October 7, 2008
by Hank Russell, Patchogue Medford News

Lined up with the other beautiful homes along the North Ocean Avenue corridor is a white two-story house with a black wrought-iron fence that borders the well manicured lawn. The house is a family owned and operated assisted living facility that offers the best available care for its residents.

McPeak’s Assisted Living has been in operation since 1956, and has been owned and operated by the McPeak family. Formerly known as the South Shore Convalescent Home, McPeak’s Assisted Living was formed by James and Katherine McPeak, two registered nurses.

“They worked here part-time,” explained James McPeak, the son of the original owners and who is the current owner. “In 1956, the original owner decided they wanted to sell it, and they bought it.”

In the meantime, McPeak said, his family lived in a house behind where the facility sits today. “As time went on, we moved around the block,” he said, adding his family never left the Patchogue area.

In 1974, according to McPeak, the facility had 25 beds on the premises. Today, that number has doubled to 50 beds. Although the size of the facility has expanded, McPeak said the needs of the residents have not been lost on the staff. “It’s a small and caring atmosphere,” he said.

Residents’ council meetings are often held at the facility, McPeak said. “Management has personal involvement in the day-to-day operations. What that means to the residents is that they have more access to how they are treated.”

What differentiates McPeak’s from other assisted living facilities, McPeak said, is the unique and superior service they offer the residents. “We try to manage the experience of every resident, and treat them like tourists or guests. The facility is intentionally decorated to feel like home.” He also pointed out the paintings that adorn the walls. “We’ve gotten a lot of compliments about [the artwork],” he said, saying the paintings help give McPeak’s “a very home-like atmosphere.”

Some of the amenities that McPeak’s offers its residents include a library and Japanese garden; an elevator to access floors more easily; an on-premise beauty parlor and barber shop; telephone jacks in every bedroom; four lounges with color TVs; and semi-private or private accommodations complete with baths.

The facility has 28 bedrooms altogether, according to McPeak. “We try to make the residents and the residents’ families ecstatic about the care they are experiencing, because we base our philosophy on intentional caring,” he said.

For those residents who would like to go out and spend a few hours, a day — even a week — outside the facility, McPeak’s offers residents the opportunity to come and go as they please. “Some of them even have their own cars,” McPeak said. Others whose physical condition restricts them to staying at the facility, he added, are in good hands. A surveillance system monitors all activities that occur inside and outside the building, and the place is supplied with the WanderGuard® Departure Alert System for protecting those who have dementia or at risk for elopement.

“Some people have Alzheimer’s or other memory impairments,” McPeak said. “Some of the residents are frail, elderly and the infirmed, and those who need assistance with daily living. … Some people have trouble remembering to take their medications, so we offer medication management, and personal care.”

McPeak’s has 30 employees to better serve its 51 residents. Fully trained, personal aides are available 24 hours a day, seven days a week. “There’s resident education and staff education [in gerontology],” McPeak said, “That’s important. I think the people get confidence [in our facility] for that.”

There is also a recreational director to offer activities such as cards, games and arts and crafts. The kitchen staff serves three nutritious meals a day, restaurant-style, in a small, intimate dining area. All the meals are prepared under the supervision of a registered dietician. The housekeeping staff brings the laundry down (the washing machine and clothes dryer are located within the building) and cleans up the rooms. “We keep everything clean,” McPeak said. For those who are physically unable to attend houses of worship, ecumenical and non-denominational services are offered on the premises.

Local medical doctors provide necessary oversight as needed. “We try to improve our service to the physicians and find ways to work better together to insure continuity of care,” McPeak said.

Most of the residents are placed here as a result from a recommendation from a referral service, or from their family members “with the residents’ well-being in mind,” McPeak said, adding that tours of the facility are available. “The most important thing is to provide a comfortable and happy place for the residents and their families.”

To request a tour, or for more information, call (631) 475-0445, or visit www.mcpeaks.com.

McPeak’s Assisted Living

286 North Ocean Avenue

Patchogue, NY 11772

Phone: (631) 475-0445

Website: www.mcpeaks.com.