As a caregiver I spent many hours at various times of the day at New Port Inn retirement home, in New Port Richey, Florida. There was a really nice English lady, who only had family in England, and they were so worried that she wouldn’t receive good care.
She had previously been in a private assisted living facility, which certainly wasn’t up to my standards. I was asked to be a companion to her so I got to meet the majority of people working there.
She had a semi-private room with two beds in it, but I am happy to say that no one every occupied the other bed. My English lady was up on one of the higher floors and my only frustration was, at meal times, when the elevator was in constant use.
As she was partially paralyzed, two of the employees would help her out of bed and into her wheelchair. From there I would take her into the dining room. The girls were very good to the residents. At meal times they would get a choice of dishes and even if they were still unhappy with the choices, they would get them a salad or a sandwich. They always provided me with a cup of coffee while I assisted my lady with her breakfast, lunch, or dinner.
The lobby was very pretty and inviting but the rooms were left up to the residents. My lady didn’t have anything to bring with her, so she had an old chest of drawers, a small used television, and the closed in closet at the side of the room. As you entered the room there was a door to the right, this was the en suite bathroom.
I did get to look into some of the other resident’s rooms that were mobile and they, or their families, had made them very cozy.
By the elevator and in each residents room was a schedule of activities. They had several outings, bingo, rooms for cards, etc, but my favorite place to take her was, to the Ice Cream Parlor. It was in a room that took you back to the 1950’s, with pictures of Elvis and cars. They made it a really special treat. I would take my lady and she would have a banana split. These are such great memories.
Once a month they had an evening where they provided a glass of wine or beer, if the doctor allowed it. I was planning on taking my lady to it but sadly she passed away before we had the chance.
I have to say that the staff of New Port Inn was very caring and they certainly made the last few weeks of my friend’s life more pleasant for her.
New Port Inn retirement home is located at 6021 Congress Street, New Port Richey, Florida, 34653. Telephone 727 848 3617. It is on the southeast corner of Congress and Main Street, just below the new shopping plaza and behind Southern Pines nursing home.
