Niagara Lutheran Health System's Chaplain, The Reverend Allen Griep addresses the spiritual needs of residents.
           

"It's the people and the programs that made the difference for me. I am forever grateful." This comment sums up what a lot of people have said over the years about their experience with any of the affiliates of the Niagara Lutheran Health System (NLHS), a not-for-profit organization with campuses in Lancaster and in the heart of Buffalo.


NLHS staff members demonstrate the Health System's motto of Caring ~ Heart & Soul on a daily basis and are dedicated to fulfilling it's mission: “to provide for the physical, social, and spiritual needs of the people we serve, in a Christian environment."
Some of the areas of care and services provided though the Niagara Lutheran Health System are listed below.

 
 
         
Residents (L to R) Ola Benzee, Bette Houghton, Ann Hierman, Pat O'Brien continue to enjoy their love of gardening at The GreenFields.
         

Residential Apartment Homes
GREENFIELD MANOR in Lancaster provides a secure and home-like environment for active seniors. Residents enjoy the assurance that they have priority access to the various levels of care on campus, and there are no entrance fees at The GreenFields.

Many amenities are available including delicious meals in the beautiful, restaurant-style dining room, an array of activities on and off campus, and the opportunity to make new friends and enjoy life to its fullest. Each one and two bedroom apartment comes with a fully equipped kitchen, a washer and dryer, its own heating and air conditioning unit, and an emergency call system. One resident says, "The staff bends over backwards to accommodate any of your needs. I feel so safe and secure here. It's a wonderful place to be."

         
Residents enjoy visiting with family and friends.
     
Assisted Living
When you, or someone you care about, begins to have trouble with daily tasks like cooking, dressing, and/or maintaining a home – it may be time to consider assisted living options. The LUTHERAN CHURCH HOME in Buffalo and GREENFIELD COURT in Lancaster are there to help by providing a worry-free lifestyle with just the right amount of help and amenities like delicious, home-style meals, housekeeping services, nurse-managed medication services, social activities, and recreational opportunities in a friendly, secure environment. 		   
Residents at GHRC enjoy restaurant-style dining.

Skilled Nursing Care
When a higher level of care is needed, consider the NIAGARA LUTHERAN HOME & REHABILITATION CENTER (NLHRC) in Buffalo. The caring staff here provides both long and short-term skilled nursing care for people recovering from surgery, injury, and other medical conditions. Emphasis is placed on quality of life and spiritual and emotional support, as well as medical care. Alzheimer's and Dementia residents learn to develop and reinforce skills needed for daily living and are encouraged to do as much as they can for themselves.


At GREENFIELD HEALTH & REHABILITATION CENTER (GHRC) in Lancaster, both long-term and short-term residents live in an attractive, homelike environment with abundant activities and amenities. One unique amenity is the delicious meals that are served restaurant-style on each wing. Residents comment frequently about how much they enjoy the aromas that waft from the serving areas where they can custom-order certain items.

 
     
Statistics and patients attest to the healing benefits of Aquatic Therapy .
 

Rehabilitation
Rehabilitation services are provided at both NIAGARA LUTHERAN HOME & REHABILITATION CENTER (NLHRC) in Buffalo and GREENFIELD HEALTH & REHABILITATION CENTER (GHRC) in Lancaster. At both locations, the goal of our highly trained therapists is the same – to meet the patient's needs in a holistic manner and to treat the whole person, not just an injury. A recent letter reads, "The staff made us work hard, but everyone was encouraging and friendly. I was really pleased with how far I progressed by the time I went home."


Subacute rehabilitation is an invaluable inpatient program offered to patients who no longer require the "acute" care provided in a hospital setting. Some of the most common diagnoses served by subacute rehabilitation are listed elsewhere in this article.

 
   

When rehabilitation is prescribed after elective surgery, for things like a knee replacement, etc., pre-admission is suggested. This gives patients an opportunity to tour the facility, have questions answered prior to surgery, and expedites the admission process.

One thing that makes GHRC unique is its excellent Aquatic therapy Program, which takes place in its very comfortable 94-degree, full-sized therapeutic pool.

 
 

Outpatient Therapy
Highly trained and compassionate clinicians work with a variety of diagnoses at GHRC's Outpatient Therapy Clinic. Physical Therapists assist patients in injury prevention and provide pre-surgical treatment, as well as traditional rehabilitation programs. Occupational Therapists work with people who need to gain their independence in various activities of daily living. Speech and Language therapists evaluate and treat a variety of communication and swallowing disorders. Sports clinics (for golfers, runners, etc.), wellness programs, massage therapy and fitness classes are also available.

In 2009 GHRC became a center for falls prevention, partnering with the WNY Falls Prevention Collaborative.

Whenever you need to choose a place for any kind of care, please remember – The Choice is Yours! It is best to visit and tour a number of facilities and ask lots of questions so you can make the choice that is best for you.
To learn more about Niagara Lutheran's affiliates, call (716) 886-4377, ext. 365, email us at info@NiagaraLutheran.org, or visit us online at www.NiagaraLutheran.org. We'll do our best to help you.