Merriman House has been dedicated to providing a home-like environment for older adults since 1978. Located amidst naturally wooded surroundings and enhanced with gardens and outdoor areas, the facility strives to create a welcoming, comforting setting that feels like home. The interior of Merriman House features private and semiprivate rooms, a dining room, living room, activities area, and cozy alcoves and sitting spaces throughout the hallways. Thoughtfully designed elements, such as ample natural sunlight and soft-colored furniture, accommodate the changing needs associated with aging and dementia, allowing residents to adapt more comfortably to physical changes in vision and perception. The building and grounds are laid out to offer privacy and peacefulness, including inviting patios and gardens where residents and their families can spend quiet time together.
The staff at Merriman House is dedicated to maintaining a high standard of compassionate, personalized care, with registered nurses who are on duty around the clock and specially trained in geriatric care. Merriman House emphasizes a high staff-to-resident ratio to ensure each individual receives devoted attention and care. Medical oversight is integrated into daily life, as each resident’s medical care is managed by in-house clinicians. Care plans are tailored and developed in active collaboration with residents and their families, focusing on enhancing strength, minimizing limitations, and providing an environment of unconditional acceptance and respect for each person. This holistic approach combines quality clinical care with complementary therapies, and supports open and consistent communication among residents, families, and staff.
For residents’ daily living and enjoyment, Merriman House offers a wide range of services and amenities. An innovative room service style dining program enables residents to order meals from a varied and ever-changing menu, accommodating personal dietary preferences and restrictions. This flexible approach to dining provides not only higher quality food but also greater freedom and choice, much like what residents would enjoy in their own homes. The facility also provides a robust schedule of individual and group activities. Weekly options include church services, arts and crafts, Bingo, movies, and communal exercise programs that encourage strength and flexibility. Residents can engage in individualized pursuits as well, such as walks in the garden or foot massages, with activities tailored to their personal interests and current abilities. Regular outings into the surrounding community take place during favorable weather, giving residents opportunities to stay connected with the wider area.
Merriman House is a MUSIC & MEMORY certified facility, offering individualized music therapy that helps residents connect with meaningful memories and improve their quality of life. The facility’s caring atmosphere is enhanced by the presence of a resident cat, which interacts with and provides comfort to the residents. Members of the local community play an important role as volunteers, sharing their time and talents to support activities programs and enrich the residents' experiences.
With a tradition of dedicated service dating back to its opening as a 21-bed Intermediate Care Facility and expansion to its current 45-bed residence, Merriman House remains committed to the individualized care and dignity of each resident. Named for Helen Bigelow Merriman, who was instrumental in the history of the facility, Merriman House upholds a vision of care that prioritizes respect, understanding, and the celebration of each resident’s individuality, fostering a nurturing environment in which older adults can thrive and maintain the highest level of independence possible.