Presbyterian plans dementia care facility
Presbyterian SeniorCare on Tuesday announced plans to build a new, dementia-specific personal care community at its Washington campus in South Strabane Township.
The first of its kind for Washington County, Woodside Place of Washington will be based on Woodside Place of Oakmont, one of the first residential Alzheimer’s care facilities in the United States created nearly 25 years ago by Presbyterian SeniorCare.
According to a news release from the company, a market study commissioned by Presbyterian SeniorCare showed a significant need for dementia care facility-based services in the Washington area. Alzheimer’s disease and related dementias afflict approximately 50 percent of those 85 and older.
The creation of a 30-bed, free-standing Woodside Place community on the Washington campus aligns with the commitment by Presbyterian SeniorCare to become a Dementia Center of Excellence. To meet the specialized needs of persons living with dementia, Presbyterian SeniorCare has been providing designated units within its Southminster Place personal care home and Southmont nursing community on the Washington campus.
Paul Winkler, president and chief executive officer of Presbyterian SeniorCare who oversaw the development and launch of the original Woodside Place in 1991, said, “The development of Woodside Place of Washington will further strengthen our dementia care specialization at the Washington campus of Presbyterian SeniorCare, allowing us to continue to meet the evolving needs of individuals and families challenged by Alzheimer’s and dementia.”
Winkler also noted the selection of architectural firm Perkins Eastman for the creation of Woodside Place. Perkins Eastman, which designed the original Woodside Place in Oakmont, has received national and international awards for its work in dementia care communities.
In the upcoming months, Presbyterian SeniorCare said it will mount a significant capital campaign to take Woodside of Washington from concept to reality. The project completion goal is early 2018.