Palliative care reduces the amount of pain or suffering from a disease or illness. Often palliative care is administered when the actual disease course cannot be treated, or when treatment of disease(s) will result in unwanted additional health issues or problems. Many recipients of palliative care are in hospice, but they do not have to be.

ManorCare on Rossmoor Parkway in Walnut Creek, CA, is the whole package with good looks and a proven track record to back it up. The facility has a “homey” feel that is atypical of a skilled nursing homes facility, while also raising the bar for care.

Beyond first impression: Williamsburg Wing, a swanky health home facilites, offers private accomodations with lush appointments. Amenities include plush carpet, swagged drapery, and dark wood furnishings in residents’ rooms. Director of Admissions Carrie Williams says that the environment is good for friends and family members, as well as the residents, noting that the wing is “less hospital-like, less scary,” taking first time visitors by (pleasant) surprise. Patients are eligible for the Williamsburg Wing no matter what their health status is, so even those at end of life can spend their remaining days in this cozy, homelike environment. Dark wood furnishings and soft lighting are found throughout the facility. In the main dining room, special touches recall a fine dining atmosphere with white linens and crisply folded napkins, fresh flower arrangements, and a decorative china cabinet. A grand piano and an upright piano add elegance and style.

A family affair: Making a SNF homey goes beyond simple accord. Rossmoor Parkway residents enjoy regular happy hours that welcome family members and caregivers. Williams says that this is essential in showing families that the atmosphere is a warm and friendly one, not just “some sterile environment.” These events help keep families involved and visiting regularly, and reassure them that they have made a good choice in finding a home for their loved ones.

Numbers don’t lie: Another area where this home health facility shines is its rehab department. Take note that an astounding 97.9% of short-term rehab patients are able to handle their care independently upon discharge. Williams credits the success rate on the consistency of care that she says can be found across the board at the chain’s facilities across the country.