From Total Care to The Gardens
By NANCY WHITAKER
Progress Staff Writer
PAULDING — The work is complete and everyone is now safely moved into the beautiful new Gardens facility. The Gardens is a brand new state-of-the-art nursing home and assisted living complex. The move into The Gardens was a beginning of a new era and the end of another.
The story begins in April 1973, when the Total Care Nursing Home opened its doors. Total Care was a new and modern facility back then and boasted a 50-bed care center.
Nancy Stoller of Paulding currently has the most seniority at the nursing home. She began her career at Total Care the first day it opened. She was employed for approximately a year, left for six months and then returned to her job as a nursing assistant in 1975.
Nancy said, “I remember working at Total Care and having three elderly residents to start with. When the state school closed in Columbus, we accepted some of the handicapped and mentally challenged residents.
“In those early days, the building inside looked a little different. Also, we didn’t have wheelchairs or gerri chairs for the residents. A lot of times it seemed as if we didn’t have a lot to work with, but we have always been proud of the care we gave and continue to give our residents.”
In 1980, Bill Shackleford bought the nursing home and renamed it Hometown Nursing Home. Stoller began working in the office at that time, and after becoming an administrative assistant, she became a licensed social service director. She is currently employed in the offices at The Gardens and takes care of accounts payable, payroll, insurance, and Workers Compensation.
Jeanne Fellers started working at Total Care in 1976. Fellers was first a nursing assistant and then became a certified activity director in 1989.
Jeanne commented, “When I started working here, we couldn’t use plastic gloves.
“And,” she continued, “we used cloth briefs with safety pins.” She currently works as a nursing assistant on third shift. Donna Rassman, another longtime employee of The Gardens, began her service in 1979. Donna noted, “My mom was a cook at the old nursing home, which was located at the old hospital. I have been a nursing assistant for almost 30 years, and the old place was like a second home to me.”
Stoller said, “So many things have changed through the years. The paperwork, state surveys, and the use of computers just to name a few. We have so much more to work with today.
“You know, we have had over 1,000 residents come and go through the years. We will never forget them.”
Hometown Nursing Home was sold in 1998 and became known as Hawthorn Court. A brighter day became a reality for the staff and residents as they just last week moved into The Gardens.
Now, the rooms are dark and quiet and only memories remain of the residents and staff who once walked the hallways at Total Care, Hometown Nursing Home and Hawthorn Court.
Mary McCullough has the honor of being at the nursing home the longest of the residents. Mary became a resident in September 1978. She, too, has observed the changes through the years. Mary loves to play bingo and she also loves watching the Cleveland Indians.
But, at the new Gardens Mary can have a window seat and look out at the pond, flowers and birds.
The employees and Mary all agree, “We have always wanted people to see us as a place to call home. We intend to keep that same atmosphere at The Gardens and welcome everyone to come out and visit us.”