New $45 million healthcare center prepares to open in March
Despite the pandemic, the new Centre Care is ahead of schedule
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BELLEFONTE -- Despite the pandemic, local nonprofit Centre Care is finishing up construction on its brand-new $45-million skilled nursing facility.
The pandemic initially shut down the job site in April but work restarted two weeks later after the state classified the construction as an essential life-sustaining operation. Centre Care, which is the nonprofit that currently operates Centre Crest in Bellefonte, plans to move into the new facility located on the Benner Pike in March.
"There have been delays in receiving products due to COVID-19 but we have been able to work through them and are actually going to be slightly ahead of schedule," Betsy Boyer, Centre Care's Board President, said. "Nothing about this project has been done the traditional way, so I think that helped us stay positive this year."
Since the project was announced in 2017, more than $4 million has been raised from public and private donors like the Centre County Commissioners, Walker Township, FirstEnergy, First National Bank and the Hamer Foundation. Board Member Carl Raup even allowed donors to throw a pie in his face to raise money.
Currently, donors can purchase a brick paver inscribed how they wish to raise money for the gardens at the facility. The gardens, designed by local landscape architect Derek Kalp, will allow many opportunities for residents to gather for activities or to sit and observe birds, blooms and the soothing sound of falling water.
The update also marks the 7th Anniversary of Centre Care, which was created after the county transitioned ownership of Centre Crest to the nonprofit in 2013. The nonprofit has operated the nursing facility at a profit every year since.
According to the Pennsylvania Department of Aging, 21% percent of Centre County residents aged 60 or older have an annual income of less than $17,655. To meet these trends, the nonprofit is building the largest skilled nursing facility licensed to accept Medicaid insurance in the county.
The facility will offer traditional long-term care, and three specialty neighborhoods that are in high demand for Centre County residents. A high acuity neighborhood will serve patients with complex medical conditions. A memory care neighborhood, of which there are few in the area, will provide a more home-like experience for those living with dementia. A short-term rehabilitation neighborhood will serve rehabilitation patients seeking to recover from surgery or an accident.
Visit centrecare.org to donate or learn more about the campaign.