New facility caters to clients’ quality of life

Light and airy colors.

Beautiful artwork. A movie theater.

No, a new resort hasn’t opened in north Bossier City. But a new nursing home and rehabilitation center has opened.

After at least two years of construction and many more years of planning, Cypress Point Nursing and Rehabilitation Center’s new facility is accepting residents. At the corner of Airline Drive and Wemple Road, the new Cypress Point replaces its older building on Douglas Street.

“This has actually been 20 years in the making,” said Katie Watts, communications director for Central Management Company, which oversees Cypress Point and more than 20 other facilities throughout Louisiana. “We have been planning and dreaming about how to make this the best facility we can offer to this area. We’re excited to see this dream come to life, and it’s so great that this part of town is developing more and more. We’re close to hospitals and happy to be a part of the growth of Bossier.”

The “planning and dreaming” of Cypress Point was focused on making residents feel like they were anywhere but a nursing home.

“There is such a stigma associated with nursing homes,” said Jennifer Peters, also with Central Management Company. “I would just encourage people to go visit, because they are going to be shocked. Every detail was really thought through. From the colors – when you first walk in, it’s almost like you’re entering a spa. It’s peaceful. The sounds – there’s a water fountain. There’s a life-enrichment room where (residents) take painting classes. There are vibrant colors there.”

While Cypress Point boasts many amenities, perhaps the most important is the accommodations. All of the 142 rooms are private. No more sharing a room with someone.

“Our company’s mission is improving quality of life,” Peters said.

“That’s something that really makes a difference. I’ve often compared it to how it is having a stranger as a roommate in college. Well, think about being 80 years old and coming from the hospital and sharing your room with a stranger. They may want different (room) temperatures. They may go to bed at a different time. They may want to watch different things on TV. It’s a challenge. At that point in your life, everyone wants a private room. We’re just trying to meet the changing needs of our seniors today. What they prefer now, compared to 20 years ago, is much different.”

When residents want to leave their room, they can do things like sit in a plush cinema and watch a movie without leaving the facility.

“Think about the challenge it is for seniors to go to a theater today,” Peters said. “We have a wide selection of movies. It’s just a great way to get back involved and connect with others. For so many, they’ve been isolated and lonely staying at home. They’ve had physical barriers for why they couldn’t do the things they used to do that really improves their quality of life. Now, they have access to those things.”

Things like a beauty shop. “Many (residents) go every week,” Peters said. “That’s a social hub. They look better and feel better day-to-day.”

And there’s a “phenomenal chapel with stained-glass windows,” Peters said. “For so many seniors, going to church may have been too much of a burden with transportation and physical barriers. Now, they can come to where we have a beautiful chapel with stained glass, and their home church can come have services there. They can have bible study, or it’s such a serene place, someone can have their own quiet time. For many seniors, that is something that has been missing.”

One of the things Peters and Watts later on they may have had an infection, so they were in bed and weakened. So, while we have a great rehab team that does physical, speech and occupational therapy, we also are ensuring we provide the amenities necessary for those who need to stay long-term.”

But those relaxing colors and private rooms may be the most important amenities to residents.

“You can actually see their eyes are most proud of is Cypress Point’s collection of artwork.

North Louisiana artist Darrell Chitty “painted a couple of custom pieces for us,” Watts said. “Also, Becky Fos has many of her paintings hanging in Cypress Point. She’s an up-and-coming New Orleans artist who designed the ‘I Voted’ sticker last year. We have a whole hall dedicated to (the late) Roy Grinnell and his art. He was the official painter for the American Fighter Aces Association. It’s really cool to honor our Barksdale heritage here in Bossier, and our aviation history.”

Based on individual assessments, Cypress Point accepts long-term care residents and those needing short-term rehabilitation.

“We are able to offer those services and cater to both sides,” Peters said. “What many people don’t realize is that more than half the admissions to long-term care these days at most facilities are actually returning back home to the community. Quite often, we have people that may return for multiple visits. They have had a fracture, then later on may have had an infection, so they were in bed and weakened. So, while we have a great rehab team that does physical, speech and occupational therapy, we also are ensuring we provide the amenities necessary for those who need to stay long-term.”

But those relaxing colors and private rooms may be the most important amenities to residents.

“You can actually see their eyes light up and the joy in coming from a drab place,” Peters said. “One lady in the van coming over asked me, ‘Are you sure I’m going to be in a room by myself?’ I said, ‘Yes, I promise. A beautiful, large room just for you.’”

To learn more about Cypress Point Nursing and Rehabilitation Center, you may visit www.cypresspointnursingandrehab.com.