Solheim Lutheran Home

Solheim Lutheran Home

2236 Merton Avenue
Los Angeles, CA 90041
Phone: (323) 257-7518

The Solheim Feeling…

is difficult to describe, but we know it exists! We hear it in those words – “There’s a feeling here…” enough from first-time visitors.

Solheim is a stand-alone, non-profit continuing care retirement community in the city of Los Angeles. It has served older adults in its same location in the neighborhood of Eagle Rock for 80 years. A faith-based community, it serves not only Lutherans, but people belonging to any faith community or to none. It has been accredited by the Continuing Care Accreditation Commission since 1996.

Levels of Care:

As a continuing care retirement community, Solheim provides all levels of care for older adults. The significance of this is realized well after you've moved here, for if you might need a different level of care as time goes on - either temporarily or permanently - you wouldn't need to leave the area or the community you've come to know and love. You may not even need to leave your apartment, for Residential and Assisted Living levels of care are provided in the same area.

Residential Living:

Our advice to older adults: Don't let your kids "put you in the home." Beat them to it! Our advice to physicians: Don't tell your patients "You're not ready for the home." That may be true from a pure medical perspective, but people who live here will tell you there's much more to this Home than medicine! Sure there are licensed nurses around the clock, and there are emergency call buttons to summon them - if you need them. The nurses will distribute your medications and help you bathe - if you wish.

Solheim's Residential level residents would rather concentrate on more interesting things than doctors and nurses, although they love our nurses. They enjoy playing bridge or scrabble or other games, going to the Hollywood Bowl, watching a live musical presentation or slide show, going camping, enjoying a Tai Chi or genealogy class - a few of the myriad of planned activities available to them. They enjoy decorating their apartment, making it their home. Some have green thumbs and grow wonderful plants and flowers. Some are more solitary and enjoy spending time in their apartment or walking in our neighborhood. But all enjoy sitting down with friends to a good meal three times a day. They meet others and find friends; it's a wonderful, caring community; it's a way of life, a new adventure.

Assisted Living:

Assisted Living is simply Residential level plus more help from our nursing and housekeeping staff. You still need to be ambulatory - not fast and not without the aid of a cane or walker - but ambulatory.

Following are examples of services provided at this level - help with: dressing, grooming, bathing (as in the Residential level, but more than twice a week if necessary or desired), self-administration of medication (as in the Residential level), oxygen, incontinence care, diabetic needs, walking to meals and activities, straightening your room and taking out your trash daily. Our nursing staff will even check on you every couple of hours if needed.

Alzheimer's Care:

Solheim Lutheran Home

"Special Care" implies living in our Halvorson Special Care Unit, a secured environment for those who have Alzheimer's disease or other cognitive impairments. The Unit is virtually at the center of the campus. It's built around a specially designed outdoor garden that's open at all times to its residents; there's ample indoor and outdoor space for residents to wander safely. Each resident enjoys his or her private room and bathroom.

Building on the support offered at the Assisted Living level, our excellent activity program strives to provide an abundant life for these dear folks from 9:00 a.m. until 7:00 p.m. seven days a week. Activity and nursing staff work closely together to meet the residents' unique physical and social needs. Individuals are afforded utmost respect, yet it isn't assumed they will be able to function on their own; a structured environment facilitates fulfillment and success for them. They also have fun! They don't spend all of their time in the Unit but participate in many outings as a group.

Skilled Nursing:

This is for the person who is no longer ambulatory, even with a cane or walker, or for one who needs total nursing care, which is provided and tailored to each person's special needs. This is what many refer to as a "nursing home" or "convalescent home." Solheim's nursing facility has a long reputation for excellence, with good reason.

If you are interested in our facility and would like to find out more,
please request information.