Finding Compassion in Elder Care: A Family’s Journey to the Right Nursing Home

For many families, choosing a nursing home for a loved one is a journey filled with uncertainty, fear, and emotionally heavy decisions. Over the past two years, my family experienced this firsthand as both of our parents required short and long-term nursing care.
My father suffered a severe stroke in January 2025, and required complex care. Though I longed to bring my Father back home to care for him, his medical needs were beyond what I could manage alone in our home. My father was a man of quiet strength and faith—a hard worker who provided for his family without complaint. Even in illness, his courage reminded us what true strength looks like. The doctors at DePaul told us his stroke was massive and that he would never remember anything, and that he would never see, speak and or walk again. Well, not the case! We kept working on his speaking and singing. His vision recovered and he had limited distance of 4-5 feet. He would eat small bites of food, pleasure food (supplemental feeding tube was required otherwise therapies would have been denied) and his memory was just FINE!
After moving through two facilities that offered little compassion and inconsistent care, we finally discovered what true elder care looks like at Jerseyville Nursing and Rehabilitation Center (JNRC) in Jerseyville, Illinois. There, the staff worked hand-in-hand with the BJC Hospice Program to provide care that was both professional and deeply human. At JNRC, the nursing staff rose to the occasion with professionalism and heartfelt dedication. They didn’t just care for my father—they cared about him.
Our journey to JNRC was not an easy one. Like many families, we hesitated at first because of rumors, past state fines- denoted in the newspapers, and also the negative community gossip. What we later learned and what we wish we’d known sooner, was that new leadership had transformed JNRC. Under that new leadership, nearly all temporary agency staff had been replaced with a stable, experienced nursing team who truly understood each resident’s needs and care plans. Jerseyville Nursing and Rehabilitation wasn’t flashy and it wasn’t the newest building or the most modern in Jerseyville; but, what it offered mattered far more: respect, compassion, and genuine kindness. Looking back, my only regret is that we didn’t transfer Dad to JNRC sooner.
JNRC wasn’t at all like the previous nursing facilities—which we later came to call them “the prisons” because of their cold, ill-educated and controlling administrative staff. At the previous facility, we were often treated as intruders simply for visiting or asking questions. The administrative staff there at the previous facility showed little empathy, making us feel like an inconvenience rather than family members advocating for a loved one. The difference at Jerseyville Nursing and Rehabilitation was profound and we were treated with respect, kindness, and understanding.
During his final 18 days of Dad’s life, I stayed by his side nearly around the clock at JNRC. Not once did the staff make me feel like I was a burden or an intruder. Instead, they went out of their way to make our family comfortable—bringing in extra beds, greeting us warmly, offering coffee, snacks, and emotional support during the longest of nights.
When we needed to step away for a short break, the nurses themselves volunteered to sit with Dad so he was never alone. Their compassion went beyond anything we expected. They didn’t just attend to his medical needs—they honored his life, and they honored our family’s love for him.
JNRC, together with the BJC Hospice team, showed us what true elder care with dignity looks like. Quality elder care isn’t defined by fancy buildings or rigid control over services—it’s defined by heart, compassion, and a genuine commitment to every residents’ well-being.
For families facing the difficult decision of choosing a care facility, my advice is simple: don’t judge a place by rumors or appearances alone. Visit in person. Talk to the staff and residents. Watch how they treat people when no one thinks you’re watching. That’s where the truth lives.
In a world where elder care too often feels broken, there are still places—and people—who get it right. For our family, Jerseyville Nursing and Rehabilitation Center was one of them.
Tammie Kronable
Grafton, Il