Overview of Jo Ellen Smith Convalescent Center Jo Ellen Smith Convalescent Center caters to the community with a range of rehabilitation and care services on General Meyer Avenue in New Orleans. The facility maintains 108 beds and typically operates at about 70 percent occupancy, with residents staying 197 days on average. Daily nursing support includes 3 hours and 23 minutes of total care per resident, anchored by registered nurses, licensed practical nurses, and nursing aides on a 24-hour basis.
The facility delivers short-term rehabilitation and outpatient therapy services, making it well-suited for individuals recuperating from hospitalization, surgery, or injury who benefit from skilled nursing oversight along with therapy support. In addition to rehabilitation care, the facility provides respite services and hospice/palliative care options for families navigating end-of-life planning and support. This array of services means the center can handle different care needs in one setting, which many families find convenient when circumstances transform. Daily life is centered on comfort and community connection. Residents savor meals featuring regional home-style cooking, with favorites like meatloaf, fried catfish, and roast beef with gravy, plus fresh salads, soups, and vegetables. A monthly activities calendar brings structured engagement with movies, musical performances, community outings, and seasonal celebrations. The facility is well-appointed with amenities that bolster daily comfort and dignity, including a hair and nail salon, posh and private dining rooms, a sunroom, a covered patio for fresh air, a courtyard, and complimentary wireless internet access throughout. The facility’s neighborhood scores 47 on the walkability scale, indicating that some nearby services are accessible on foot, while most trips could use a vehicle. Medicare, Medicaid, and private-pay are accepted, providing families with flexible coverage routes for short-term rehabilitation stays and longer-term care.
Overseeing Jo Ellen Smith Convalescent Center’s operations and compliance is the Department of Health, Health Standards Section.
The facility’s setting fits families who drive to visit or those preferring a quieter residential area over a high-traffic commercial zone. Its offering of short-term rehabilitation and outpatient therapy services makes it suitable for those healing from hospitalization, surgery, or injury, plus those benefitting from skilled nursing oversight and therapy support.