Daily Local News (West Chester, PA)
Ware Village celebrates 40-year anniversary
The Ware Village retirement community celebrated its 40th anniversary this past Tuesday.
A modern retirement community that started out years ago as a home for elderly ministers and missionaries to live out their sunset years celebrated its 40th anniversary Feb. 7.
Ware Presbyterian Village sits adjacent to Oxford’s business district on a 26-acre tract of land that was donated by the late U.S. Rep. John H. Ware and his wife Marian to the Presbyterian Homes of Pennsylvania in 1967. There, Ware Presbyterian Village opened in 1977 as an outgrowth of the former Presbyterian Home of Kennett of Kennett Square.
When Ware Presbyterian Village started, there was one building that was divided into assisted living and health centers, serving about 140 people.
Today the village contains cottages, apartments, a chapel, a health center, a gym and the centerpiece Ware Mansion, which now serves as a guest and entertainment center. Currently, the health center provides short-stay rehabilitation, skilled nursing services and memory care support for 137 older adults as well.
Through the years it has not stopped moving into the future, and most recently has expanded to 61 new apartments across Route 472, half of which of constructed for lower-income seniors. Another project under construction is Parker House, a kind of communal living center for a number of seniors.
Executive Director Kevin Jones said, “That’s part of our mission.”
Among those on hand for the celebration of the anniversary last week were two current employees, social worker Janet Ames and administrator Carol Carter, who were there at the opening 40 years ago. Carter said she remembers the days with special events that the residents looked forward to but have been replaced in recent years.
One of those was Harvest Home, an autumn celebration in which members of the Oxford community brought in the bounty of their harvest and they had a big feast.
Ames described a group of volunteers called “Caring Companions” who sat with people who were in their last hours of life.
Other memories were a summer fest, special events that included the residents making funnel cakes and community Olympics. Carter also recalled some things that were present in the past but not around anymore probably to everyone’s benefit like old mimeograph machines, banks closed on Saturday and smoking.
She laughed when she recalled how even employees smoked and had ashtrays at their desk.
“We even had a guy who
smoked big cigars,” she said.
Today Ware Village is a no-smoking facility.
Jones said that the philosophy that guides care and programs at Ware are guided by a research organization called Masterpiece Living, which has done extensive studies on optimum lifestyles for senior adults in their spiritual, nutritional and cognitive lives. To that end, they have many groups and activities which he described as “giving them a reason to get up in the morning.”
Indeed, there are many reasons, including art, a swimming pool, music and service groups, and even a model train club that meets regularly.
But there are also many interactions with the greater Oxford community, like providing a place for the Rotary Club and Chamber of Commerce. Many of the residents take part in volunteering in the community, and, more importantly, they shop in the town.
“The more we support the town, the more we help the town grow,” Carter said.
The 40-year anniversary celebration included a welcome by Proctor and Jones, a panel discussion and citations from state Sen. Andy Dinniman, D-19, and state Rep. John Lawrence, R-13.