Cottonwood Creek

Tom

Four stays in four mental hospitals in one year. I can compare and contrast some with Intermountain, Lifeways and St. Al's. Roommates: 2 people per room at Cottonwood and Intermountain.3 or 4 at St. Al's. You get your own room at Lifeways, unless they've changed things since I've been out. St. Al's was the only place where those with severe issues like intense schizophrenia were put in the same room as mild people like myself who struggle with suicidal depression. Beds: firm but comfortable at St. Al's. Beds a little less firm at Cottonwood, but still comfortable. Beds most firm at Intermountain, but I did not mind. Lifeways -Terrible mattresses all caved in and no stuffing left hardly and mattresses placed on a wooden slab, not a box spring. 3 pillows under mattress needed to tolerate sleeping. Patients: more at Cottonwood and St. Al's than at Lifeways.and Intermountain. Facilities: Day room. Cottonwood has a room that is just off the hallway and not a separate room really - This is bad, because the TV is loud, and can easily be heard in many rooms nearby. But otherwise the day room area is pleasant. Comfortable chairs, tables to play cards or color, etc. Lifeways has a pleasant day room. The dayroom at Intermountain is small and terrible, at least it was as of February of 2022. Very uncomfortable chairs at the table. Crushed in old furniture near the TV. Unpleasant room. St. Al's cafeteria doubled as a day room.. a place to watch movies. Also another room with TV, and a little library/quiet room. There is a quiet room at Cottonwod, but it is just a little room. Other rooms for groups etc. at Cottonwood and St. Al's.. bigger facilities. Fitness equipment: St. Al's and Cottonwood have a room with treadmills, but you might not be able to use the room, even if you ask. Staff member is required to be there. Getting outside: Cottonwood: Pleasant courtyard with room enough to walk around. Intermountain has a good courtyard.. trying to remember if it has a basketball hoop - I think so. Lifeways has a good yard too, with basketball hoop. St. Al's just had an empty courtyard with some grass. Cafeteria: Both St. Al's and Cottonwood have nice and roomy, well-lit and pleasant cafeterias. The cafeteria at Lifeways is fine. A bit small and dark. No cefeteria at Intermountain. You will eat in the day room, and food will be brought in styrofoam containers Food: If I remember correctly, vegan options at all places. Best - St. Al's.. options in case you don't want what is served. Cottonwood almost as good as St. Al's, very good. Lifeways: the food is decent to good. Intermountain: food was the worst there. Not terrible, sometimes almost good. Staff: nurses and psych techs were great at all four places, except for a somewhat less than warm charge nurse at Intermountain, and an NP or PA at Lifeways. But otherwise people were great at all four places. Hard to say which places had the best staff. There was a problem with the med room computer crashing one day at Cottonwood, and I and my fellow patients stood in line for over two hours. But the problem was corrected. Doctors: Some docs are at more than one facility. Ok psych docs at all places, that I could tell. I didn't like my dr. much though, too businesslike. Not much time given for psych docs at any place. Which is unfortunate. Smoke breaks. Lifeways is the only facility that allows smoking.10 smoke breaks outside. And you don't have to smoke to go outside. Wonderful to go outside a lot. Meetings, etc. Lifeways was by FAR the best. Even yoga and tai chi exercises, more classes and group meetings to go to. St. Al's seemed to have a bit more to do than Cottonwood and Intermountain. Cottonwood was rather good, overall. Hard to say which facility was best. St. Al's great except terrible for sleep. Intermountain worst except only 2 per room. If I had to go back in.. either Lifeways or Cottonwood. If you are in the ER waiting to be placed, ask for a facility. You just might end up where you want. Good luck.

Sami Robles

I truly wanted to give this place more stars. My rating is strictly based from the significant others experience. My husband was admitted for a voluntary stay after experiencing some childhood trauma. I’m lucky if I get more that 2 minutes to talk to him, daily. As there’s always someone needing him for something. On top of that, absolutely no social workers, drs or psychiatrists have contacted me with information on his release. Even after stating he would like to leave and come home for outpatient treatment. The lack of communication is where I’m most concerned. Especially in fragile situations, such as these. It’s important to keep families in the loop with accurate information. It’s concerning to not hear anything for days on end.

Eden Can

Interesting experience. The whole group is processing only. A decent replacement if you don’t have any therapy at all! You might have to listen to one person for 20min-1 hour and not get a chance to speak....group members give feedback to others instead of the therapist teaching and facilitating. It’s a good place to be if you are so low, you need somewhere to be! It’s just sad there is no practical education here or application to these people in need. No art therapy, no psycho-education, no games or introductions. Just sit in a room for 3 hours 3x per week and talk to the room? I found it unprofessional how the lead therapists use foul language. So many “S” and “F” words as jokes and such. Meridian offers free groups for grief elsewhere, professional, no insurance required and way more structured! Also I found great groups from church that all point to faith. So if you are high functioning, please consider other options. This is not the best for outpatient unless you can barely make it through each day.

Trace Hollenbeck

The intake nurse Steve, one of the psych tech and nurse Fran were fantastic as well as the social service team. However I was treated horribly by some of the other psych tech for me trying to be friendly or nice and basically was told in a very demeaning manner to stay in my own lane, not ok when you're trying to get better mentally. I have asked all my friends that I will be er go back and not to take me here if in crisis....I would rather travel to Boise mental hospital to get help for the way I was treated!