Resident

To become a resident, download an application and submit it to CareConnection by faxing it to (716) 923-4894 or by mailing it to the following address: 

CareConnection
AppleTree Business Park
2875 Union Road
Suite 23-24
Cheektowaga, NY 14227

We encourage you to visit the facility prior to submitting your application to ensure it is the right fit. While we welcome visitors at any time, we encourage you to call the facility to schedule a private tour so that we can give you all of our attention.

Visitors

Visitors are welcome at any time, but we suggest that you visit between 11 a.m. and 9 p.m. to allow our residents adequate time for personal care and rest.

Make a Donation

The Continuing & Home Care Foundation supports Catholic Health's subacute, long-term care and home care facilities. Please consider donating to the foundation to make a real difference in the care for our elders.

More Information

For more information about the nursing home, please call (716) 819-5305 or email cgraham@chsbuffalo.org.