Berks County offers a wealth of retirement community options; however, when planning retirement, it’s important to know your needs and how different communities can fulfill them. Assisted living communities offer high levels of care in a residential (as opposed to a medical) facility so individuals can “age in place,” or stay in the same location as their care needs increase. Personal care, or independent living communities, are residential facilities that offer care and supervision, but are not equipped to handle long-term, skilled nursing care. Continuing care facilities have different communities that span the continuum of care needs.
Did you know? At nearby Pleasant View Retirement Community in Manheim, the facility is marked by a Town Square where residents can enjoy a fitness center, woodworking shop, thrift shop, greenhouse, billiard tables and more. pleasantviewrc.org
Phoebe Berks Village
Phoebe Berks is a personal care community offering two locations – its Village Commons and its Village Gardens. Both locations engage in Phoebe Prime, a wellness program focused on residents’ holistic well-being because, as Community Relations Specialist Trina Johnson-Brady says, “We don’t focus on age; we focus on fullness of life!”
1 Reading Dr., Wernersville | 610.927.8200 | phoebe.org/communities/phoebe-berks
Manor at Market Square
The Manor at Market Square is focused on keeping couples together. Marketing Director Krista Miller explains, “With our ability to carry a floating license, couples, siblings and friends needing different levels of care may move into the same apartment at The Manor at Market Square.” The same goes for residents moving in as independents: as they age and need more care, they are able to receive that care in their same apartment rather than having to move.
803 Penn St., Reading | 610.816.0763 | manoratms.com
Hearthstone Health Group
Hearthstone offers two, soon to be three, personal care communities in Berks. All locations are locally owned and operated, family-oriented, and shaped by residents. The facilities are all one-floor buildings with scenic settings. Rooms have kitchenettes despite the fact that meals are included in leases.
Hearthstone at Amity | 139 Old Swede Rd., Douglassville | 610.385.7600 | hearthstonehealthgroup.com/hearthstone-amity
Hearthstone at Maidencreek | 105 Dries Rd., Reading | 610.926.7600 | hearthstonehealthgroup.com/hearthstone-maidencreek
Opening in 2016 Hearthstone S. Mtn., Wernersville | 610.385.7600 | hearthstonehealthgroup.com/hearthstone-south-mountain
Keystone Villa
Keystone Villa has campuses in Fleetwood and Douglassville, both offering independent living and personal care options. There are no entrance fees or long-term leases, and monthly leases cover the cost of amenities as well as utilities. Apartments also include full-size, fully-equipped kitchens. Scheduled transportation to appointments is also available.
Keystone Villa at Fleetwood | 501 Hoch Rd., Blandon | 484.637.8200 | keystonevillaatfleetwood.com
Keystone Villa at Douglassville | 1152A Ben Franklin Hwy. East, Douglassville | 610.385.5002 | keystonevillaatdouglassville.com
Columbia Cottage
Columbia Cottage is the first and only licensed assisted living community in Berks, and it is an alternative to a traditional nursing home. It offers seven levels of personalized resident care plans that, according to Beverly Moran, marketing assistant, “promote and respect the individual wants, needs and preferences of our patients.”
3121 State Hill Rd., Wyomissing | 610.927.0310 | columbiacottage.com
Diakon – The Lutheran Home at Topton
The Lutheran Home offers independent living and personal care apartments, memory care, short- and long-term rehabilitation, and traditional and long-term nursing care services. There is even an on-site salon and barber shop. Personal Care Home Administrator Michelle Olivier says the Lutheran Home has “heart” and delivers personalized care to residents.
1 South Home Ave., Topton | 610.682.1400 | lutheranhomeattopton.org
Country Meadows Retirement Communities
Country Meadows is a pet-friendly retirement community. Apartment rentals are month-to-month (there’s no buy-in fee) and offer various levels of care, including memory services. Country Meadows was the first Authorized Validation Organization in the United States; validation is a communication technique used with Alzheimer’s and dementia patients.
1800 Tulpehocken Rd., Wyomissing | 610.374.3122 | countrymeadows.com/wyomissing-reading/overview
The Heritage of Green Hills/ Green Hills Manor
The Heritage of Green Hills is an independent living community. Its campus is also home to Green Hills Manor, a personal care community that also offers memory care. Both communities offer the Well by DesignSM program which provides residents with customized wellness plans to enrich their overall health and well-being.
200 Tranquility Ln., Shillington | 484.772.8463 | heritageofgreenhills.com
Genesis Healthcare
Genesis has three healthcare campuses in Berks, each offering personal care senior living, short-stay rehabilitation, and long-term nursing care. In addition to these services, the Berkshire Center offers specialized Alzheimer’s and dementia care, the Mifflin Center offers cardiac management services, and the Laurel Center focuses on ventilator care.
Berkshire Commons Senior Living and Berkshire Center
Berkshire Commons | 5485 Perkiomen Ave., Reading | 610.779.3993 | genesishcc.com/berkshirecommons
Berkshire Center | 5501 Perkiomen Ave., Reading | 610.779.0600 | genesishcc.com/berkshirecenter
Mifflin Court Senior Living and Mifflin Center
Mifflin Court | 450 East Philadelphia Ave., Shillington | 610.796.1600 | genesishcc.com/mifflincourt
Mifflin Center | 500 East Philadelphia Ave., Shillington | 610.777.7841 | genesishcc.com/mifflincenter
Laurel Center
125 Holly Rd., Hamburg | 610.562.2284 | genesishcc.com/laurel
Berks County offers a wealth of retirement community options; however, when planning retirement, it’s important to know your needs and how different communities can fulfill them. Assisted living communities offer high levels of care in a residential (as opposed to a medical) facility so individuals can “age in place,” or stay in the same location as their care needs increase. Personal care, or independent living communities, are residential facilities that offer care and supervision, but are not equipped to handle long-term, skilled nursing care. Continuing care facilities have different communities that span the continuum of care needs.
Did you know? At nearby Pleasant View Retirement Community in Manheim, the facility is marked by a Town Square where residents can enjoy a fitness center, woodworking shop, thrift shop, greenhouse, billiard tables and more. pleasantviewrc.org
Phoebe Berks Village
Phoebe Berks is a personal care community offering two locations – its Village Commons and its Village Gardens. Both locations engage in Phoebe Prime, a wellness program focused on residents’ holistic well-being because, as Community Relations Specialist Trina Johnson-Brady says, “We don’t focus on age; we focus on fullness of life!”
1 Reading Dr., Wernersville | 610.927.8200 | phoebe.org/communities/phoebe-berks
Manor at Market Square
The Manor at Market Square is focused on keeping couples together. Marketing Director Krista Miller explains, “With our ability to carry a floating license, couples, siblings and friends needing different levels of care may move into the same apartment at The Manor at Market Square.” The same goes for residents moving in as independents: as they age and need more care, they are able to receive that care in their same apartment rather than having to move.
803 Penn St., Reading | 610.816.0763 | manoratms.com
Hearthstone Health Group
Hearthstone offers two, soon to be three, personal care communities in Berks. All locations are locally owned and operated, family-oriented, and shaped by residents. The facilities are all one-floor buildings with scenic settings. Rooms have kitchenettes despite the fact that meals are included in leases.
Hearthstone at Amity | 139 Old Swede Rd., Douglassville | 610.385.7600 | hearthstonehealthgroup.com/hearthstone-amity
Hearthstone at Maidencreek | 105 Dries Rd., Reading | 610.926.7600 | hearthstonehealthgroup.com/hearthstone-maidencreek
Opening in 2016 Hearthstone S. Mtn., Wernersville | 610.385.7600 | hearthstonehealthgroup.com/hearthstone-south-mountain
Keystone Villa
Keystone Villa has campuses in Fleetwood and Douglassville, both offering independent living and personal care options. There are no entrance fees or long-term leases, and monthly leases cover the cost of amenities as well as utilities. Apartments also include full-size, fully-equipped kitchens. Scheduled transportation to appointments is also available.
Keystone Villa at Fleetwood | 501 Hoch Rd., Blandon | 484.637.8200 | keystonevillaatfleetwood.com
Keystone Villa at Douglassville | 1152A Ben Franklin Hwy. East, Douglassville | 610.385.5002 | keystonevillaatdouglassville.com
Columbia Cottage
Columbia Cottage is the first and only licensed assisted living community in Berks, and it is an alternative to a traditional nursing home. It offers seven levels of personalized resident care plans that, according to Beverly Moran, marketing assistant, “promote and respect the individual wants, needs and preferences of our patients.”
3121 State Hill Rd., Wyomissing | 610.927.0310 | columbiacottage.com
Diakon – The Lutheran Home at Topton
The Lutheran Home offers independent living and personal care apartments, memory care, short- and long-term rehabilitation, and traditional and long-term nursing care services. There is even an on-site salon and barber shop. Personal Care Home Administrator Michelle Olivier says the Lutheran Home has “heart” and delivers personalized care to residents.
1 South Home Ave., Topton | 610.682.1400 | lutheranhomeattopton.org
Country Meadows Retirement Communities
Country Meadows is a pet-friendly retirement community. Apartment rentals are month-to-month (there’s no buy-in fee) and offer various levels of care, including memory services. Country Meadows was the first Authorized Validation Organization in the United States; validation is a communication technique used with Alzheimer’s and dementia patients.
1800 Tulpehocken Rd., Wyomissing | 610.374.3122 | countrymeadows.com/wyomissing-reading/overview
The Heritage of Green Hills/ Green Hills Manor
The Heritage of Green Hills is an independent living community. Its campus is also home to Green Hills Manor, a personal care community that also offers memory care. Both communities offer the Well by DesignSM program which provides residents with customized wellness plans to enrich their overall health and well-being.
200 Tranquility Ln., Shillington | 484.772.8463 | heritageofgreenhills.com
Genesis Healthcare
Genesis has three healthcare campuses in Berks, each offering personal care senior living, short-stay rehabilitation, and long-term nursing care. In addition to these services, the Berkshire Center offers specialized Alzheimer’s and dementia care, the Mifflin Center offers cardiac management services, and the Laurel Center focuses on ventilator care.
Berkshire Commons Senior Living and Berkshire Center
Berkshire Commons | 5485 Perkiomen Ave., Reading | 610.779.3993 | genesishcc.com/berkshirecommons
Berkshire Center | 5501 Perkiomen Ave., Reading | 610.779.0600 | genesishcc.com/berkshirecenter
Mifflin Court Senior Living and Mifflin Center
Mifflin Court | 450 East Philadelphia Ave., Shillington | 610.796.1600 | genesishcc.com/mifflincourt
Mifflin Center | 500 East Philadelphia Ave., Shillington | 610.777.7841 | genesishcc.com/mifflincenter
Laurel Center
125 Holly Rd., Hamburg | 610.562.2284 | genesishcc.com/laurel
