PHOEBE OFFERS CONTINUING CARE RETIREMENT COMMUNITIES FOR ACTIVE LIFESTYLES

Today’s seniors are looking for retirement living options that promote an active lifestyle with the added benefits of continuing care if and when it is needed. According to AARP, there are nearly 2,000 continuing care retirement communities (CCRCs) in the United States, with close to 600,000 residents.

Phoebe Ministries has four 60+ communities in Eastern PA and will soon be adding Chestnut Ridge at Rodale, an independent living community.These CCRCs are ideal for residents who are still active and independent, but realize their needs may change in the future. As a resident’s level of care increases, they are easily able to transition from independent living to personal care to skilled nursing, all while staying within the same familiar community.

Life at The Terrace

One of Phoebe’s independent living locations is the Terrace at Phoebe Allentown. Located in the historic West End of Allentown, the Terrace has close proximity to shopping, theaters, and restaurants, and is within walking distance to the Allentown Farmers’ Market.

Even though there is much to see and do right around the Terrace, many residents choose to bring their personal vehicles to Phoebe. Althea Sell, a three-year resident of the Terrace, chose to bring her car. Sell enjoys how she “…can go out to the grocery store and my church.” She grew up in the Allentown area, which is what initially attracted her to The Terrace.

The Terrace offers residents the oppor tunity to be as involved in activities as they would like.What Sell enjoys most about the Terrace is, “… the sociability here.We’ve got very nice activities. We’ve got programs that are offered, we have speakers, we have musicians that come.”The Terrace also has exercise programs, cooking demonstrations, and a newly refurbished library where residents can often be seen relaxing by the fireplace or playing a friendly game of bridge.

Apartment layouts at theTerrace range from studios to 2-bedroom suites, with some that include balconies overlooking picturesque Allentown. All apartments have kitchens, which give residents the option to make their own meals or enjoy the company of their neighbors in the dining room.

One of the most impor tant features of the Terrace is that residents are not just renting an apartment. Instead, they become a lifetime resident of Phoebe, with access to healthcare services now and in the future.

Always Taken Care Of

When a resident needs additional care, Phoebe is by their side to help them transition to a higher level of support.Vicki Kocis, Sales Coordinator for the Terrace, understands the impor tance of giving residents reassurance in knowing that they will always have a home at Phoebe.“The biggest thing I tell folks when they are shopping for a community is to ask what happens when their money runs out. Because that is so important, that when their money runs out, we have the benevolence fund that takes care of them. So they know that they will always be taken care of, and that gives peace of mind to them and their family.”

The Terrace also gives residents’ families the relief that their loved one is being taken care of daily, with well visits and check ins available, if needed. As a resident needs more suppor t, they also have access to services including physical therapy, occupational therapy, and speech therapy. Residents can even stay at Phoebe’s short-term rehabilitation facility right across the street if recovery is needed after a surgery or injury.

Comfor ting Home Care by Phoebe is also available to assist residents with daily tasks such as laundry, cooking, and other light chores. Once-a-week cleaning and linen services are also provided to residents of the Terrace.

Benefits Outweigh the Costs

The Allentown location wasn’t the only reason Sell chose to make the Terrace at Phoebe her home. Another impor tant factor was the affordability. “I felt that Phoebe was more approachable financially for me, as well. So we had visited some other places, and felt that this one was closer to my means.”

Kocis works closely with potential residents to explain the different entrance fee options. “I think with the flexibility of the entrance fee, Phoebe has options for everyone. It means more people are able to plan for their futures.”

To live in a Phoebe community, a resident pays an entrance fee and a monthly fee.These fees allow a resident to stay at an independent living community, like the Terrace, until such time when a higher level of care is needed.Then, the resident would transition to a different level of care on the campus. Fees for apartments at The Terrace, or any of Phoebe’s active retirement communities, vary based on the type of living accommodations and refund options selected.

In addition to the Terrace in Allentown, Phoebe also has CCRCs located at Richland, Wyncote, and Wernersville. Each location offers a range of amenities for active lifestyles while providing the high level of care that Phoebe is known for.

“One of the things that just inspires me is how we are always here for our residents and families,” Kocis mentions. “So when you hear staff at Phoebe talk about residents, they are our family – they are our extended family. And we care about them so much. And you can see that and feel it when you walk around our communities.”

To learn more about the Terrace at Phoebe, or any of Phoebe’s continuing care retirement communities, visit phoebe.org or call 610-435-9037.