Senior care
Phoebe Ministries Retirement Community, which operates four senior living communities — two in Berks County — and has a fifth campus underway on the former Rodale corporate campus in Emmaus, Lehigh County, also is experiencing increased interest in its facilities, according to Donna Schudel, community relations and grants specialist.
Its Wernersville campus, Phoebe Berks, was updated recently with what Schudel called “a large re-imagining of the communal areas of the campus.”
The upgrade included improvements to dining services by adding a bistro and a pub, which Schudel said has become a popular meeting place. Comfortable seating areas were added, a movie theater was created and game rooms were upgraded to include pool tables.
Both Schudel and Barndt noted that technology has become a significant feature of senior living and increased in importance during the pandemic.
“The guidelines we needed to follow proactively moved the tech needle forward at a faster speed,” Barndt said.
Phoebe is technology forward, using software and devices specifically designed for integrated television programming and communication for senior communities, senior-focused engagement technology like large, touchscreen TVs with live streaming programs.
At Chestnut Knoll, residents became increasingly tech savvy during the pandemic as they learned to rely on FaceTime, Zoom, Google Duo and other programs to stay in touch with family members who were not able to visit.
“I think technology became more prevalent for everyone. Caregivers, residents and those quarantining at home,” Barndt said.
A focus on holistic wellness is another trend in senior living. In 2013, Phoebe initiated a comprehensive wellness lifestyle program called “Mind, Body, Spirit, Food” on its Wernersville campus. The program focuses on active lifestyle choices supported by wraparound clinical care, Schudel said, and has since been instituted on all Phoebe campuses.
Some retirement communities, including Phoebe Berks, the Highlands at Wyomissing and the Heritage at Green Hills have large swimming pools for resident use, others maintain
walking trails, and most offer exercise classes and other activities to keep residents active.
While interest in senior living facilities is on the rise, there also is an increase in demand for inhome services, according to David Bucher, director of Bayada Home Health Care in Spring Township.
“Without question, the need for home-based services has risen tremendously over the past two years,” he said.
Demand for at-home nursing and therapy care was increasing gradually before the start of the pandemic
but took off when people became confined to their homes and didn’t want to leave for medical services, Bucher explained.
“The demand for services really picked up speed, arguably as a result of the pandemic,” he said.
Increased demand means the home health care industry will need to adjust and find ways to increase reimbursement and resources, Bucher said. While this was an issue prior to the pandemic,
it has become far more apparent in the past couple years.
While some seniors need medical care in their homes, others require only personal care, such as help with bathing, dressing and preparing meals. Comfort Keepers Home Care in Spring Township, a nonmedical care provider, has been filling that niche since it was founded in 2001, said Jennifer Mish, co-owner and CEO.
Increasingly, she said, seniors are looking for companionship and socialization in addition to assistance with tasks of daily living.
“We saw the need for that really go up during COVID,” Mish said. “It’s really beneficial to a person’s mental health to have someone to talk to and interact with. Comfort Keepers is honored to be a part of caring for our seniors who have cared for others their entire lives.”