The Lafayette sits in Northeast Philadelphia near Fox Chase Cancer Center, right behind Pennypack Park where there's lots of green space and woods and even a few hills, and offers independent living, personal care, memory care, skilled nursing, and short-term rehab all on one campus, so folks 55 and older can get the help they need as things change, whether they want to just enjoy life with little upkeep or they need more hands-on care. The apartments come in all shapes and sizes, with large windows, balconies that sometimes look out over the park, and recent renovations have added things like modern stainless-steel appliances, Meganite® countertops, vinyl plank floors, and walk-in showers, with washers and dryers tucked into hallways for convenience. Some pets are allowed, and you'll spot canine and feline therapy visits too, which is always nice, and there's good access for everybody, with elevators, wide halls, and lots of handrails.
Services run the gamut-there's 12-16 hours of nursing care every day, a 24-hour call system for emergencies, and staff for supervision and different needs. The care teams help with things like medication oversight, incontinence care, diabetes management, and getting to appointments, and physicians and nurses are around as needed, with different care levels-Level 1 covers basic help like housekeeping and medicine reminders, Level 2 brings more support for things like showers and diabetes, Level 3 goes up to full hands-on help with daily things like dressing, and there's always a way to change the care plan as needs change, with everything licensed by the state. The Lafayette connects with health programs funded by the state and federal government including the Affordable Care Act, and supports folks coming back from incarceration, which is something not seen everywhere.
Apartments are modern, safe, and independent but you don't have to do chores because laundry, linens, and housekeeping are handled every week, and every apartment has full-size kitchens if you want to cook, though meals are served restaurant-style in a big dining room that's also a community room for games and group activities. There's on-site parking, a hair salon and barber, a Wachovia Bank and ATM, a country store for odds and ends, a library, game room, fitness room, activity and recreation rooms, and plenty of places to sit with friends or family whether inside or out-there's even a big patio with tables and a barbecue pit, and winding walking trails through trees and grass for a stroll or some bird watching. Wi-Fi is available in common spaces, and there's postal boxes if you like your mail traditional.
Many good programs help residents live well and stay active, from fitness classes, arts and crafts, volunteer options, and games like bingo, bridge, and trivia, to pet therapy, movie nights, religious services for Catholic, Protestant, and Jewish faiths, and spiritual support from on-site pastoral care. The Lafayette offers free transportation and organized rides for shopping or doctor visits, and being nearby to Rite Aid, cafes like La Colombe, restaurants such as Point After, and top hospitals is a convenience. There's also learning centers for health education, a symptom checker, health library resources, and behavioral health recovery tools.
The Lafayette keeps a dashboard system for residents and family to manage messages, emergencies, visitor access, and care plans with digital log-in features, and supports social media use for those who want to keep in touch with the outside world. The community has always aimed to balance independence, safety, and that sense of being looked after, letting people enjoy nice apartments and green spaces in a wooded corner of the city, with staff and support never far off and a wide range of care options that adjust with each person's needs.
