Foulkeways Celebrates '50 & Forward' with Senior Living Constituents

This event marked the 50^th anniversary celebration of Foulkeways being the first Continuing Care Retirement Community (CCRC) in Pennsylvania. The community opened its doors in November of 1967 with independent living, personal care, and skilled nursing. Minnix stated, "Holistic care, now referred to as resident-centered care, was born here at Foulkeways." He continued, "Foulkeways was the restraint-free innovators."

Foulkeways CEO, D. Michael Peasley, moderator of the panel discussion, started by asking what the greatest challenge is laying ahead for senior living. Smith Sloan commented that the pace of change is the biggest, following consumer expectations and public policy. She advised, "The leaders in the industry will be those who are the quickest to adapt."

Peasley asked if the industry should expect more merging of single site communities. Minnix offered that mergers don't work citing "culture trumps strategy every time." He elaborated that "culture needs to fit the community and there's opportunity for those in senior living to collaborate and work together as new services and technology evolve to meet what the consumer wants and needs, and what (they) are willing to pay for."

LeadingAge introduced the suggested name change "Life Plan Community" from "Continuing Care Retirement Community" during its annual conference last year. Smith Sloan advised the language is changing, but it's picking up slowly as anticipated.

Another change facing the industry is the dire need for affordable housing, advised Smith Sloan. "We have a long way to go, but it's a huge opportunity," she added.

Peasley questioned the trend of communities rebranding and changing its name to lose its religious affiliation. Minnix offered his opinion that communities grounded in a faith affiliation drive its service, decision making, and hiring. "Foulkeways' Quaker values go back more than 300 years, which are more important now," Minnix continued.

Smith Sloan and Minnix offered congratulations to Foulkeways for the community's success during the first 50 years by highlighting with Peasley:

• Cutting edge geothermal technology conversions for independent living homes
• Purchasing 100% wind energy for electricity
• Serving as a clinical training site for 10 healthcare college level programs
• Congratulating Don Moon, former Foulkeways CEO and current resident, as one of the first inaugurated into the Continuing Care Hall of Fame sponsored by LeadingAge and AV Powell & Associates

Representative Kate Harper offered congratulations to Foulkeways with a citation, as she commented that she "has known Foulkeways most of its life and my life." Rep. Harper shared that her parents lived at Foulkeways after choosing the community based on its willingness for residents to make decisions for themselves, citing the importance of the community's Quaker values. She credited the staff's personal approach to support and help residents make their own decisions adding, "No one could have been kinder than the staff in Abington (personal care) and Gwynedd Houses (skilled nursing)." On a lighter note, Rep. Harper stated how impressed her parents were by the book shelf in the community's library dedicated to Foulkeways' authors.

About Foulkeways
Located 25 miles north of Philadelphia, Foulkeways was the first Continuing Care Retirement Community (CCRC) in Pennsylvania and one of the first Quaker CCRCs in the United States. Located on 130 suburban acres in Montgomery County, Foulkeways is home to 255 private entry, garden-style apartments and cottages, surrounded by beautiful, wooded walking trails and abundant, natural foliage. Foulkeways offers Independent Living, Personal Care, Hospice, Memory Support, and Skilled Nursing Care. The community's skilled nursing care building, Gwynedd House, is exemplary of person-centered care offering a home-like environment. The residents and staff together make Foulkeways a friendly community full of transformative, life enhancing options for all. For more information, visit www.foulkeways.org.

Media Contact:
Kimberly McCloskey
215-283-7339
[email protected]

SOURCE Foulkeways at Gwynedd

Related Links

http://www.foulkeways.org