The Youngstown Area Jewish Federation opened the doors to its new Schwebel Family Foundation Wing at Heritage Manor Rehabilitation & Retirement Community for donors who helped make the new wing possible at an event March 14. The new wing is named in memory of Paul Schwebel.
“This is an exciting day and time for Senior Living by the YoungstownArea Jewish Federation,” said Suzyn Schwebel Epstein, Federation president. “I served as the first ‘volunteen’ at Heritage Manor in 1967. I am so proud to serve now as the president of the Youngstown Area Jewish Federation during this greatly anticipated completion of this expansion phase.”
Until now, the 72 bed facility has had 42 private rooms, 16 rooms that shared one bathroom for every 2 rooms and 7 semi-private rooms. Phase 1 of this expansion project added 12 private rooms, each with their own restroom, meaning 66 rooms will now be private.
To date, the campaign has raised more than $1.25 million.
The pandemic illustrated that private living spaces are necessary for infection control. They also offer privacy for communicating with medical staff as well as visiting family and friends.
Future phases include privatizing existing shared rooms, turning some into hospice suites, and adding an enhanced rehab space that will prepare residents to return to their own homes.
“In today’s world, the word COVID is a part of our everyday language,” said Eric Murray, executive director of senior services. “Its implications have impacted nearly every aspect of our world, but perhaps no more so than our older adults living in congregate settings.”
At one point nursing home cases were less than 10 percent of total cases but accounted for 40 percent of all COVID deaths, he added.
“Phase 1 allows Heritage Manor to offer best practice infection control,” Murray said.
Lisa Long, Financial Resource Development Director, thanked the donors to this project.
“At Heritage Manor there is nothing more important than keeping our residents safe,” she said. “I’ve heard Heritage Manor described by some of you as boutique and unique.” What that means to me is that we’re committed to caring for our residents as if they were a member of our own family. Today we say thank you for doing just that. Thanks to all of you, we’ve made sure our physical space matches the level of the care provided. You have all agreed that the building itself plays an active role in our residents’ care.”
Heritage Manor Rehabilitation & Retirement Community offers 24-hour licensed nursing care seven days a week. It’s rated as a five-star nursing facility by the Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services and is the only Veterans Administration approved provider of long-term care in Mahoning County. It is an area leader in nurse staffing.
As well as skilled nursing, Heritage Manor offers short-term care, including all types of physical, occupational, and speech therapy. Onsite access to mental health counseling through Jewish Family & Community Services is available, as well.
The Adult Day Services program includes on-site nursing, is wheelchair- accessible, and is Veterans Administration approved. Each individual’s unique needs are addressed through individualized care plans that include a variety of services in a supervised, structured environment.