21 Bed Memory Care Unit Opens With Ribbon Cutting At Pickering Manor

NEWTOWN, PA — In a monumental moment in its history, Pickering Manor celebrated the opening of its new certified 21-bed Memory Care neighborhood earlier this month with a ribbon cutting led by its first resident, Elizabeth Kaczur.

Since its founding 59 years ago in 1963, Pickering Manor has grown significantly from a small nursing home of 47 residents to a newly-expanded and renovated Life Plan Community offering a full continuum of care.

Pickering administrator and Certified Dementia Care Manager Meri Luarasi is leading the new Memory Care neighborhood. She has 25 years of experience in gerontology and is a certified dementia practitioner. Additionally, Luarasi is chair/founder of Dementia Friendly Newtown, a volunteer with the Alzheimer’s Association and a screener for Alzheimer’s Foundation of America.

“My heart is to serve those that have dementia by providing a home graced with agape love, dignity, compassion, respect, and honor for who they are as a human being despite the dementia diagnosis. We focus on the joy of living, quality care by trained staff, sense of normalcy and consistency,” says Luarasi.

“Live the life you love and love the life you live” is at the heart of Pickering’s Memory Care
philosophy. When creating Memory Care the focus was on three person-centered goals:

• Creating community engagement through the changes to the physical environment.

• Incorporating choice for services, and collaboration with care partners to achieve success.

• Honoring each person’s story and weaving their narrative into approaches to care.

"When developing our Memory Care neighborhood, it was vital that Pickering Manor residents
were involved every step of the way," said marketing director Rachel A. Carver. "We believe home is not the space it is the feeling you get when in that space. An example of this can be seen throughout the hallways in Memory Care. Residents Elizabeth Kaczur and SaraJane Dallas exercised their interests, as former designers, and assisted in choosing the paint colors for the entire neighborhood based on the psychology of color and how the colors made them feel."

Additionally, said Carver, Ms. Kaczur assisted Memory Care Activities Coordinator Emma Lambert by sorting through fabric designs together to find ‘just the right one’ for Emma to create clothing protectors for Memory Care residents.

"From ironing to stitching, these will truly be homemade with a whole lot of heart! This is an
example of the true passion Pickering has for caring for their residents," said Carver.

Pickering Manor's new Memory Care neighborhood also features various high-tech and low-tech solutions. Below are just some of the key features.

• Sky Window: Brings the dynamic beauty of nature – image, motion, and sound – to the interior. Having the window mimic the time of day and weather aid in the regulation of the resident’s circadian rhythm.

• True Doors Decals: Door decals simulate types of doors this generation had at their homes and helps with adjustment and orientation. The doors that are opened and closed each day define each story.

• Dementia Phones and Clocks: Dementia friendly phones hold photos of family and caregivers, and the buttons can be programmed to call the person whose picture is placed there making it easier for residents to keep in touch with their loved ones. Dementia friendly clocks can help those impacted keep track of dates and times and help ease confusion.

• Music & Memory Program: Pickering Manor is a Music & Memory Certified Care Facility. Music & Memory is a program that taps into each person’s deep-rooted love of music. It’s about bringing joy to the lives of people suffering from Alzheimer’s disease, other forms of dementia, and a wide range of cognitive and physical impairments.

• Secured Outdoor Memory Garden with Walking Path: The memory care neighborhood includes a secured looping walking path surrounded by beautiful gardens to allow the residents the freedom to enjoy the outdoors.

“I want to thank all of those in our community who helped this dream become a reality, we could not have done it without your love and generous support," said Pickering Manor CEO Michelle Knobloch. “I am so proud of our Memory Care neighborhood, and I am excited for what lies ahead, Meri is a true talent, caring for people living with dementia is not only her career but it is her passion, and you can feel it.”

According to Knobloch, Pickering Manor is currently hiring for numerous positions. "Do you have a heart for caring for dementia? If so, bring your heart to Pickering Manor and we will provide you with the opportunities and skills to grow with us."

For information about the new Memory Care neighborhood, employment opportunities, tours or to make donations, contact Pickering Manor at 215-486-3468 or visit www.pickeringmanor.org.

Pickering Manor is a 5-star community-owned and operated CCRC (continuing care retirement
community) in Pennsylvania serving the community of Bucks County since its opening in 1963, formed by the generosity of Henry Russell Pickering. In 2020, Pickering Manor opened its largest expansion to date, a 26,000-square-foot facility which accommodates 15 new short-term residents, a state-of-the-art rehab unit, 15 personal care private rooms, and a renovated 32-bed skilled unit.