Medical Care- A Consumer’s perspective- Brookdale Pt 2
Part One– https://thatwoman.wordpress.com/2019/03/22/the-ratings-of-medical-facilities-series-it-begins/
Part Two- https://thatwoman.wordpress.com/2019/04/09/medical-care-from-a-consumers-perspective-ohio/
Part Three- https://thatwoman.wordpress.com/2019/04/22/medical-care-a-consumers-prospective-mercy-health-lorain/
Part Four – https://thatwoman.wordpress.com/2019/04/29/medical-care-a-consumers-perspective-mercy-health-lorain-2/
This will, hopefully, be the last in the series of medical care received in various medical facilities , three different types of medical care, and three different providers. Ideally this post should be in two parts but I want to leave Brookdale behind so it will be lengthy.
The common denominator was the insurance coverage Medicare and Medical Mutual. Although I am fighting one bill ( will be explored in this post) and the Medicare evaluation of Brookdale as mentioned in Part SIX is an issue for us, on the whole Medicare and Medical Mutual – so far – has been less than the nightmare I thought it would be.
I believed we were spoiled by the nursing staff/ aides and housekeeping staff at Mercy Health Lorain, upon reflection they set the bar very high– a few of their physicians I found decidedly lacking ( see Part One).
Also , the Cleveland Clinic Rehabilitation was beautifully clean and the food was very good , rehab staff were excellent, you knew what time therapy was every day and who what and where so families could adjust schedules to participate with the patient. You knew who the nurses were that day and your aides. Unfortunately, it was down to a small percentage of aides that spoiled the experience and also caused a health issue ( in my opinion) by spreading C’Diff from one room to another and then sending contaminated material with the patient to another facility. Brookdale
Ah! Brookdale, Westlake Ohio…..the 5 star Skilled nursing and rehabilitation facility which is in the middle of a very large Assisted Living and Senior Living
Brookdale Senior Living owns and operates over 1,000 senior living communities and retirement communities in the United States. Brookdale was established in 1978 and is based out of Brentwood, Tennessee. https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Brookdale_Senior_Living
The typical Brookdale Senior Living CNA salary is $12. CNA salaries at Brookdale Senior Living can range from $10 – $15. This estimate is based upon 66 Brookdale Senior Living CNA salary report(s) provided by employees or estimated based upon statistical methodshttps://www.glassdoor.com/Hourly-Pay/Brookdale-Senior-Living-CNA-Hourly-Pay-E6433_D_KO24,27.htm
Independent living prices average $2,900 monthly. The majority of locations will cost between $2,300 and $3,500. Skilled nursing communities are available as a Basic Monthly Service Rate of between $6,000 and $8,500.
I have not received the cost of our one month stay at Brookdale Westlake “skilled nursing and rehab ” in Westlake as of today’s date but I do know one charge was $400 per day.
After the poor experience of “transfer” from Cleveland Clinic Rehab Hosp. Avon (which was paid for by self -pay) I wasn’t in the best of moods . I understood from literature that I had read this was a “newer facilty”. I understood it to be around 10 years old. In my opinion it was becoming a little “shabby” without the chic.
I should point out this is a very large complex and the “skilled nursing” ( bit of an oxymoron in my opinion) section had quite a large turnover of people coming in and out of rehab. However, my first impression after leaving the gleaming white , bright Cleveland Clinic Rehabilitation Hospital(CCRH) was one of “OH!” and not in a pleasant way. The parking for the visitors for the skilled nursing/ rehab section was awful, you had to hope the parking gods were on your side as you drove round and round hoping for someone to leave.
Please note this a critique of the Skilled Nursing and Rehabilitation Section of the complex, I have no thoughts or opinions as to the rest of their complex and assisted living sections.
The facility allows pet visits to the patients rooms, all well and good but unlike The CCRH where there was a designated area tile floor) for those pet visits, animals in all shapes and sizes routinely walked the “carpeted corridors” , one little fella dragged his bottom along the carpet which made me go eeeewwwwwww. Had they been bathed, de-fleaed , some looked as if they weren’t exactly a pampered pet? I did take my dog to see her master at the CCRH after going through the paperwork and a shampoo. I did not bring her to Brookdale!
The room was supposed to be “homey” and an effort was made in the design and décor. However too many bumps and bruises on the paintwork, furniture left an impression of needing a redecorating. The “homey” bedspread with its little bag of goodies, had decidedly seen better days , faded (hopefully) through a lot of washing? Again, being spoiled by the open airiness of the CCRH with large windows this was a bit of a disappointment , his room was dark and yes in my opinion a bit dingy. The photo from their website is really not a great representation as to the “light” in the room we had. After the pristine cleanliness of CCRH it was a bit of a disappointment Oh well thought I different facility not a hospital .
The bed was actually quite small, and no sides. Apparently “nursing homes” cannot restrict the occupants ( such as the side up in a hospital) neither can they belt you in a wheel chair. This was all well and good but for a patient that has very little trunk strength and one who was a fall risk this was not ideal. I was told we could request the sides if we went through the paperwork and the Dr. must write out a prescription to have the sides installed. I said this is what I wanted done. That was the last I heard, and actually he fell out of the bed twice, a chair once and the wheelchair once. Not so good when it comes to the fact he had just had major brain surgery after a fall.
After 4 days of being a resident the bathroom became the holding room for dirty sheets, linens, towels used diapers and pads ( remember that C’Diff) I was ready to remove the patient from the 5 star facility and interaction with some very off putting aides . I called the head nurse and one of the administrators , after my daughter was given the pads etc to clean up the leaking Foley bag. Since she was gowned and wiping down the room with cleaning cloths due to the C’diff maybe they did think she was a staff member, as we were told. Obviously no-one else up to that point – knowing there was an issue with C’diff wore those items. ( Benefit of the doubt)
Some aides did make a half hearted effort to “gown up” after the complaint, however, latex gloves routinely ended up being taken off and thrown into the “general purpose waste basket”, well those that made it in as they were thrown – I was forever picking these up and emptying the room trash!
As for “housekeeping” I can’t remember that happening to any degree maybe weekly and only once was there what I call a thorough cleaning ( the Sunday after I complained ) whereas in the previous two facility it was daily and sometimes twice a day.
The ‘weekend administrator” did get the bags of laundry and garbage out of the bathroom , did send in a cleaner and apologized. The “head” nurse did get the Foley bag removed, changed the mattress to an air mattress, as he was starting to get a bed sore due to being stationary and unable to move on his own ( eg. roll over) and was also very uncomfortable due to a pre-existing back condition. And so it began…………
The rehab staff were very good, he could not have intensive rehab at this facility , again only so often due to Medicare restrictions. But on the whole we were pleased. My goal was to have him ambulatory , able to get into a bed at home and to be able to get to the bathroom. This was going to mean on a walker at least because this “Old House” was not wheelchair friendly.
Since there was definitely an issue with 85% of the aides ( remember the staff that was above average according to the Medicare evaluation ) my daughter would spend every morning going with him to rehab, not the organized times etc of the CCRH we were expecting, she would stay until after lunch and I would come later in the afternoon through the evening. Night times were very bad for him, but he was on digoxin and although he had adverse reactions to this drug we could not get Doctors to take him off of it ( prescribed by the ghost cardiologist from Mercy)
https://www.nhqualitycampaign.org/…/Drugs_that_may_cause_psychiatric_symptoms…visual hallucinations, fear, paranoia, agitation, anxiety. Sudden … Hallucinations, paranoia, delusions, confusion, mania, anxiety … Digoxin (Lanoxin*).
“On March 17th I received a call from the night nursing staff at Brookdale that my husband had fallen trying to get out of his chair. The nurse informed me he had bruising to his abdomen and an abrasion to his left leg.They could not tell me if he had hit his head. Considering they stated he had only fallen 10 minutes previously to calling me I was concerned they could not tell me whether he had hit his head and that bruising to the abdomen was already in place. I deemed it important considering the history of previous weeks of major brain bleed and surgery he should be checked out by someone other than an LPN. Hence the trip to St. John’s Westshore Emergency Dept. He was monitored in the ER and after a few hours sent back to Brookdale .
It is my contention that due to the recent history of falling and two brain bleeds the ER was the appropriate facility at 1 a.m in the morning. Brookdale, in my opinion did not have a qualified individual on duty or equipment to ascertain a diagnosis. The ER was the best place”
July 3rd- continuing – Chris Ritchey
I have written about you every month on the 3rd of the month as my memorial to you – your life and your art work. A few months ago I wrote these lines in the post https://thatwoman.wordpress.com/2019/04/03/april-3rd-forgotten-chris-ritchey/
““They say you die three times – once when your body fails you – again when you are buried ( funeral) and again when you are forgotten”.
Death of the body and death of memory. When you are buried and that headstone in place is a remembrance of sorts but there’s the rub how long will that headstone last?
Most of us believe that record of our being in the places designed for such – as cemeteries and crematoriums will last forever, not so especially with the way things happen with cemeteries in recent years. This Blog https://lisanneharris.com/2013/05/12/sadly-utterly-abandoned-churches-cemeteries/ Ms. Harris has a plethora of photos from around the world of these sad places. The forlorn graves sinking into oblivion once held the tears and heartbreak of mourners who grieved over their loved ones. Even in this old neighborhood the citizens of Lorain in the past plowed under and buried the little Charleston Village Cemetery
https://thatwoman.wordpress.com/tag/pioneer-cemetery-lorain/
I read once , here you can’t reclaim or take out graves until 100 years after the last burial. But that is another law that is circumvented. I know it happened to your Great Grandmother and Great Grandfather and Great- Great Grandmother, the site was moved (although other family members wouldn’t have it) but I remember visiting those graves in a totally different area of the cemetery and one was missing altogether.
You are not dead because our love of you is alive and you are in our thoughts and dreams daily.
Your Nana was not afraid to die, she was actually welcoming her demise -99 years is longer than most get on this earth.
She had out- lived her brothers , sisters, friends of her youth. She was ready but as she sipped her tea one day near the ending she look at me over the rim of the cup and said
“you won’t forget me will you, Nikki and the children will remember they had their Nana”.
There is no headstone in a “family plot” because that is not what she wanted. Her ashes will hopefully one day make it back to “her England” , time and life permitting.
Today, I received a notification from the Crematorium in England
about your Grandfather. What a mess that was when he passed , he had gone off with someone else – had a new family – although he clung still to his old one. Due to the fact he never remarried, I was still his next of kin, the arrangements were left to me although his “woman” did orchestrate some aspects.
Then a few years on, since Nana and I were home, we went to the crematorium and I asked the office where my fathers ashes were interred. Imagine my guilt when I found out no-one had ever claimed them! I had thought his fancy bit would have, she obviously was done with him after he died. I was told his ashes were scattered in a part of the crematorium I was shown the spot where his ashes had been scattered and was told
“I could have a “tablet” positioned on the walls surrounding the Willow Garden, and are ideal for those who wish to mark the position of a loved one whose ashes have been scattered below.”
It was decided, only Nana would have nothing to do with it , didn’t want her name mentioned and went and sat in the rose garden. This is truly a beautiful place. I realized, although his work of a cross ( commissioned by the Governor of Gibraltar) hopefully still adorns the altar in the Naval Chapel there ,
there was not a permanent dedication ( well as permanent as can be in this life) but one day even that small reminder will be taken from the wall
Anyway I purchased a “tablet: and every 10 years I receive an invoice to renew the dedication, a few hundred pounds. No-one goes to the crematorium anymore to pay their respects, I am not sure anyone other than I ever did but I paid this invoice today because his name is there , the fact he lived and died on those dates is still there and he is not forgotten and he did live and he loved me and I , him
My Dad and I happier times
Oh his great grandson has the look of him but only I and a photograph of old realize that :
And that is why I write about you month after month for as long as I can so you know you aren’t forgotten and that you lived…….. and are still loved with every breath in my body………..
Breath of Life – Celtic Knot – Chris Ritchey
Medical Care – a consumer’s perspective-Brookdale ( Skilled Nursing)
Part One– https://thatwoman.wordpress.com/2019/03/22/the-ratings-of-medical-facilities-series-it-begins/
Part Two- https://thatwoman.wordpress.com/2019/04/09/medical-care-from-a-consumers-perspective-ohio/
Part Three- https://thatwoman.wordpress.com/2019/04/22/medical-care-a-consumers-prospective-mercy-health-lorain/
Part Four – https://thatwoman.wordpress.com/2019/04/29/medical-care-a-consumers-perspective-mercy-health-lorain-2/
This time when we were told we would have to make plans for my husband to leave the Cleveland Clinic Rehabilitation Hospital ( after 19 days) were were given a list with 54 skilled nursing facilities but more time in which to make a decision.
The case worker at Cleveland Clinic Rehab Hosp. printed out a list of 54 facilities within a 25 mile radius, with ratings from Medicare .gov Nursing Home Compare .
As you can see page one with the closest to home ( as I already had checked them out) were crossed off. “One” of the complaints I have of Medicare in their ratings , in our situation, was we needed physical therapy and rehabilitation and although “staffing” was rated, Health inspections and Quality were rated there was not a rating for the “caliber” of rehab and therapists.
I would like to point out that at Brookdale aka WESTLAKE VILLAGE CARE CENTER 28540, village Drive Westlake Ohio 44145 , the rehab therapy and therapists were excellent. I wish I could say the same for 90 percent of their aides.
20 of the 54 facilities were listed in their staffing by Medicare as “much below or below average”, even when their overall rating was above average or much above average – very confusing .
The star system given my Medicare was also misleading ( Brookdale) – Westlake Village was given a 5 out of 5 star , comforting to me when we chose this facility and also the staffing as “above average” – I don’t know who at Medicare rates these facilities but this was not in any way a 5 star facility unless the bar is set very low!!!!
Take a look at the first page ( first photo) of the report of the 5 facilities 4 received 4 out of 5 stars but each of them has a rating of below average for staffing. and one Lake Pointe Health Care a 1.
NOTE: you really have to do your homework and that is hard when you are having to choose a facility for a loved one during a traumatic time. I thought I had done my homework with this facility. Since my husband was in the University Hospital system, as were all his doctors, I checked and Brookdale had access to either the Cleveland Clinic System and for us a doctor with University Hospitals. It had taken me weeks of being “out of our system to get him back into UH.
I was happy in our choice having done as much research as I could , ratings , recommendations etc. looking on line . https://www.brookdale.com/en/communities/brookdale-westlake-village.html?cid=yext
The trip from the Cleveland Clinic Rehabilitation Hospital via “transport” was again a fiasco of waiting and miscommunication as to what sort of transport was needed.
Although I had had problems at the Cleveland Clinic they had been addressed for the most part quickly and efficiently , however we left on a sour note and with “personal belongings in a large bag”.
Due to the tension dealing with Doc Martens transport I didn’t realize that along with my husband carried by one of the administrative staff to the ambulance was the lift pads and sling pad from both his bed and wheelchairs and various items .
The lift pads/sling pads ( plastic) we discovered later ,when I looked into the closet at Brookdale where the bag had been placed as personal effects had fecal matter attached, bad enough but considering this was also contaminated with C’diff most worrying and dangerous in my laypersons opinion.
Here we were bringing into another facility contaminated matter!!! This practice of transporting these items should not occur , after all you don’t know where they have been.
This was not a good start to our stay and within 4 days I was ready to pull my husband out of this 5 star establishment ……. TO BE CONTINUED…..
June 3rd – archeology of sorts- Chris Ritchey
Oh! the pond, what a pain I am having with pumps , tubing and fish eating birds and animals. I have spent a small fortune on equipment this spring. The winter weeks, after your Dad was in the hospital, your brother-in law had to stop by a few times a week in the days of “polar vortex” to make sure we kept a hole in the ice. Just when I thought I had everything sorted last week , nets in place , aerators , new pump and filter system hooked up, and the waterfalls pump working and bringing at least me some peace and happiness as I watched the water cascading down the falls, of course, the waterfalls pump stopped working.
Now nothing is easy in this house, I could no longer find the same pump , the tubing was too big, too small, and this pump didn’t fit the old filter system. I tried as best I could to clean the filters every two days and that is a horrible job. Why ??? because your Ghost Koi needs air and clean water, from over forty fish we are down to 17 including “The Ghost”. Due to my diligence of filter cleaning every couple of days the water is crystal clear. The offending pump had to be taken out and replaced. Heron apparently don’t like ripples so making sure the water ripples means three pumps functioning .
I shut everything down and gingerly balanced precariously on the edge. The water was so still and clear I, for once, could see the very bottom of the pond. The Ghost Koi loomed large – 10 years of eating and being king of the pond, he has grown to a formidable size. As I teetered and wobbled trying to reach the old pump under the falls, the thought crossed my mind,
I might end up joining him… death by “pond life”,
he wasn’t actually endearing me to him in that moment and then I saw a glint of gold lying on the bottom.
I strained to see what was shining up at me and then I realized it was a pair of your aviator sunglasses, you too had been searching for the Koi that last summer ( a much smaller little fish) and had dropped your glasses and there they were still- where they had fallen. A reminder of why I need to protect and maintain the pond so my last Mother’s Day gift from you continues..the Ghost Koi…..
Those glasses and ones like them that hid you eyes from us when you would hear the bad news the Doctors would tell hiding tears and pain. Those same glasses that brought my tears flowing once more a reminder of a life too short. and a son lost.
I suppose when we are gone and he pond is filled in will someone, in a time to come, may dig the space they might wonder how a pair of aviator glasses came to be 4 foot underground and the story behind them… a curiosity for the future…… the missing of you, our love and memories that should have been can sometime cripple………
Medical Care – a consumer’s perspective-Cleveland Clinic Rehab Hospital
Part One– https://thatwoman.wordpress.com/2019/03/22/the-ratings-of-medical-facilities-series-it-begins/
Part Two- https://thatwoman.wordpress.com/2019/04/09/medical-care-from-a-consumers-perspective-ohio/
Part Three- https://thatwoman.wordpress.com/2019/04/22/medical-care-a-consumers-prospective-mercy-health-lorain/
Part Four – https://thatwoman.wordpress.com/2019/04/29/medical-care-a-consumers-perspective-mercy-health-lorain-2/
Cleveland Clinic Rehabilitation Hospital Avon Ohio, was NOT on the list of 34 facilities given to us by Mercy Health social workers – Lorain Ohio. I did some research on my own, went to the internet and to my facebook page and asked local friends if they had had good or even poor experiences with facilities in the area. Cleveland Clinic Rehabilitation Hospital came up as being a good facility. https://my.clevelandclinic.org/locations/rehabilitation-hospital/specialties
My daughter and I spent a Thursday morning touring the facility. It has all the benefits of a hospital doctors , rehabilitation therapists, nurses, aides and the focus is of course on rehabilitation. The facility is only a few years old and shiny , white and extremely clean. The rooms were large , bright and airy. We were most impressed with the rehabilitation area and the state of the art equipment .
However, my husband ( due to Medicare Insurance rules) apparently could only stay for 19 days. It is my belief he probably should have been released to that facility further along in his recovery. He was paralyzed down one side and was on a plethora of medications. One which was given to him at Mercy by the “ghost dr.” which causes confusion etc. Again not being a physician and not knowing at the time he was even on this medication I was also unaware that in order to combat the confusion ( also he was on pain killers) he was being given another drug for Alzheimers.
I must interject here as to hospital to hospital transportation, I wish I had something good to say , you really are at the transporters “mercy”. The time arranged leaving Mercy to the Clinic was supposed to be 11 a.m However, although I was supposed to follow him to the new facility I couldn’t by 6 in the evening after waiting hours and hours I went home and told them to call me when he was being transported . You see I had to sign the admittance papers and permission to treat. At 9:00 p.m. I called the Clinic who told me that it was so late he would probably now be transported the following morning . I went to bed only to be called at 11:15 by the Cleveland Clinic Nurse that he had been sent to them a few minutes prior and could I give the permissions verbally. ( This was not the only hiccup with transport).
I was, on the whole, extremely pleased with this facility but it was not all good news. Once again the rehab staff were wonderful, and it was so organized, you knew exactly what he would be doing and when, I was very impressed with the rehab staff, also the cleaning staff once again were in the rooms every day and sometimes more than once. The nurses were for the most part very professional and helpful as were 80 percent of the aides.
My husband needed help initially from two and on some occasions three individuals to see to his needs. The confusion caused by the drugs did not help, that and the weakness and immobility of his left side. He had to learn to use his vocal cords again ( which were stretched due to the intubation) . It was a few days before I realized he was still taking the medication for gout which should have been stopped at Mercy. The medication Colchicine, can and does cause diarrhea and stomach upset. The gout symptoms had abated and he really should not have been still on this drug , especially since it does also react with Digoxin but of course I was unaware he was on this drug as well.
I did insist since the diarrhea was an issue they stop the Colchicine. I also , once I found out he was on Digoxin ( Lanoxin), they stop or change that medication BUT and here is the issue it seems that doctors at this facility and other facilities in the chain are loathe to change another “specialists” diagnosis and treatment. This was a huge problem for us. One because we were out of our network and OUR team of physicians and specialists who knew his history and his courses of treatment we had to rely on basically strangers to his situation.
Therefore I started asking for a daily list of all his medications
Once he was off the Colchicine he stomach upset went away. BUT not for long a woman in the next room came down with C’diff https://www.cdc.gov/cdiff/what-is.html . Now it was put to us that my husband came down with this due to the huge amount of antibiotics he was taking and had taken. BUT that is not the whole story:
IF the lady in the next room and not had the infection first I would not have done more research thinking it was because of the antibiotics . Although the staff were for the most part adhering to handwashing etc protocol not all of them did . Infact I would say 20 percent of the aides were lax in that area. I actually had to throw away his cellphone as it somehow became covered in fecal matter ( C’diff contamination) and was put on the bedside table. My husband was incapable of having reached the table. I will say that for the most part the aides and nurses did respond to his call light in a timely manner.
One aide, in particular, left a lot to be desired, from his treatment of my husband and his response times were not great, his laxness in this area and lack of hand washing protocol was a great concern.
Please understand a patient is in pain and although they had been told of the back injury it took at least a week for them to address the situation ( it hadn’t been addressed at Mercy so not on his record) , which meant sitting in one position or laying ( when you are partially paralyzed) can be unbearable and since you can’t move the aides had to do it for him. This did cause “some ” of the aides frustration and it showed.
Chris Ritchey Face book icon
There was another aide who also needed to be retrained or let go in my opinion. I came into find my husband half in and half out of the bed, the top sheet wrapped around him and soaked with water. Actually I had just walked into the room with one of the hospital administrators, so she did witness the situation. She immediately went to work taking care of my husbands comfort. The aide , when she was called , said he spilled water on himself… remembering the jug was on a table out of his reach and he was not able to move his left arm at all, that scenario was very unlikely. I looked at this aide and said:
“so he spills a jug of water all over his bedding and you leave him laying in it?”
The aid turned to me and said:
“SORREEEEEEE”( in a very sarcastic tone)
I then turned to the administrator ( names available) and said
“she is done I don’t want her anywhere near my husband
The administrators at the Cleveland Clinic Rehabilitation hospital did address my concerns but as I told them what stopped them from getting great review on the place as a whole in my opinion was 20 percent of their “aides” and it was those 20 percent that caused situations that should not have happened, but it is those situations you remember .
HEALTHCARE IS A HUGE BUSINESS AND EVEN THOUGH WE THE CONSUMERS ARE PRETTY MUCH AT THEIR MERCY (NO PUN INTENDED) WE ARE STILL CONSUMERS PAYING FOR A SERVICE.
We were assigned one doctor for my husband and he called in others as needed such as another cardiologist, ultra sound etc. The doctor was quite nice, spoke very softly but with a heavy accent so I was once again forever asking him to repeat what he was saying and every time he was in the room he was costing ( according to the bills I received) 350 to 500 dollars for up to 35 minutes. I should go through the dates to see how many times a day but considering I received 74 pages of bills each page having at least 5 charges on them I am honestly too tired to do the homework.
The discharge date ( the 19 days being almost up) I was given another list of this time 54 “skilled nursing facilities ” for the next part of the journey and this time I did have time to do some homework……….. To Be continued
Cleveland Clinic Rehabilitation Hospital gets a B plus…. it was an A minus But then that C’diff situation was made worse…… more on that as we continue….
A rusty old boat and tale of the Lighthouse.
Lorain Lighthouse – Lorain 365 ( L. Miller)
Taking a break from the series of “healthcare USA” to tell the tale of a rusty old metal boat, not really wanted anymore , not much use, holes in the bottom,two or three paint colors interspersed with the rust. BUT she has a tale to tell this old girl , she carried the volunteers out into the lake and to the Lorain Lighthouse on many a day.
Lorain Lighthouse , the history of the previous and current lighthouses can be found here https://lorainlighthouse.com/wp-content/uploads/2017/12/Lorain-Lighthouse-History-1917-2017.pdf on the webpage of http://www.lorainlighthouse.com .
1965 the United States Coast Guard had no further use for the “Lorain Light “and she was slated for demolition . Fate intervened and people rallied to Save the Lighthouse. 1966 the Lorain Light was decommissioned and a five year lease was given. Unfortunately , things didn’t go as planned, the lease expired and the Coast Guard turned the property over to the General Services Administration .
1974 and bids were put out to purchase the Lorain Lighthouse. A community rallied around , politicians , businesses , historical societies, local and state government got behind the saving of what has now become the ICON of ALL THINGS LORAIN. Ironic when you think just a few decades ago she was scheduled to be demolished. Now of course every where you look she is used in advertising, promotions, fodder for the photographers, she is Lorain!
But what of those volunteers mentioned in the “history ” the ones that took on a huge project to rehab , maintain and make her beautiful once again, they had to make the journey from the shore to the light. The history tells one such operation in the many years of restoration and bring in the “light” was “Operation Lighthouse”
“Operation Lighthouse” took about 17 days to complete with multiple delays due to inclement weather that made trips out to the Lighthouse risky.
and there it is our segue from land to shore and back again – a rusty old blue battered boat that has sat in many places over the years , in wind and weather no-one particularly caring for her. And yet it was this boat that took those volunteers time and time again safely to and from the Lighthouse in order to save her .
This rusty old tub has a new home , delivered by volunteers on Lorain Pride Day to between 2nd and 1st streets on Oberlin Avenue.
photo Lisa Miller
The area just west of Eric Barnes Heroes Walk, south of Settlers’ Watch , where a replica carved from a tree stands in the children’s garden
, north of Lorain Utilities parking lot and positioned pointing to the Lorain Lighthouse, near the Lighthouse shed
and the Lorain Portside sign.
photo Tracy Isenberg
She has been beached , and soon will be landscaped and loved once again.
Her contribution to the Lorain Lighthouse recognized, a reminder of those volunteers. In weeks to come she will be tied to granite pylons, sea grasses and plants will adorn her area , white gravel and blue glass mulch , roping, a lick of paint here and there and new lettering and love will anchor this old lady of the lake . The volunteers and people who saved the Lighthouse deserve such admiration and recognition. I hope they will remember the old blue boat with a fondness and smile as she settles in her new home promoting and recognizing the Lighthouse .
I often think if everyone who used the likeness of the Lorain Lighthouse and actually make money from her likeness would donate a few dollars to the Lorain Lighthouse Foundation they would never have to ask for any money again.
Photo Mark Teleha
Such is the tale of a Lighthouse in Lorain and an old rusty blue boat, together again …..
Photo courtesy of http://www.lorainlighthouse.com
The Lorain Lighthouse Foundation, Inc is a 501(c)(3) non-profit organization founded in 1989 by a group of civic leaders wanting to preserve Lorain’s historic lighthouse. The foundation is a volunteer group looking to preserve a unique part of our local history – the Lorain Lighthouse.
Your donation can help the Lorain Lighthouse Foundation, Inc. to maintain “The Jewel of the Port” as one of Lorain’s most famous landmarks. All gifts to preserve and maintain the Lorain Lighthouse are fully tax-deductible.
Lorain Lighthouse
319 Black River Lane
Lorain, OH 44052
May3rd – Mothers and sons – Chris Ritchey
1st Mother’s Day card- Christopher Ritchey
I still have your first Mother’s Day card and all the little gifts through your childhood years, they along with the ones from your sister are still here in bedrooms, living room, den and kitchen. Chubby little handprints in clay , adorn walls along with art work and memories of happier Mother’s days.
This coming Mother’s Day is a first because for the first time in my life I will not have my mother your Nana to help celebrate. Coincidentally, when Nana retired and came to live here she arrived on Mother’s Day of that year and now I have lost you and her. Although little gifts of mine she had kept still wait to be dusted in her little living room.
And then there is your last Mothers Day gift to me , the ghost koi.
https://thatwoman.wordpress.com/2010/06/01/ghost-in-the-pond-a-koi-story/
https://thatwoman.wordpress.com/2011/10/17/the-ghost-in-the-pond-continues/
Oh Chris what a few days I have had protecting him, by far the largest fish in the pond , he is so big. BUT that damned Heron who arrived last year is back again bigger than ever and now two others come to call. I have set up obstacle courses around the perimeter, tried all the “get rid of Heron” tips. Climbed over slippery moss-covered rocks, wobbled on the edge hoping my knee will not all of a sudden decide it has had enough. moved shelves for the fish to hide, all in vain the “angel of death ” just laughs at me as he circles over head.
Nothing deters him , he cruises in on huge blue wings and lands on a dime. He and his buddies have depleted my lovely fat goldfish by half , some of which have lived in that pond for 13 years since you helped dig the “new one” .
He partially eats them, or drops them and others he swallows whole. It is a bit like living with grief as it swallows one whole or takes bites out of you daily. We have lost at least 14 of the big goldfish and the smaller ones…. well who knows. The ones that are left huddle at the bottom of the pond close to your Ghost Koi – protection –
I don’t know but they don’t stray far from him. . I will battle on with this “angel of death” beautiful though they are so I can keep the “ghost” and the memory of that last Mother’s Day as I watched you slipping him into the pond.
I am so proud of you my son and love you through eternity …..
Breath of Life – Celtic Knot – Chris Ritchey
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