5 /5 Doroteo Ruiz GI: I believe the experience for each patient and their family members will be different. For my dad, his stay and treatment at Oceans were exceptional. He was admitted to their facility on December 7 due to aggression stemming from dementia and Alzheimers. I was very apprehensive, as this was the second behavioral hospital he had been to—the previous hospital left him unable to walk or talk.
Oceans, however, did an amazing job. It was such a blessing to visit my dad and see him walking and talking again. He was discharged on December 30, and since then, he has been doing so much better. While he is not 100% due to his illness, seeing him walking, talking, eating, and holding conversations is indescribable. The staff at Oceans went above and beyond, and we are incredibly grateful for their efforts in adjusting his medication thoughtfully. They avoided overmedicating or restraining him, which had been our previous experience.
I also want to thank Finiy John for doing an excellent job of communicating and keeping me informed. He took the time to listen to my concerns and reassured me about my dad’s care. With my dad’s condition, I know medication adjustments will be necessary in the future, and when that time comes, I hope he can return to Oceans for treatment.
That said, there are areas where Oceans can improve:
Admission Communication: Please notify families or the Power of Attorney (POA) immediately when a patient is admitted. It’s challenging for families not to receive updates after a loved one is transported. Even an automated text confirming the patients arrival would be helpful. In my case, I had to call multiple times to get updates, which was stressful.
Discharge Process: Similarly, better communication during discharge would make a significant difference. Families need a clear timeline when the patient is leaving the facility. In my case, I had to call multiple times to get updates, which was stressful.
Clothing Management: My dad left the nursing home in his slippers and one outfit. I brought two additional sets of clothes to Oceans, as the limit is three. However, he was discharged with clothes that weren’t his, and his slippers were never returned. Better clothing management would help avoid such issues.
Visiting Hours: Expanding or adjusting visiting hours to better accommodate working families would be greatly appreciated. The current Monday–Friday slots of 3–4 PM and 4–5 PM are difficult for those with traditional work schedules. While I understand the need for structure, more flexible visiting hours would mean a lot to families who want to spend time with their loved ones.
Overall, I highly recommend Oceans and hope your experience will be as positive as ours.
