Frednitta Gunning of Newark coordinates care and serves as power of attorney for her older brother, Stanley McKoy, who has dementia. She was unhappy with the facility he was in and found New Community Extended Care Facility when she was researching alternatives. She moved her brother to Extended Care in May and is happy with her decision.
“I was looking for a different level of care for him,” Gunning explained. “And a better quality of life.”
When McKoy first needed long-term care, Gunning chose a facility in an affluent neighborhood with a high rating. But once he was there, Gunning found the facility unwelcoming and questioned the quality of care being provided.
“I was leaving there every day in tears, just heartbroken that I had put my brother in that predicament,” she said.
Gunning researched long-term care facilities closer to home in Newark and found Extended Care. She spoke with Admissions Director Julienne Van-Nooten and toured the facility a few times, including with McKoy, before deciding to move him there.
Since McKoy entered Extended Care in mid-May, Gunning has seen a positive change in her brother.
“To me, he’s definitely different here than where he was,” she said. “One day I was here, he stood up in the room and he was like, ‘I like it. This is pretty nice.’”
She also saw a difference in the way Extended Care staff interacted with McKoy. She said they initiate communication with her brother without her prompting and make sure that he’s happy. She said staff members call her with updates about McKoy when she isn’t able to be there physically.
“It’s important that there’s a partnership between family and facility. I’m a school director, so I understand partnership,” Gunning said. “I understand that it’s a village. You can’t do it by yourself. I need them to support me as I support him.”
Administrator Veronica Onwunaka said Extended Care’s mission is to meet the needs of its patients, their family members and the community.
“It gives us joy to hear and be told that we’re living up to the mission and the vision that is the leading force in what we do,” she said. “Stories of people being satisfied with the care we deliver only empowers us to do more. And we’re happy and glad that we are making an impact in people’s lives because that’s the whole idea of why this nursing home was built.”
Extended Care provides specialized services to support long-term residents with Alzheimer’s and dementia to minimize the progression of their conditions.
While McKoy’s memory is fading, Gunning said he still lights up when she and other family members visit. She is hopeful that the care he receives will serve him well.
“I’m looking forward to his time here and just hope he remains happy and supported as best as he can,” Gunning said. “It’s about his quality of life, whatever that is and whatever that takes as time goes on. Things will change for him as his disease progresses. I make sure I’m ahead of it so I know next steps for him or what else we could do.”
For now, Gunning visits McKoy as often as she can and continues to advocate for him. She also recommends Extended Care to others looking for quality long-term care.
She’s become familiar with his care team and discovered she had a previous connection with one member whose children attended the school she worked at.
“Look at all these years later, now this woman is caring for someone I love,” Gunning said. “I cared for her children and she knew when she dropped them off that they were in a safe place. I feel the same way.”
New Community Extended Care Facility is a skilled nursing facility located at 266 South Orange Ave., Newark. It offers long-term care, short-term care, subacute care and Alzheimer’s and dementia care. For more information, visit newarknursinghome.org or call 973-624-2020.
