SeniorCare Network Honored for Supportive Housing for Seniors

On May 3, SeniorCare Network, an affiliate of Presbyterian SeniorCare, received the Commonwealth’s Supportive Housing Award, which annually showcases a model of excellence in providing quality, affordable housing and wrap-around services that help seniors live independently.

In light of Pennsylvania’s growing aging population and the increasing desire for seniors to age in place and avoid institutional settings, SeniorCare Network fulfills a critical need, enabling older adults with limited income to access and maintain quality housing. Through collaborative efforts with various community agencies such as the Housing Authority of the City of Pittsburgh, SeniorCare Network provides services that promote a balanced lifestyle, good health, spiritual support, dignity and autonomy.

“Our unique combination of building amenities and supportive services allow residents to delay or even avoid the need for placement in personal care or skilled nursing settings,” stated
SeniorCare Network President Jim Pieffer. “Our on-site service coordinators are dedicated to helping residents remain independent for as long as possible. They connect residents to a wide range of community services and will set up personalized support networks for those who are experiencing difficulty with maintaining their everyday needs.”

Senior living communities with service coordinators have found that older adults are able to remain independent for a longer period of time than communities without service coordinators. At communities owned or managed by SeniorCare Network, community managers and service coordinators work as a team to meet the physical, social and emotional needs of residents.

Many SeniorCare Network communities offer on-site wellness, exercise and educational programs as well as optional meal plans to support the needs and desires of residents.

In order to reduce hospital readmissions as well as prolong quality of life for residents, SeniorCare Network developed the Safe Return Home program, where service coordinators track all self-reported resident hospital admissions and emergency room visits, coordinate with residents while in the hospital, and maintain involvement through the discharge process to make sure appropriate services and resources are in place for a safe return to home.

Pieffer added, “Our passion is developing and managing communities that allow our residents to age with choice and dignity. We serve over 2,000 persons each year and strive to support them in many creative ways so that they can live positively. We are pleased that our efforts help us to continue to achieve high levels of resident satisfaction and occupancy levels.”

The annual Supportive Housing Award is sponsored by the Department of Aging, Department of Public Welfare and the Pennsylvania Housing Finance Agency (PHFA). The award was presented at the PHFA’s Housing Forum conference in Harrisburg before an audience of 700 housing professionals from across the state and accepted by Cassandra Law, SeniorCare Network Director of Supportive Housing.

SeniorCare Network has a 25-year history of working collaboratively with the PHFA to support the mission of serving seniors and persons with disabilities in Western Pennsylvania. For over 30 years, SeniorCare Network, an affiliate of Pittsburgh’s largest eldercare provider, Presbyterian SeniorCare, has recognized the value of connecting housing with services.