Ruth M Smith Center offers care for adults with intellectual or physical impairments, as well as elderly and disadvantaged people from the region, and the place's got a long history, starting as an orphanage almost a century ago before switching over to other services in the late 1960s. The center sits in Sheffield and has up to 28 adults living in three buildings, which are two ranch style units and a big renovated mansion house from the 1800s. In the mansion, there are six private rooms that share bathrooms and two rooms with their own private baths, while the modern ranch buildings hold four double rooms and two private rooms with baths, giving people a choice in where and how they want to live. Some rooms have private bathrooms and closets, and common areas let residents sit together, read, talk, or dine family style with meals made on site, and the staff always focuses on meeting special dietary needs.
The Ruth M Smith Center is a Personal Care Home licensed by the Pennsylvania Department of Public Welfare. The staff provides basic support with daily activities, helps move people from bed to wheelchair, watches over residents all day and night, helps with medication, and takes care of laundry and housekeeping. There's a focus on keeping people as independent as possible, and the staff encourages community involvement and friendship among residents. The homes here run under a Christian-based, nonprofit group owned by the United Methodist Women, and United Methodist support from across the conference helps cover costs. There's no Medicare accepted here because the center isn't certified by the Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services, but fees are generally less than those you might find at a full nursing home, and most residents rely on benevolent care covered by donations and grants since 24 out of 25 can't pay the full amount.
The programs include support for seniors, people with disabilities, and children, with day care and preschool options for families in the area. The Watson Memorial Home on campus offers even more personal care and help. Activities, from games and exercises to arts and crafts, Bible lessons, and social events, keep residents busy and connected, and the schedule of planned events means those living here know what each day will bring. The center opens itself to people of all races, backgrounds, and beliefs. Staff are available 24 hours for emergencies, and residents can join tours to see the buildings, meet staff and others, and get a feel for daily life. The center has always served the region's most vulnerable, from dependent children and troubled youth to elders, treating everyone with what they call Old Fashioned Care and a focus on dignity, safety, and a sense of community.
