Messenger Volume 100 | Issue 2
Fall 2019
CHESTNUT RIDGE at Rodale ANNUAL REPORT 2018-2019
Reversing the Continuum
Table of Contents Featured in this Issue WELLNESS & REHABILITATION
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Stepping up for Wellness
Singing Praises
Reversing the Continuum
CHESTNUT RIDGE AT RODALE
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The Seeds of a New Community
PHOEBE AT WORK
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16 A Fresh Look 18 Something Old, Something New 20 Branching Out in Lancaster County 21 Faith in Action: Fuel and Fire 22 West Greets East: Alternative Approaches to Aging
THE GREATEST GENERATION
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Soldier on the Move
ANNUAL REPORT
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Introduction to the Annual Report Phoebe and the Community Spotlight on Giving Financial Summary Governance and Leadership Spotlight on Volunteers Thanking Our Partners
On the cover: A new kind of retirement living is sprouting in Emmaus! The former Rodale corporate campus is evolving into Chestnut Ridge at Rodale, an independent living community focused on health and wellness. Emile and Martha Ouellette are two of the founding members of this new community.
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Phoebe-Devitt Homes is the official name of the 501(c)(3) not-for-profit corporation doing business as Phoebe Ministries. Founded in 1903 and incorporated as such in 1984, Phoebe-Devitt Homes is responsible for the supervision of communities, long-range planning, development, and fundraising for a network of retirement communities, affordable housing, pharmacies, and a continuing care at home program, which combined serve thousands of seniors annually. Phoebe Ministries is affiliated with the United Church of Christ and is a member of LeadingAge, LeadingAge PA, and the Council for Health and Human Service Ministries of the United Church of Christ. The official registration and financial information of Phoebe-Devitt Homes may be obtained from the Pennsylvania Department of State by calling toll free within Pennsylvania at 1-800-732-0999. Registration does not imply endorsement. Copyright 2019 by Phoebe Ministries. Photographs and artwork copyright by their respective creators or Phoebe Ministries. All rights reserved. No portion of this publication may be used or republished in any form without express permission. To unsubscribe from The Phoebe Messenger, please contact the Department of Marketing and Community Relations at 610-794-5132 or marketing@phoebe.org.
Welcome |
FALL 2019
Mission Statement: A community of faith, called by God, to enrich the lives of our seniors, their families, and the communities we serve.
A MESSAGE FROM THE PRESIDENT Dear friends and supporters, As we enter the holiday season, we are surrounded by things that remind us to celebrate, to honor tradition, to cherish time with loved ones, and to be grateful. We at Phoebe take great pride in observing those things yearround. We celebrate accomplishments, the big and the small; we uphold our mission to serve older adults in an environment where they can make new memories; we cherish the relationships we form as a family; we have profound gratitude for the support of our partners and for the blessings unfolding around us.
President & CEO: Scott R. Stevenson Phoebe Ministries Governing Board Chair: Robert W. Miller Editors: Peter T. McConnell Kimberly Metz Contributors: Emilie Bateman Brynn Buskirk Rachel Cavotta Todd Greb Joshua Lilly Peter T. McConnell Kristine Paupini Stacey Prohaska Donna Schudel
It has been an exceptional year for Phoebe, as you’ll see in the pages of this Messenger and annual report. In this issue, we bring you stories of recovery as well as the constant pursuit of wellness that encompasses every dimension of living. You’ll see how the seeds we planted in Emmaus have grown, and what the promise of the future holds for people who have begun to invest in it. You’ll read about renovations at Phoebe Berks and Phoebe Allentown that represent an exciting step forward in the amenities and attractions of our communities. You’ll also share in the beautiful memories of residents at Phoebe Wyncote and one man at Phoebe Richland who came home from the war with stories for a lifetime. As this is also our annual report issue, we’ve collected stories of our donors, volunteers, and employees to show you the impact that individuals have on the work Phoebe does every day. I know that you’ll find their stories as uplifting and inspiring as I do. The annual report is more than a financial record—it’s a compendium of thanks and a glimpse at the scope of the work we’re all doing together. In everything we do, we continue to mark the highest standard of excellence. We could not do so without the support of you, our partners, and family. You are responsible for the impact we make on the lives of older adults and their families, and we are profoundly grateful for your generosity. Won’t you join me in celebrating this year and all of its accomplishments, of which you are such an important part? There is so much more we can do together. In the meantime, I thank God for our success, as I thank Him for you and the support you continue to provide. Blessings,
Scott R. Stevenson President & CEO
History in the Making In 2018, Phoebe began a year-long celebration of the 115th anniversary of serving older adults and the community. The culmination was the installation of a history wall in Allentown's health care center, which tells the story of Phoebe from its conception and foundation in 1903 to the present day. Elevators throughout the building were also decorated with panels describing the history of the building, the Phoebe name, the Phoebe logo, and the original farmhouse where Phoebe was founded.
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Wellness & Rehabilitation |
HEALTHY LIVING
Stepping Up
Wellness for
Above: The health and wellness team: Sara Estrada, Cherie Heffelfinger, and Debbie Kunkle. Right: The Lehigh Valley Cancer Institute Mammography Coach visits Phoebe Allentown on a regular basis, thanks to a partnership program arranged by the occupational health department.
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he Health and Wellness Committee is dedicated to the promotion of good health and overall wellness to the employees of Phoebe Ministries. Occupational health employees Cherie Heffelfinger and Debbie Kunkle are the driving force behind the committee. Debbie has been the occupational health office’s administrative assistant for over 16 years, and is one of the original members of the Health and Wellness Committee, managing a bulk of the coordination of the programs and events. Cherie, Occupational Health and Safety Manager, is a registered nurse (RN) with an advanced safety certificate from the National Safety Council, which qualifies her to manage the safety program and maintain Phoebe’s self-insured status. Phoebe’s Health and Wellness Committee provides employees with the support they need to maintain or improve their physical and mental health. “As a self-insured organization,” Cherie explains, “employee wellness is key to decreasing our health care costs, injuries, and workers’ compensation costs. Healthy employees are more productive, have fewer sick days, and are better able to manage their stress levels.” The committee facilitates a workplace that is positive and supportive. Sue Schlener, Executive Director of Phoebe Allentown, explains: “Wellness and incentive programs can be used to drive and reinforce healthy behaviors, bringing benefits to the employer, the employee, and the facility, but most of all to our residents.”
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HEALTHY LIVING
The Health and Wellness Committee focuses the majority of its efforts on resources for employee health preservation and stress management. They help facilitate free health screenings, including blood pressure checks and the Lehigh Valley Cancer Institute’s Mammography Coach, and provide private spaces such as a lactation room for women who are nursing. In addition, group weight loss programs give employees the chance to support each other with personal health goals. Some additional preventive initiatives include the annual flu campaign, through which employees get their flu shots during work hours, and a campus-wide smoking cessation program—both of which support the overall health and wellness of Phoebe staff and residents. The Health and Wellness Committee also supports the local community with regular blood drives. Michelle O’Connor, Benefits and Compensation Manager, shares her positive experience with the blood drives: “I’m always happy to participate in the blood drives held at Phoebe. Donating blood is such a simple way to help others—but when life gets busy, simple things like this get pushed aside. Blood drives during the workday make it effortless!”
Public events like the National Senior Health and Fitness Day Expo hosted at Phoebe Allentown are another way the Health and Wellness Committee connects Phoebe with the surrounding community. Held on the last Wednesday of May every year, the committee, with the help of local vendors, uses the expo as a platform to offer free health information, screenings, and other services. Phoebe staff, residents, and members of the surrounding community can stop by throughout the day to get their blood pressure, bone density, glucose, and cholesterol checked, receive a mini manicure or chair massage, and learn more about the health services in the area. The most recent expo even included a demonstration on selfdefense, and therapy dogs were nearby for some quick stress relief. This event also aides in sharing new programs and initiatives like the recently-created indoor walking path established in the health care center. Cherie and Debbie mapped out a route in the building that equals just under a mile when completed on foot, including four flights of stairs. Posters in the building encourage employees to take the walking trail on their breaks or when moving from one part of the building to another. With stress control and relief as two areas of focus for the committee, they wanted to create incentives that could aid in these efforts. Committee member Sara Estrada, a social worker for Phoebe Allentown, was eager to offer her expertise in developing these programs. As a licensed massage therapist, Sara helped the committee organize weekly massage therapy sessions. For $5 a session, employees can get a ten-minute massage from Sara during their lunch break. “Chair massages offer a quick
Sara offers massages and guided meditation practice to Phoebe Allentown employees as part of a community-wide focus on wellness.
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but effective way for employees to take time on their lunch break to get off of the unit or away from their desk and relax for a bit,” says Sara. “Even a short massage provides mental, physical, and emotional benefits such as improved mood, reduced anxiety, a calmed nervous system, and increased energy, productivity, and circulation.” Employees can also purchase gift certificates for massage sessions, which is a great way to say “thank you” to a coworker for going above and beyond. “A wonderful benefit is the chair massages that we can get,” says Elaine Zeigler, CNA. “I wish I could do it every day. It’s also nice that you can purchase it for a friend or as a thank you, like Secret Santa!” The weekly meditation sessions are also becoming popular. Every Monday at 12:30, Sara leads a group meditation that focuses on reflection and relaxation, which she says provides benefits similar to those of massage. “I really enjoy Sara’s meditation sessions,” says Lauren Kiefer, Regional Director or Human Resources. “It’s a great way to clear my mind and prepare for the workweek.” Ruthann Sell, a housekeeper in the health care center, also enjoys the experience. “Sara is the best person to lead our meditation sessions,” she says. “Her soothing voice relaxes me and helps me finish my Monday with a smile.” Sara hopes that both the massage and meditation sessions will continue to increase in popularity, and perhaps help more employees learn how to manage stress. With new programs and reoccurring events, the Health and Wellness Committee is constantly working to create an environment that is positive and healthy for employees and residents. Thank you to Cherie, Debbie, Sara, and the rest of the Health and Wellness Committee for all that you do here at Phoebe.
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HEALTHY LIVING
Larry sings with the Summer Harmony Men’s Chorus of the Lehigh Valley. In this performance at Waldheim E. C. Park in Allentown, Larry can be seen front and center singing a solo.
Singing Praises
“My family has been here forever!”
says Larry Benner, fourth-generation resident of his beloved Richlandtown community, and dedicated Phoebe Richland supporter and musical volunteer. So when he found out that he needed coronary artery bypass surgery, he knew his friends at Phoebe would take good care of him after his operation and get him back to what brings him joy—serving the community and creating beautiful music! A talented vocalist and musician, Larry started piano lessons at age six and organ lessons at age 13. In 1966, at the age of 19, he began serving as the organist and choir director for St. John’s United Church of Christ in Richlandtown, a position he still holds today.
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HEALTHY LIVING
In 1969, he gathered a group of choral enthusiasts, including his mother, Helen, to create a Christmas cantata. This respected choir, now known as the Cantata Choir, will celebrate its 50th year of presenting holiday concerts with Larry as the director. In addition to the holidays, the Cantata Choir has added a spring Broadway concert to its yearly season. Larry and his choir present their repertoire throughout the region, including at Phoebe Richland, where twice a year, more than 80 residents fill the audience in the atrium of the Meadow Glen personal care community for the inspiring holiday concert. Equally well attended is their spring Broadway concert featuring lively show
tunes. “Larry, his choir, and his musical selection have a huge impact on our residents,” says the Rev. Jamie Moyer, Chaplain for Phoebe Richland. “The sound of his music moves residents to experience deep emotions, joy, tears—it’s amazing to watch.” Getting him back to his active life post-coronary artery bypass surgery was the therapeutic goal for Phoebe’s skilled therapy team. Physical Therapist Sean Regan and Occupational Therapist Josh Pail both evaluated Larry and designed rigorous, personalized treatment plans for his rehabilitation success. Larry was an ideal patient absorbing all suggestions and fully participating in his specially designed therapeutic
Reunited with his friends and support team: Stephanie Lingle and Josh Pail with Larry in the outpatient gym at Meadow Glen.
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program. “Larry was always wonderful to work with. He truly understood the importance of regaining his functional independence and was driven to participate in all recommended tasks,” says Certified Occupational Therapy Assistant Kristen Caggiano. “He is such a valued member of this community. We were honored to work with him throughout his recovery.” After his surgery, Larry spent two weeks as a short term rehabilitation patient, working daily with the physical and occupational therapy teams. After that time, he was able to go home and continue outpatient therapy three times a week for two more weeks with the same familiar therapists. “I was so happy to get back to doing what I love,” says Larry with his arm around Physical Therapy assistant Stephanie Lingle. “I couldn’t have done it without them,” he adds. Always a man on the move—“I couldn’t wait to drive again!” says Larry— he had to let someone else drive him. No surprise that he had a willing group of friends and family eager to help. In addition to all his music-making, Larry finds time to serve as a member of the Phoebe Institutional Advancement Committee. “Larry and his family are steadfast community leaders giving back for generations,” says Stacey Prohaska, Executive Director of Philanthropy for Phoebe. “He’s such a kind and generous man.” In 2014, Larry honored both sides of his family with a generous pledge to the new construction of the Benner Heller Memorial Chapel in Meadow Glen. Over the years, Larry has served on the Phoebe Richland Board of Trustees, the Buck’s Strategic Advisory Committee, and the Phoebe-Devitt Homes Foundation Advisory Board. Now back in full force, and able to drive himself again, Larry Benner will continue to spread musical joy for his beloved Richlandtown.
To learn more about rehab at Phoebe, visit Phoebe.org/Rehab.
Wohlsen Construction employees pause for a photo with Phoebe's Executive Team at the Annual Golf Tournament. Wohlsen Construction was the title sponsor for this year's Tournament.
Wohlsen Construction Tees Up Title Sponsorship at Phoebe Golf Tournament
The sun was shining, the humidity was low, and a soft breeze was blowing on the morning of August 12, 2019 as 278 golfers arrived at Saucon Valley Country Club to raise money for charity care at Phoebe’s 11th Annual Golf Tournament. Leading the way was Wohlsen Construction of Lancaster, Pa., Phoebe’s partner in two current construction projects and the Golf Tournament’s Title Sponsor. Mike Kreider, Vice President of Senior Living at Wohlsen, says it was a pleasure to attend the Tournament and play for a good cause. “Phoebe’s mission and values align with Wohlsen’s,” he says. “We are faith-based and customercentered just as Phoebe is. We have a long history and strong leadership just as Phoebe does.” Phoebe’s Annual Golf Tournament combines friendly competition and sportsmanship in support of charitable care for Phoebe’s residents. The 2019 Golf Tournament met and exceeded our successful 10-year trend of achieving $100,000 in net proceeds. Currently, nearly 60 percent of skilled nursing residents rely on Phoebe’s promise of charitable care. “We are so grateful to Wohlsen for their Title Sponsorship,” says Stacey Prohaska, Executive Director of Philanthropy at Phoebe. “Their generosity, and the generosity of all of our golf sponsors, makes a tremendous difference in the lives of Phoebe’s most vulnerable seniors.” “We want to invest in those who invest in us,” says Kreider. “What a blessing it is to be a valued partner.”
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hen looking at different senior living options, the general purpose of a continuing care retirement community (CCRC) like Phoebe is to offer a continuum of care or tiered approach to the aging process, accommodating residents’ changing care needs. Traditionally, when a younger, healthier older adult moves into independent living in a CCRC, they do so with the reassurance that as their care needs progress, they can move through that continuum into higher levels of care, such as personal care or skilled nursing. Linda Luskus, resident at the Terrace at Phoebe Allentown, has turned the traditional continuum of care on its head and reversed the order, progressing from Phoebe’s health care center to personal care, and most recently moving to independent living. Linda first came to Phoebe Allentown for short term rehabilitation in the health care center in August 2018, after a stay in the hospital due to a sudden onset of neuropathy (pain from nerve damage). Linda was wheelchair-bound and hardly able to walk. Her prognosis for recovery was unclear, and she was concerned she would not regain her lost abilities. After some time in rehabilitation on the Trexler neighborhood in the Health Care Center, Linda made improvements and was able to move to the adjacent building, Miller Personal Care at 19th & Chew. “The therapists were very good in both the health care center and in Miller,” said Linda. “I worked with both physical and occupational therapists during my time living in personal care; they gave me exercises to do and I did those exercises faithfully.” Linda resided in Miller Personal Care at 19th & Chew for nine months, continually progressing her mobility through her assigned exercises. By June 2019, Linda was ready for yet another move. “I could see I was making progress,” said Linda. “I didn’t need the level of care offered in personal care anymore, and when I talked to other residents in Miller who either had lived at the Terrace at Phoebe Allentown or knew people who live there now, they expressed how much they loved it there.” Linda’s decision to move to the Terrace, Phoebe Allentown’s independent living community, came with mixed feelings. “It was an adjustment moving to the Terrace; I had gotten attached to people I knew in Miller—but it’s right across the street so I can go back and visit any time.” She knew no one upon arriving at the Terrace, but that quickly changed. 12
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Agin
Reve the Co
“The Terrace has a robust mentoring program,” says Molly Driscoll, Manager of the Terrace. “Current residents volunteer to mentor new residents moving in. Mentors make a point to show them around the Terrace and help them get used to their new home. This allows for more of a personal connection between the two.” Linda says how thankful she is for her mentor. “My mentor, Phyllis, reached out to me right after I moved in to show me around. She took me to dinner in the
g Backwards:
ersing ontinuum Terrace dining room, and generally checked in on me. She still checks in on me even now that I’ve settled in!” she says. Linda’s daily routine is a bit different than it was just a few months ago; she traded in daily rehab for day trips like the popular wine tour bus trip, musical entertainment acts, reading a book in the Terrace library, and socializing with new neighbors. “You would never know Linda has only lived here for a short time,” says Molly. “She has quickly assimilated to a busy lifestyle at the Terrace.”
“Everyone here is so friendly, and as time goes by I’m sure I’ll get involved in more and more activities as there is quite a bit going on here,” says Linda. Residents like Linda prove that life at Phoebe can be anything but traditional.
To learn more about life at Phoebe Allentown, visit Phoebe.org/Allentown.
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MEADOW GLEN AT PHOEBE RICHLAND
Left: Chester Westgate and his wife, Mildred, celebrated 72 years of marriage at Meadow Glen at Phoebe Richland in June. Above: Home at last: September 1945. Below: Chester (left foreground) standing in the famous blown-out picture window of Adolf Hitler’s decimated home in Berchtesgarden. Bottom: The motor pool gang at Differdange
SOLDIER ON In the history of World War II, there are names and places that are almost synonymous with the war itself: D-Day, Berchtesgarden, Utah Beach, the Battle of the Bulge, Paris. For Chester Westgate, all of these names are especially familiar as sites of significant moments in his life. As a sergeant in the 129th Anti-Aircraft Artillery, a mobile unit deployed to follow infantry and take down enemy planes, Chester traveled far and wide in his service, reaching eight countries in only two years, and coming home with stories to last a lifetime. Chester enlisted in October 1942. He completed his training at Fort Eustis in Virginia as a corporal before entering officers’ school at Camp Davis. He was supposed 14
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to finish as a battery commander, “But I couldn’t holler loud enough,” says the soft-spoken man. He went instead to automotive school and spent six months at Fort Bliss in Texas, where he was trained in anti-aircraft artillery.
Service in the European theatre began New Year’s Day, 1944. Chester and his outfit were shipped out to Scotland, and then England, where they fired at planes on their way to bomb London and picked up equipment to prepare for the upcoming invasion of Normandy. They arrived in support of the First Army at Utah Beach near the town of Sainte-Mère-Église four days after D-Day, and moved on quickly to the Battle of Saint-Lô in July, and then Carenton. They hauled ammunition to Aachen on the borders of
Belgium and Germany with a special assignment, until finally moving south to the Ardennes and Patton’s Third Army in the last great counteroffensive of the war in December. Chester recalls the Battle of the Bulge, and the rest of the war, in sharply detailed anecdotes. He remembers the snow and fog that lay so thick in the Ardennes in December that the planes couldn’t get in. “We were antitank at that time,” he says. “We would catch German soldiers posing as Americans. They’d put on American uniforms and get into trucks trying to cross the enemy line, so we’d ask them questions about the state capitols and who the president was and that would give them away.” Chester and his companions lived on K-rations (his wife of 72 years, Mildred, recalls how thin he was—104 pounds—when he came home from the war) and he remembers taking a seat to eat his lunch on one of the square-pyramidal “Dragon’s teeth” anti-tank fortifications of the Siegfried line. On one occasion, a truck broke down in a convoy, and Chester and seven other men stayed behind for the rest of the convoy to send back a truck to tow them in. They saw two Germans approaching who surrendered on sight. “We took 25 prisoners that day,” Chester says. “They had had enough fighting.” It was by luck or Providence that Chester came through the war unscathed—though not for lack of near misses. While moving the unit out one day, the colonel in charge ordered an 18-ton “cat” (a tracked vehicle used to pull guns) in the driveway of a farm to be moved. “There
three weeks there driving 105 trucks to Marseilles, where ships were waiting to carry them to Japan. Returning to Paris, Chester took a wrong turn underneath the Eiffel Tower and ended up behind enemy lines in the contained Nazi-occupied section of the city—he recalls it now as one of his closest calls during the war, but by no means the last. The war ended while Chester was still in Paris, where the call finally came in ordering him home. They drove from Paris to Marseilles, narrowly escaping a collision with a descending plane, and then flew to Casablanca, a flight that almost ended prematurely when the engines cut out and had to be repaired. From Africa they flew to Brazil in the rainy season. On their way to Puerto Rico they flew through a raincloud and the plane dropped 500 feet before it could be recovered. Chester laughs now at the many close calls he experienced on his way home, well after the fighting had stopped. After he was discharged, Chester returned to his job at Moore Business Forms in Niagara Falls, New York. His family had made friends with another family from Pennsylvania, and when Chester got home, his father told him “he had a nice girl for him,” says Mildred, laughingly. He met Mildred, and they were married two years later in 1947. Chester’s father died only two months later, but the family remained in Niagara Falls until 1966 when they moved to Quakertown, Pennsylvania. Chester and Mildred built a house and lived there until they were in their 80s. By then, their three children were married, and Chester was retired but beginning to experience health problems. They downsized to a condominium and lived there until 2018,
THE MOVE was a dud in the ground,” says Chester, referring to the unexploded shells dropped by bombers, “and there might be a chance of more landmines in the area.” Following orders, he got in the cat to move it, but had to climb out again to untangle a camouflage net from the tracks. When he finished, another man climbed in and backed up, detonating a mine and killing eight men with the explosion before Chester’s eyes. After the Battle of the Bulge, Chester and the 129th crossed the Rhine. They made their way to Czechoslovakia, where they were fighting planes again, though the war was quickly drawing to its end. In 1945, before September, they were sent back to Paris and spent
when Chester’s health made it necessary for them to receive a little more assistance with daily living. They moved to Meadow Glen Personal Care at Phoebe Richland. Chester is not one to sit still. He has volunteered at the Red Cross Blood Drive in Quakertown for 14 years, and received several awards including the Presidential Award for Excellence. He was given a Medal of Freedom from Paris and another at the Parx Casino in Bensalem, Pennsylvania. He makes woolen hats which he sends to St. Jude Children’s Hospital for cancer patients and to veterans. In July, Chester celebrated his 99th birthday with family. “He doesn’t let his health problems prevent him from serving others,” says Mildred. “He’s a survivor!” 15
Phoebe at Work |
COMMUNITY ENHANCEMENTS
A FRESH LOOK
NEW THINGS ARE HAPPENING AT PHOEBE! As we continue to serve our community of older adults, we are committed to making changes and improvements that keep our communities vibrant, engaging, and inviting places to live and work.
PHOEBE BERKS In May, Phoebe Berks broke ground on a large, $7 million renovation of the Harrity Community Center for independent living residents. The Community Center, constructed in 1994, is the social hub for more than 300 independent living residents of Phoebe Berks Village, both in cottages and apartments. The renewed Community Center will house various dining establishments, including a casual coffeehouse and a pub, a fitness center, a movie theatre, new locker rooms near the indoor pool, game rooms and social spaces, and renovated administrative office areas. “This exciting renovation allows today’s seniors to have many additional amenities that they have been asking for,” says Star High, Executive Director of Phoebe Berks. Over the last several years, the campus has been creative in ways to meet the requests of incoming residents, offering casual dining nights and pub nights using a pop-up bar. “While living in a construction zone is difficult right now—we are asking our residents to give up some amenities while we have a large scale construction project going on—they've been understanding that this short term loss will provide long term gain, which they are very excited to see,” explains High.
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PHOEBE ALLENTOWN
Phoebe is currently working with RLPS architects of Lancaster, Pennsylvania, the original firm that designed Phoebe Berks in the 1980s, and construction has been contracted with Wohlsen Construction.
New things are also happening at Phoebe Allentown, where the former David A. Miller Personal Care Community was renovated and a new name was announced in September: Miller Personal Care at 19th & Chew. The building opened in 1988, and was designed to serve the needs of up to 55 older adults who were mostly independent but needed assistance with activities of daily living. Since then, resident rooms, dining areas, and other spaces have been updated, but in 2019, Phoebe administration identified a need for updated common spaces and amenities.
“It’s exciting that we’re able to continue to improve our communities for our residents,” says Scott Stevenson, President and CEO of Phoebe. “We’ve diversified our service offerings, and while we offer community-based resources for older adults, we need to be sure our residents who live at our communities also have the best amenities we can offer. This renovation of the Community Center provides exactly that.”
Renovations began in May and focused on upgrading common spaces on the first floor to provide more opportunities for wellness and connection within the community. The renovations, which were completed by Dolan Construction and DesignPoint, an interior design firm that specializes in senior living design, were completed in Fall 2019. Residents at Miller Personal Care at 19th & Chew now enjoy a new coffee lounge and community fitness room offering revitalizing choices for
| Fall 2019
Top Left: Julie Townsend, Senior Designer and Project Manager for DesignPoint (left), reviews the design plans with Michele Butch (right), Manager of Miller Personal Care at 19th & Chew. Bottom Left: One of the new spaces at Phoebe Berks is the movie theater, which will be on the second floor off the lobby. (Artist’s rendering.) Above: Updated dining options at Phoebe Berks will include a bistro, restaurant, and pub. (Artist's rendering.) Right: A New Castle Lawn and Landscape employee puts finishing touches on the newly landscaped entrance of the renovated Miller Personal Care at 19th & Chew.
physical activity. Additionally, residents can socialize in updated indoor seating areas and take advantage of a new salon and an upgraded outdoor porch with views of the bustling Allentown Fairgrounds. An updated lobby and nursing reception area, including a new wellness suite, grants residents and visitors more convenient access to care staff and makes it easier for all members of the community to build meaningful relationships with one another. Current residents have voiced their excitement for the changes to the community and how they provide more avenues for meaningful socialization with their friends and loved ones. “Residents love that they no longer have to go to the health care center for salon services,” says Michele Butch, Manager of Miller Personal Care at 19th
& Chew. “They are also enjoying the new gym which can accommodate all levels of function from those who ambulate independently to those who use wheelchairs. The new hot spot is the coffee bar, where our residents gather throughout the day to socialize and laugh over coffee or tea.” While the renovation project at Miller Personal Care at 19th & Chew is not the largest or only renovation project happening at our Phoebe communities, it is equally as essential as it has put the focus on resident wellness and their continued happiness through socialization at the forefront of daily living.
To learn more about life at Phoebe visit Phoebe.org/Berks and Phoebe.org/Miller.
Have you heard? Phoebe Berks is going “paperless!”
Watch Phoebe Berks in the coming months as we roll out virtual assistants! Echo Dots featuring “Alexa” will be used for calendar events and FYIs for residents. Residents can expect training on how to utilize these exciting devices! This means no more printed event calendars—information will all be available on the TouchTown App and through the virtual assistants installed around the community.
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PHOEBE WYNCOTE
Clockwise: Delphine Spagnuolo’s wedding dress is a family heirloom, worn by her godmother, her cousin, and her daughter in their own weddings. RoseMary Civitillo and her daughter Paula tell the story of the wedding dress that RoseMary wore in 1949, and Paula wore in 1980. Sue Wiersma has a treasured photo album filled with pictures from her wedding and her marriage. Monica Nelson holds a bouquet of flowers not unlike the bouquet she carried on her wedding day in 1944.
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onica and Anthony “Tony” Nelson are seated in the front row of Phoebe Wyncote’s chapel admiring the wedding dresses on display. “I’m just as in love today as I was when we got married,” says Tony as he reaches for Monica’s hand. Monica’s dazzling blue eyes sparkle as she reclines in her wheelchair, holding a small bouquet in her hands. Their daughter Lisa explains that they met while working at Philco, the pioneer in radio and television production founded in Philadelphia. Monica was a receptionist and Tony was in sales. Married in July of 1944, Tony and Monica will celebrate their 75th wedding anniversary this year. The couple was part of the multisensory celebration, “Enchanted Wedding Treasures,” hosted by the community life staff at Phoebe Wyncote.
They married in June of 1949,” says Paula. She loved her mother’s dress so much that she wore it again in 1980. Her mother RoseMary says very little but attentively smiles while listening to her daughter reminisce.
At Phoebe, we know that multisensory events and activities help to spark memories and make connections that are sometimes buried. Not only are these activities joyful and exciting for independent residents and staff, they are also intentionally designed to elicit personal connections for those with dementia. This wedding-themed event included five dresses belonging to staff and residents, over 30 wedding photographs displayed and projected, wedding favors, and a wedding-style sheet cake. Brides, together with some of their family, reminisced about their dresses, how they met, and the day they got married.
Annette.” Geraldine married in 1959 and Annette in 1989. “I remember my mom hand washing it after all those years, fearing that it wouldn’t get clean and look white. Not only did the dress make it through the wash but it dried a brilliant white,” says Antoinette. Delphine quietly touches the familiar embroidered cotton, perhaps remembering the experience of washing the dress by hand.
Resident Delphine Spagnuolo sits quietly, smiling, nodding, looking back and forth from her dress to her daughter Antoinette, who tells her mom’s wedding story. Delphine and her husband Carl met in a Wilkes Barre pastry shop where her father was a chef, and her mother worked the counter. They were married on July 4, 1956. Thirty-two years later, to the day, her daughter Antoinette wore her mom’s dress on July 4, 1988. “I wasn’t the only one,” explained Antoinette. “My godmother, Aunt Geraldine also wore the dress, along with her daughter
Something Old, Something New The celebration opened with a welcome and introduction from independent living resident Sue Wiersma. She shared her handmade quilted wedding album, full of pictures of her second husband, whom she married when she was 49. They raised her four children from a previous marriage together before he passed away. She now treasures this album which holds the tender memories of their special marriage. Resident RoseMary Civitillo quietly held up the sleeve of her satin dress, admiring the fabric’s familiar sheen, as her daughter Paula shared her parents’ wedding story. “My mom and dad were childhood sweethearts that met at Our Lady of the Rosary grammar school in West Philadelphia.
Phoebe social worker Courtney Nicoloso stood with her contemporary strapless wedding dress as she pointed to the wedding photograph of her and her husband with a Temple University banner behind them. Residents enjoyed hearing how tickled Courtney was to have a banner from Temple, her alma mater, in her wedding picture. For many residents and their families, reminiscing about meaningful life events is important. Touching familiar clothing, looking at photographs, and enjoying the taste of cake, can help awaken seemingly buried memories. Interacting with familiar multisensory objects can help residents with dementia make important connections with their past, with each other, and with the Phoebe staff who support them daily.
Visit our online gallery to see the wedding dresses on display! Phoebe.org/WyncoteWedding 19
hoebe Pharmacy reached Lancaster County in 2013, opening its first location outside of the flagship site in Allentown, Pennsylvania, to serve Caron Foundation in Wernersville. Since then, the pharmacy’s growth has been exponential; a third site opened in Montgomery County in 2018, and the pharmacy as a collective now serves more than 40 long term care communities and behavioral health care providers in four counties. Last year, the Lancaster branch added three long term care communities—19 buildings between them—to its roster, which now totals 11 organizations in Lancaster and Berks counties. What is most notable about the pharmacy’s expansion is not the expansion itself, but the challenges that arise with expansion—and how the pharmacy meets those challenges. Pam Getz, Director of the Lancaster pharmacy, says it takes creative thinking and flexibility to deliver successful services, and the pharmacy team has risen to the occasion.
In addition, the pharmacy hired a nurse liaison who makes rounds in the buildings that the pharmacy serves, and acts as intermediary between the nurses administering medications and the pharmacy crew supplying them. “It’s a more efficient system of communication,” says Cindy Richart, R.Ph., Vice President of Pharmacy Operations. “The nurse liaison helps the pharmacists understand the impact of their work in the pharmacy, and provides extra support for the nursing staff by informing them of things like medication shortages outside of the pharmacy’s control.” Brandi Williard is the Nurse Liaison for the Lancaster pharmacy. She is an experienced RN and a certified personal care facility administrator, which gives her a unique perspective on the day-to-day challenges faced by the pharmacy’s clients.
BRANCHING OUT
in Lancaster County “We had to bulk up,” she says, referring to last year’s spike in on-boarding clients. “We acquired additional delivery vehicles, hired more drivers, and optimized work flows with more specialized jobs. In general, we scaled up.” The pharmacy makes multiple delivery runs per day to the communities it services, so introducing a larger fleet was indispensable to meeting the higher demand for prescriptions. The sheer scale of the buildings also necessitates more drivers, who personally walk the deliveries to the nursing stations. Getz worked with the team to create fast, efficient routes that get medications delivered on time every day.
“As a liaison for the pharmacy, I provide a positive experience for the customer because I understand their goals with state laws and regulations,” says Williard, “and the pharmacy has state laws and regulations that they have to follow. So I act as a ‘middle man,’ keeping everybody in a positive frame of mind and problemsolving for the best result.” “Above all, we’re focused on service,” says Richart, “not only the quality of the daily service we provide to our customers, but continued long term support for their missions.” The pharmacy is an avid supporter of charitable events and fundraisers for its client base, providing sponsorships for golf tournaments and galas throughout the year. “We’re growing and we want to support the growth of the communities that we serve,” she says. As part of the larger Lancaster County community, Phoebe Pharmacy is making strides in fostering health care and services for older adults alongside the health care providers themselves.
To learn more about Phoebe Pharmacy and how we serve the community, visit PhoebePharmacy.org. 20
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FAITH IN ACTION:
FUEL AND FIRE
he history of an organization more than a century old is replete with accomplishments and milestones. On June 6, Phoebe celebrated another milestone with the tenth anniversary of the Faith in Action (FIA) initiative and the formation of the team that spearheaded the program in 2009. Faith in Action is a unique, employee-driven program that is both a code of conduct and a cultural byword for employees and volunteers of Phoebe Ministries.
The tenets of Faith in Action are based on scripture as well as best practices in workplace culture: accountability, compassion, ethical conduct, integrity, respect, stewardship, and the Fruits of the Spirit outlined in chapter five of Paul’s Epistle to the Galatians. The Faith in Action team was formed in 2009 under the direction of President & CEO Scott Stevenson. “Since arriving at Phoebe several years ago,” Stevenson wrote in a memo to the organization, “I have been impressed with the care, compassion and love you all have for our residents, clients and their families and the heart you have for Phoebe. I believe one reason you and I are part of Phoebe is because working here allows us to put our faith in action every day.” The committee originally comprised 24 members drawn from Phoebe staff across all communities and services. By October of that year, the FIA team had presented the governing board with its values, as well as with newly drafted mission and vision statements for the organization that remained in place until 2018, when the mission statement was slightly revised to reflect the growth and future of the organization. After extensive preparation by the project team, FIA was officially instituted in January 2010 with a broad program of
The founding team of Faith in Action in 2009.
education and training for staff; since then, FIA has been an integral part of workplace life and culture in Phoebe’s communities, with rigorous service programs on each campus, appreciation events, awards, and rotating staff membership of the committee. “It would be an understatement to say that Faith in Action has impacted the direction of the organization since 2009,” says Stevenson. “It informs everything we do as a community of people working toward a common goal.” Stevenson says Faith in Action is a meaningful motivator for staff. The program encourages every individual to embrace one or more values that are particularly meaningful for them, such as accountability or stewardship; there is also a robust appreciation program that celebrates employees each month who have been seen to embody a specific value in their work lives. “It is the fuel and fire of our culture here,” says Stevenson. “It makes a real difference in staff morale and motivation.” Today, the Faith in Action team continues to set its sights on shaping the future of the organization through the people on which it is built.
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The Phoebe Institute on Aging |
FALL CONFERENCE
WEST GREETS EAST: Alternative Approaches to Aging This fall, the Phoebe Institute on Aging (PIA) examined the integration of Western and Eastern approaches to aging with “West Greets East: Alternative Approaches to Aging.” Nearly 300 participants attended the Conference, held on October 17 at DeSales University. The Western approach to aging considers the human body as primary. Treatments for common ailments associated with growing older—everything from memory lapses to pain to incontinence to loneliness— are generally addressed biochemically. The Eastern approach to aging considers the consciousness as primary. Treatments encompass the body, mind, and spirit. “As our aging population grows and grows older, we wanted to examine how can we integrate Western and Eastern philosophies to help ensure longevity and quality of life—as well as a peaceful death,” says Deborah Sieger, Chair of the PIA Advisory Board. Doctors Ric Baxter (family medicine and palliative care physician at St. Luke’s University Health Network), Carrie Demers (medical director of the Himalayan Institute PureRejuv Wellness Center), and Shekhar Annambhotla (Ayurvedic practitioner) led the morning discussion. Afternoon sessions included three educational topics with six break out sessions: “Healing: Body, Mind and Spirit;” “Spirituality and Happiness;” and “Scientific Practices and Treatments for the Aging.” Presenters included Heather Rodale, founder and president of Healing Through the Arts, who led two interactive art workshops where participants made mandalas or inspiration cards.
Learn more about the Phoebe Institute on Aging and upcoming Spring Conference at Phoebe.org/PIA.
SAVE THE DATE
PIA SPRING CONFERENCE 2020:
Sex, Drugs, & Rock ’n Roll: Baby Boomers and Aging KEYNOTE SPEAKER: Dr. Ruth Westheimer
Thursday, April 23, 2020
More than 77.5 million Americans were born between 1946 and 1964. The “Baby Boomers” came of age in the era of Sex, Drugs, and Rock ’n Roll when authority and cultural norms were challenged. Now, the Baby Boom Generation is aging. Every day, 10,000 Baby Boomers turn age 65. This trend started in 2011 and will continue until 2029. And, just as they did in the 1960s and 1970s, Baby Boomers are challenging conventional wisdom about aging and long-term care. This conference will explore those challenges and ways to meet them in the coming years. Dr. Ruth Westheimer, world-renowned sex therapist, author, professor, and worldwide lecturer.
CALL FOR PROPOSALS! Bring your voice to the table! The Phoebe Institute on Aging is accepting proposals for keynote and breakout sessions at the spring conference, “Sex, Drugs, & Rock ’n Roll: Baby Boomers and Aging,” in April 2020. Please visit Phoebe.org/Proposals for criteria and information on how to submit.
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CHESTNUT RIDGE AT RODALE
THE SEEDS OF A
New Community The Ouellettes are taking steps to make a home in Phoebe’s newest option for retirement living, Chestnut Ridge at Rodale in Emmaus—and they can’t wait to get started. Emile and Martha Ouellette are pioneers. They are among the first people to become depositors and future residents of Chestnut Ridge at Rodale, Phoebe’s burgeoning retirement community in the heart of Emmaus, Pennsylvania. For them, everything about Chestnut Ridge fits perfectly; it’s the answer to a question they’ve been asking themselves for five years. In 2014, the Ouellettes began exploring options for long term care retirement communities in the Lehigh Valley. They were living—as they do now— in a 55-plus community in Lower Macungie Township, but they knew it wouldn’t be home forever. Martha says it was important to them to live in a place that could provide a very socially active lifestyle in beautiful surroundings, but would also offer care services as they aged, removing the burden of care from their younger daughter, who lives nearby.
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CHESTNUT RIDGE AT RODALE
They tried on several places, but nothing seemed to fit. After two years, they came across the Terrace at Phoebe Allentown, where they started attending luncheons and open house events, and making friends. They even made a deposit. But as one apartment became available, and then another, they realized they still weren’t ready to go. “We were close to doing it,” says Martha. “But after a month of worrying about it we said, we don’t want to go now.” Last fall, The Phoebe Messenger arrived in the Ouellettes’ mailbox, and with it the news that Phoebe would be opening a brand new independent living community in Emmaus. Everything about it immediately piqued their interest: the location—close to their friends, surrounded by trees, with the faint sound of the train nearby (Emile loves trains)—the open floor plans, the perks and amenities…Martha picked up the phone and called for more information. Since then, both Martha and Emile have felt they’re on the right track. And by coming in at the beginning stages of the project, the Ouellettes enjoy the advantages of the Chestnut Club, not least of which is the ability to choose their own apartment. The Ouellettes even drove to the property and walked around to see how the sunlight fell at different times of day (Martha wanted a balcony where she could sit in the afternoon without direct sun) and where the best views of the beautiful South Mountain were. The Chestnut Ridge sales team works closely with the Ouellettes and the other depositors to make sure all their questions are answered,
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but more importantly to bring them together into the first seeds of what will be their community in the near future. “Socialization is very important to us,” says Martha. Not only are the Ouellettes meeting their soon-to-be neighbors, they’re even inviting current neighbors to join them at Chestnut Ridge. “Two of our neighbors are ready. One put down a deposit shortly after we did; the other couple had already been looking. They want to take the burden off their kids.” The Ouellettes are very active in their current community, and plan to remain so. Martha and Emile are looking forward to the new options afforded by life at Chestnut Ridge: wine tasting with neighbors, smart technology in the apartments, guest speakers and lifelong learning courses on campus, access to nature trails, clubs, and activities—not to mention proximity to everything going on in Emmaus and surrounding areas. “Having a community is really important, I think” says Martha. They’ve grown fond of Emmaus itself, too. “We love this area because everything is very convenient, there are lots of places to eat, and our doctors are nearby.” They also attend church in Emmaus. Most of all, the timing is what works for Martha and Emile. Chestnut Ridge is slated to open apartments in late 2021, and by then, the Ouellettes will be ready to move into the apartment that they helped build from the ground up.
Learn more about Chestnut Ridge at Rodale: visit ChestnutRidgeatRodale.org or call 610-794-6581.
CHESTNUT RIDGE AT RODALE
Want to join the Chestnut Club with Martha and Emile? Pioneering members of our innovative community gain exclusive access and enjoy special perks, including: - Preconstruction pricing: 10% off Entrance Fee - First choice of available apartments - Move-in package valued up to $5,000 (first 25 depositors only) - Invitations to exclusive onand off-campus events - Exclusive rewards and discounts at select community businesses Learn more at ChestnutRidgeatRodale.org or call 610-794-6581 for more information.
Frequently Asked Questions 1. What is the cost of living at Chestnut Ridge at Rodale? We offer a range of financial options to suit your budget and goals. Because there are so many different options for floor plans—and the pricing that goes with them— we welcome you to speak with our sales team and your financial advisor to find the best option for you. Moving to Chestnut Ridge involves an entrance fee and a monthly fee, with a small additional charge for twoperson households. The sales team can provide you with full details on all pricing options.
2. What does the monthly fee cover? With its inclusive structure, the monthly fee covers just about everything except your personal expenses.
3. When will Chestnut Ridge at Rodale be open? We are planning to break ground in 2020 and begin remodeling the existing building simultaneously. Apartments are slated to be ready in 2021.
4. What do I do if I need higher levels of care? Chestnut Ridge at Rodale is an independent living community. We will have a wellness specialist as part of our staff, and residents of Chestnut Ridge at Rodale have priority access to all of the amenities and services of our personal care and skilled nursing communities. You may also contract privately with in-home care services, such as Comforting Home Care by Phoebe, as your needs change.
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5. Will someone help me move? Yes! Phoebe partners with Senior Moves by Design to plan your move, pack up your belongings, and unpack them in place in your new apartment. Early members of the Chestnut Club will also receive a move-in package valued up to $5,000!
6. Will I be permitted to bring my own pet(s)? Absolutely! Residents of Chestnut Ridge at Rodale are welcome to keep pets!
7. How will on-campus parking be arranged? Parking for residents and visitors is available in large parking lots adjacent to both buildings. Residents may have one or two cars.
8. Will transportation be available for residents? Chestnut Ridge at Rodale will provide transportation to special events arranged through the community.
9. What will dining options and meal plans look like on campus? Chestnut Ridge at Rodale offers great options for meals, including a market cafĂŠ, the main dining room, and a pub. Your monthly fee includes a generous monthly dollar amount per resident for use in any of the dining areas.
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10. Will I receive any special discounts in Emmaus?
If you make a deposit on an apartment now, you will become a member of the Chestnut Club and receive special discounts and perks at popular businesses and restaurants in Emmaus! Early members also receive special pre-construction pricing for a limited time. Visit us online or speak with the sales team for the current list of participating businesses.
Visit ChestnutRidgeatRodale.org or call 610-794-6581 for more information on Chestnut Ridge at Rodale and to arrange a meeting with our sales team. We’re here to answer your questions!
1925 W. Turner Street Allentown, PA 18104 1-800-453-8814 phoebe.org
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Giving to sustain A BRIGHT FUTURE AWAITS YOU AT PHOEBE! Employment opportunities are available for passionate and caring professionals who desire to empower spirited seniors to get MORE out of every day and every age. At Phoebe, we value each and every one of our staff members. We want our employees to know how much we appreciate their contributions in carrying out our mission. In addition to anTwenty-Fifth attractive starting wage with and regularly scheduled reviews wage Phoebe’s Annual Visiting Donation Day was held and on Thursday, June 12, 1930. Donations increases, offer a comprehensive benefits package all employees. fromwe that event and Mother’s Day offerings thatto year “replenished our treasury.” Your gifts help replenish our treasury every day. We thank you for your support today and in the days to come.
Follow facebook.com/PhoebeCareers for information on employment opportunities and upcoming job fairs.
Phoebe.org/Giving