My dad, Roger Kraft, came to Bethesda on May 14, 2021.  He was transferred from another nursing home where he had been very comfortable due to Covid restrictions.  Most of his family had to drive two hours for either a window visit or a twenty minute, stay six feet away, no contact visit.  This was taking a mental toll on Dad.  When searching for nursing homes here in Aberdeen, Bethesda was by far the best choice for us.  Even thought I could not tour the facility due to Covid, they were very helpful and informative about the operation and what they could do for Dad.  Dad was also excited about having his own room.  Dad loved to play cards on the computer at his previous facility and Bethesda staff made sure that he had a computer he could use outside his room.

Dad was very comfortable in his new place.  He only had nice things to say about the staff.  Whenever I asked about the staff he would smile and say, “They treat me well, I have no complaints.”  I must say the same.  No matter who we met in the hall, they always had a smile and a hello.  Everyone called Dad by name.  Every one of the staff said he was a delight to take care of, even though I know he could be a handful sometimes.

There are so many little things about Bethesda, too numerous to say, that make this home wonderful.  From the staff, the food, the activities; all are geared toward making the residents comfortable.

The compassion our family received during Dad’s last days was phenomenal.  They made sure we were comfortable.  The goody cart they made for us every day was very much appreciated.

On a brighter note, Opie was a great help, too.  He put a smile on my face whenever I came in contact with him.  I am sure he is a great companion to the residents.

I would recommend this nursing home 100%.  The improvement they made since Dad has been there is great.  Everything they do or improve is to benefit the residents.  Awesome job to everyone at Bethesda.

Bonnie Henning

Daughter of Roger Kraft

I had my right hip replaced at Avera St. Luke’s Hospital on November 22, 2022. The procedure was more complicated because I broke my right femur 10 years ago playing pickleball in Florida. The surgeon placed rods and pins in that leg to correct the fracture. New bone growth had covered the rods. Rods, pins, and bones needed to be removed prior to being able to place the new hip, which caused extensive damage to my leg. I spent 10 days in the hospital with very limited use of that leg, which
required physical therapy follow-up for an extended period of time. I was moved to Bethesda Home of Aberdeen on December 4 for an extended temporary stay for further physical therapy. At this time I was unable to do much with my right leg, and my mobility was provided by a wheelchair and a walker. I spent 20 days at Bethesda Home of Aberdeen.

I was cared for by a wonderful staff of people, from the administrative section to all the various care providers. All providers treated me with kindness, respect, and cheerfulness. These peoples’ skills that they displayed made me feel important to their care and made the days more bright. They are all extremely busy but found time to stop in to chat and see if there was anything I needed.

As my time with physical therapy progressed, I became much more able to use my right leg so that a wheelchair was not necessary, and I used just my walker. Under the guidance of the physical therapists, my usage of my right leg progressed smoothly. As the staff noticed that I was moving more quickly, they would ask if I was entering a racing contest.

Going to the dining room for our meals proved to be my main social outing with the other residents. We shared a lot of stories and had a lot of laughs. As busy as this staff
was, they took good care of us and provided us with very good meals while creating an enjoyable atmosphere.

If in life others need the services of a skilled nursing facility, either temporarily or resident status, you will wish to be placed in a facility in which you will be treated competently, warmly, cheerfully, and respectfully as I was treated at Bethesda.

To all the staff at Bethesda, you are all wonderful caregivers and I sincerely thank you!

Dr. James Olson

Our family could not be happier with the care that our father was given while in Bethesda.  The biggest thing for me was his safety; coming from living alone, to always having someone looking out for him, allowed me to relax and not worry quite so much.  He still had falls, but that was to be expected as Dad is very stubborn, at at times, thinks he is super human!  The nursing staff was so willing to help with each and every request that was made.  There were times when Dad would complain about something so we would listen and then consult with staff about our concerns.  Most often, there was a perfectly good reason behind what Dad was telling us.

At Dad’s most recent hospitalization at Avera McKennan, the nursing staff complimented Bethesda on the care they were providing.  She said there are a few things that are very telling about the facility.  She noticed that Dad’s nails and ears were clean and had been cared for.  She said that is a sure sign.

As the daughter here in Aberdeen caring for Dad, I just want to say thank you for helping me to manage his very high level of need.  I always felt like the staff cared about Dad and that is very important.  Bless you all so very much for what you do and what you did for my Dad.

Debra Miller

Daughter of Charles Miller

My mother, Lena Schornack Holgerson, so enjoyed living at Bethesda Towne Square and Bethesda Home of Aberdeen. My mother had so many friends and people that she knew at Bethesda Towne Square that she felt comfortable and at home from the first day. The staff at both Bethesda Towne Square and at Bethesda Home were fantastic. They were very helpful and constantly looking in on mom which was a great relief for both my brother and me.

Although she had a very nice condo in Aberdeen, I was always concerned about her taking a fall, even though she had an emergency call button, either in the house or as she went to the garage to retrieve the paper.

The dietary staff at both Bethesda Towne Square and Bethesda Home of Aberdeen were exceptional. They catered to my mother’s special needs as her foods needed to be gluten-free.

The Aberdeen area is very lucky to have both Bethesda Towne Square and Bethesda Home serving the area. There are far too many names for me to mention here of all the people that were so kind and helpful to my mother, from the dietary person to maintenance and custodial staff. But a special thank you to several people that I personally dealt with, Maintenance person, Roland; Bethesda Towne Square Director, Brittany and Bethesda Home Social Worker, Julie, a big heart felt thank you for all that you did!!

Dave Schornack
Son of Lena Schornack Holgerson