Presbyterian Village at Hollidaysburg sits in a quiet neighborhood with old homes and big trees, not too far from Altoona, Pennsylvania, and tries to give older people many choices when they need a place to live or want some help as their needs change over time. They have a Life Plan Community, which means you can pick from cottages or apartments, including ground floor units, wheelchair accessible showers, and kitchenettes, and if you want, you can even bring your pet along since the place is pet-friendly, so that might be important to some folks. The staff does things like independent living for active seniors, personal care for people who need a bit of help, assisted living, skilled nursing, and even End of Life and Comfort Care when that kind of help is needed, and you can stay in this same place and still get the care you need if your health changes, which can give a person peace of mind in their later years.
They provide nursing with a 24-hour nurse on staff and also have a part-time nurse, and there's a whole skilled nursing area that can take care of both regular needs and higher medical needs, so people who might use Medicare or Medicaid can get care, as well as those looking for rehabilitation services if they're getting better after hospital stays. Seniors with memory issues, like Alzheimer's or dementia, can have a secure place that's designed to help prevent wandering and confusion, and the memory care staff looks out for engagement and simple routines that help with quality of life.
There's a Masterpiece Living® program that aims for growth in body, mind, spirit, and social life, which means they offer activities that keep people thinking and moving, with arts rooms, a library, gardening, walking paths, a fitness center, a beauty and barber salon, scheduled transportation, and other ways to stay involved. Housekeeping, laundry, and move-in help are available if needed, along with dining services that offer things like all-day restaurant-style meals, pureed options, and choices for folks who need low sodium, no sugar, gluten-free, or special vegetarian meals, and there's air conditioning, cable or satellite TV, Wi-Fi, even electric charging stations for folks with cars.
They have at-home support called At-Home Services for people who want to stay in their own homes but need some help, and that includes non-medical things like companionship provided by trained aides. The community stays focused on faith-based values from the Presbyterian background and has a chaplain on site, but people from other backgrounds live and work here too, and they work hard to be welcoming, offering things like aging and health resources, dementia friendly information, and an Affordable Housing Toolkit for those who want to plan or need some help figuring out their options. Residents can join the resident council or take part in community activities both run by residents and staff, and there are chances for things like movie nights and tending the garden. The facility is set up for people with disabilities too, with wheelchair access and showers, emergency alert systems, help with medication, high acuity care, diabetic care, and incontinence support. The setup allows older adults to age in place with dignity, and you can schedule a tour if you want to see the buildings, meet the staff, and get a feel for the neighborhood firsthand, and you can find support for every stage from active retirement to end-of-life care, always with a focus on keeping choice and personal freedom for each resident.
