CAMP HILL, Pa. — Residents in the LifeStories Memory Care neighborhood at The Woods at Cedar Run are benefiting from a series of renovations that create a more modern, engaging and comforting environment while enhancing a longstanding commitment to personalized care.
The Cumberland County senior living community recently completed a total renovation of its memory care neighborhood as part of nearly $1 million in upgrades made throughout the property over the last three years.
Loriann Putzier, a representative of the building owner and co-founder of IntegraCare, which operates the senior living community, said the renovations were aimed at preserving the strengths of the LifeStories program while updating the memory care neighborhood to better serve today’s residents.
“The memory care neighborhood at The Woods at Cedar Run already had a strong foundation,” Putzier said. “This was a matter of taking what made it successful over the years, replicating those components, and bringing the neighborhood to a more modern standard.”
The improvements included upgrades to the outdoor patio, creating a more inviting space for residents to gather.
“We expanded the footprint of the outdoor space to allow more residents to enjoy the outdoors together,” Putzier said. “These improvements made the space more appealing and accommodating.”
Inside the LifeStories Memory Care neighborhood, renovations centered on creating spaces that foster engagement and familiarity for residents living with dementia.
A modernized kitchen remains the centerpiece of the neighborhood’s activity, preserving the interactive design residents already enjoyed, while updating the finishes and functionality.
“The kitchen is the hub of activity,” Putzier said. “There is an island where the residents can watch as the culinary team prepares the meals. That’s been really popular and is always fully occupied. We wanted to keep that, but we modernized the kitchen.”
The renovated neighborhood also features customized “life stations.” The interactive activity areas are designed to reflect the residents past careers and hobbies. The stations provide purposeful engagement.
“We try to customize those stations so they are more engaging to the residents,” Putzier said. “For example, if a resident was an accountant or business person, a life station would include a briefcase, some papers, maybe a desk. When that resident is anxious or bored, the team can say, ‘Let’s go to the desk and get you to work. Let’s code some invoices.’”
The Woods added three life stations during the renovation, along with custom artwork designed to stimulate touch and interaction.
Additional design elements, including color-coded doors and residential-style décor, were incorporated to create a comforting sense of home and aid residents in recognizing their personal spaces.
“The outside is designed to make it look like a typical household,” Putzier said. “Inside, everybody’s door is a different color. People may identify ‘This is my room. This is my place.’”
The upgrades reflect IntegraCare’s philosophy of aligning its physical spaces with its care models, including LifeStories Memory Care, LifeBridges Personal Care, Independent Living and Assisted Living.
“Whether we build it up from the ground today or we’re upgrading and operating a community that is 30 years old, there is a concerted effort to have the physical plant that meets those parameters and those operational tenants of those programs,” Putzier said.
Investing in the physical environment also strengthens employee morale and retention, which in turn improves resident care, she said.
Leaders at The Woods say the renovations complement the unique qualities that already make the memory care neighborhood stand out.
“Our property is nestled and located in such a beautiful area in Central Pennsylvania,” said Rachel Leanza, Community Relations Director at The Woods. “Our residents have such a pleasant sunroom and renovated patio space. They enjoy views of the nearby stream, the trees, and often geese and deer in the backyard. The natural light and lighter colors of the renovation are so pleasant. It creates a much more positive daily experience for the residents.”
The sense of home is strengthened by the dedication of the care team, said Jennifer Kipe, Executive Operations Officer.
“I cannot speak more highly of our LifeStories Memory Care Director Tasha Smith,” Kipe said. “Tasha displays empathy, true compassion and patience. In addition to the residents benefitting from her presence, Tasha has coordinated different support groups for their families, and empathy training sessions for our team. The list goes on.”
Leanza noted that the intimate size of the memory care neighborhood allows for deeper relationships between staff and residents, with some of the community’s longest-tenured team members serving in that area.
“It allows for more one-on-one interaction and our residents really feel at home,” Leanza said. “They are comfortable within their community, and I love being able to see them participate in all of our community activities.”
While the LifeStories renovations are among the most recent improvements, The Woods has also continued upgrading Independent Living spaces with new carpeting, lighting, artwork, granite countertops, cabinetry and appliances.
“We are taking a community with an already good reputation, but putting inside it the types of units residents would like to live in today,” Putzier said.
For more information, contact Rachel Leanza, Community Relations Director, The Woods at Cedar Run, at [email protected] or call 717.737.3373.
