Meet Jeff Johnson, the new owner of Rockdale Estates and Rehabilitation. Johnson is a 16-year veteran in the nursing home industry and Rockdale Estates is his latest venture.
When asked what his plans were for the nursing home he said, “I want Rockdale Estates to be patientand family-centered. The entire nursing home community was hit hard by the pandemic and now that it seems to have run its course, I want to see a lot more visitors and activity here.”
According to the Kaiser Family Foundation, COVID-19 cases increased more rapidly in nursing homes than in communities. Nursing home cases grew by 440% (from 9,000 to 48,800) between July and August 2021, with a slightly higher increase in resident cases (483%, growing from 3,200 to 19,000) than staff cases (416%, growing from
5,700 to 29,600).
Cases outside of nursing homes increased by 224% in the same time period, growing from 1.3 million to 4.2 million. Similar to COVID-19 deaths, the vast majority of COVID-19 cases occurred outside of nursing homes. However, the high rate of increase in nursing home cases shows the connection between community spread and the spread of the virus in nursing homes.
So the end of the pandemic will be a welcome happening for Rockdale Estates’ residents and staff.
FAMILY—“I want Rockdale Estates to be full of life and excitement. I want the residents to have things to look forward to,” Johnson said. “I want to see more family involvement and hold activities quarterly, such as barbecues, crawfish boils and fireworks for July 4th for the residents and their families to enjoy.”
Johnson told The Reporter he also wanted churches and schools to get involved with the residents to plan activities, and he wants to get involved in the community by supporting Little League, Rockdale schools and civic organizations like Rotary and Lions Club.
“There’s no reason a retirement home can’t be part of the Rockdale community. I want to see life and excite ment around here,” he added.
Rockdale Estates already offers out-patient rehabilitation programs. Johnson wants people who have suffered a stroke, broken a bone or are recovering from surgery to be able to get well and return home when they are able.
REHAB—The outpatient wing is equipped with all the exercise equipment needed to help with rehabilitation, but also houses a kitchen and a laundry room to make sure residents are able to cope with everyday life once they go back to their homes. “Of course if they can’t go back to their own homes, they can stay here as residents and be part of our community while still getting the rehabilitation they need,” Johnson added.
Because the pandemic started just about the time Rockdale Estates opened, not much of the public has seen the inside unless they have a family member living there. The previous owner never got to have an open house due to COVID-19.
LOTS TO SEE—And there is quite a lot to see inside. There is a beauty shop for residents, a chapel, a private dining room where families can meet and dine together, a beautiful window-filled sunroom and a huge kitchen and dining room.
“One of the first things I did was put a television with free wifi in every resident’s room because they had been required to bring their own before I bought the place,” Johnson said. “Residents also have full control of their individual AC and heating units so they can be as cool or warm as they please.”
OPEN HOUSE—If all goes as planned, Johnson wants to have an open house for the public in May. “The State of Texas decides when nursing homes are able to open back up completely, but we are shooting for sometime in May,” Johnson said.
Johnson got his degree from Louisiana Tech, then went to Southwestern Seminary and is working on his masters degree from LSU.
He met his wife of 23 years, Christie, while at Louisiana Tech. They have a daughter in college and two sons in high school. They made their home and Louisiana but will be moving closer to Rockdale after the school year ends.
Johnson is a huge sports fan and loves to hunt and fish. “I love anything outdoors,” he said.
“My goals are to grow this company, make a difference in people’s lives and grow in the industry to development personally,” he said.
Rockdale Estates and Rehabilitation is almost full with 66 residents and employs 90 people.
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