County Supervisor Jim Baumgart makes an official tour of Rocky Knoll
Sheboygan County’s Rocky Knoll Health Care Center is located north of Plymouth along state highway 67. It has changed over the years from a tuberculosis sanitarium in 1926 to a modern 195-bed health-care center that today provides both short- and long-term quality care.
As a member of the Sheboygan County Board, as mentioned in last week’s column, I exercised my right to ask for a tour of the facility. Michael Taubenheim, Rocky Knoll’s administrator, provided me that opportunity on the afternoon of Tuesday, Nov. 10.
After a 20-minute interview and discussion of a number of issues – such as the upcoming state smoking ban, movement of some county staff from Sunny Ridge to Rocky Knoll, construction plans and practices, and resident services – we were off.
Our first stop was where I had come in – the reception and administration offices. It is the main location where a number of services and activities take place – intake, health care information, tours, and data collection among others.
We visited a number of dining areas. Mealtimes here are meant to be a special and positive experience. They offer restaurant-style dining, complete with linens, in a clean bright and pleasant environment. Each daily meal features a menu with a choice of foods as well as dietary menus for residents with special needs. Family members are encouraged to make reservations to eat with a loved one (a modest fee is charged).
A short detour took us to an extensive kitchen and cooking area where the food is prepared. Besides the stainless steel refrigerators, freezers, stoves, ovens, pots and pans and other equipment, a staff office was connected to a computer system for menus, food ordering, and other services.
From here we headed to the short-term care section of Rocky Knoll. There are 37 beds in single rooms where people can come for a couple of weeks or a few months for rehabilitation. The kinds of services depend on a client’s needs, be it from hip or knee replacement surgery, recovering strength from an operation, regaining mobility after a light stroke or other medical conditions. These services are determined by the individual’s physician. The short-term care deals with physical, occupational and speech therapy.
Need for long-term care is a major issue for any person requiring such services as well as family members. At Rocky Knoll, a registered nurse will discuss with the client and family how the highest level of independence and quality can be provided. People can select private or semi-private rooms. While each room has its own basic furniture and television, residents can create a home setting with their own furniture, pictures and other mementos.
We also stopped at what they call the “County Store.” Here Helen, a volunteer with 40 years of service, described the items residents could buy, including freshly made popcorn (for as little as 25 cents a bag) that is available on the popular popcorn day.
We visited a number of activity rooms that were busy, including one in which 25 or more residents were involved in a sing-along. Each month residents receive a calendar listing all the activities they can take part in, including Bingo, singing sessions, birthday and holiday celebrations, arts and crafts – to name only some.
Taubenheim pointed out that Rocky Knoll has long had a private foundation that supports special activities and projects that would likely not get funded by the county. Last year the foundation and volunteers built a special bricked fire-pit area that has become popular on spring, summer, and fall evenings with residents and their family members.
The foundation looks for financial and volunteer community support to make a difference to those who reside at Rocky Knoll.
I did talk with residents and staff, visited the rehabilitation room, and saw the large rock that “Rocky Knoll” is known for. The tour ended. I was well satisfied. And many residents and staff were aware that a Sheboygan County board supervisor had come, toured – and asked questions.
