Parkside Manor sits in the Parkside neighborhood near Fairmount Park in a big old Tudor-style home, which you can see listed on the Historical Society of Pennsylvania records, and when you get there you'll probably notice those orange-painted archways and mint-green doors that they kept when they fixed up the 14,000-square-foot house. The place offers both assisted living and independent living, and they run a supportive housing program called Women of Change, mainly for women who've experienced homelessness, and their setup focuses on mental and behavioral health, case management, and education counseling, especially for those living with mental illness, substance use disorders, or physical disabilities.
There are 51 assisted living units with a mix of private suites, single bedrooms, and studio apartment options, so most residents get their own room-each comes fully furnished, with private bathrooms, emergency call buttons, and features for safety and wheelchair use, plus things like air conditioning, kitchenettes, cable TV, phone, and Wi-Fi. Parkside Manor aims to be a low-barrier safe haven, which means women can find a permanent, supportive home, and a lot of services, no matter why they came to need them, whether they'd been homeless or needed help with things like daily medication or managing dementia, Parkinson's, or Alzheimer's.
Day and night, an awake staff and nursing team provide support with bathing, dressing, toileting, mealtime help, help with moving around, medication reminders, health checks, fall prevention, dental, and even incontinence care. They offer chef-prepared meals every day with restaurant-style dining, including pureed and special-diet options, as well as snacks and birthday parties-menus are easy to read and planned with nutrition in mind, and meals use organic ingredients where possible. There's a community dining room, a bistro, a private dining area for special events, and communal living and gathering rooms, a movie theater, beauty salon and barber, and all sorts of areas like a library, a reading nook, game room, fitness center, spa, wellness center, gardens, and outdoor patios.
Recreation is part of life there, so you'll see residents joining in on scheduled activities like games, movie nights, art classes, music, fitness and computer lessons, BBQs, dances, clubs, and sometimes even shows or live performances, and they've got both staff-led and resident-run activities so there are plenty of ways to stay busy. Transportation's available for doctor appointments, outings, and errands-they'll arrange it when needed, and there's parking for guests as well. The place handles housework, laundry, home repairs, and security, with staff for maintenance and cleaning, smoke alarms set up throughout, 24-hour call systems, and supervision always around.
Room features support resident safety, like grab bars and emergency calls, and the home's also welcoming for pets. Concierge services are available, too, which is helpful for small requests or extra needs. For those needing short-term help, Parkside offers respite care, giving caregivers time off when needed. The facility accepts several payment options, with different floor plans and care plans, so residents' needs can be met over time, and there's always a focus on making sure people feel welcome, looked after, and able to be independent as much as possible. The location is walkable to a few stores, restaurants, and services, though the area can be car-dependent, with some public transit options nearby. All in all, Parkside Manor is a residential care facility with a long history, familiar architecture, and enough supports and activities that most folks can find what they need, whether it's daily care, a safe haven, or just a friendly place to live and age in place.
