08/16/2025
Cypress Rehab attended the Greater Iberia Chamber of Commerceās Eggs & Issues event with sponsor Maison Teche Nursing Home and was grateful for the opportunity to share Ms. Mary Smithās nursing home and rehabilitation story with 100+ attendees (shared below). š We enjoyed getting to hear session updates from our legislative panel featuring Senator Robert Allain, Senator Blake Miguez, Representative Jacob Landry, and Representative Beau Beaullieu.
āWhen I first came to the nursing home back in March, I told myself it was just temporary. I just needed some therapy, a little strength back in my legs to be able to walk, and Iād be heading home. That was the plan. What I didnāt expect was to find something here I hadnāt felt in a long timeāa true sense of belonging.
In the beginning, I required two people to get me out of bed. I could barely stand up with assistance. After undergoing therapy, I am now able to walk 500 feet without stopping with a walker. Many people are unaware that nursing homes offer therapy services for both long term residents and short term residents whoās goal is to return home.
Itās easy to assume nursing homes are just a last resort. Thatās what you hear out there. People talk about the bad experiences, the worst-case stories. But what you donāt hear enough about is the good. The caregivers who learn your routines, your quirks, your history. The nurses who remember how you like your coffee. The therapists who go above and beyond to make sure you are functioning at your highest potential and know your favorite hobbies and childrenās and grandchildrenās names. The residents who become your friends, then your family. Thatās what I found here.
It's not just BINGO and rosary that I have to look forward to--In just three short months, I have gotten to experience a senior Olympic event where 7 nursing homes and hundreds of locals came together to compete. I was treated to a delicious crawfish boil for Nursing Home Week. I attended a senior prom complete with a prom court, DJ and dancingā¦I even had the honor of being crowned Prom Queen. We celebrate resident birthdays monthly with a themed party. We participate in the latest Tik Tok trends. We are now gearing up for Splash Day where a slip n slide will be involved.
I have undergone therapy at two other local places and nothing has compared to what I received with Cypress Rehab at Maison Teche. This place isnāt just where I live nowāitās where I chose to live. Not because I had to, but because I wanted to stay part of something warm, supportive, and real. The therapy got me stronger, yes, but the people kept me here.
I say all this to say, donāt forget about the nursing homes around here-the tight knit communities and families who need your support and some times need their voices to be heard. Without them, I wouldnāt be here.
Nursing homes deserve more credit than they get. The one I live in now gave me more than careāit gave me community, purpose, and peace.ā -Mary Smith
