Elderly residents in Kulpmont will have an alternative to moving out of their home and into a nursing home.  A LIFE Geisinger facility, for which ground was broken on July 6, will be an addition to the already existing Roosevelt Court, a senior housing development owned by the Northumberland County Housing Authority.

The second of its kind in central and northeastern Pennsylvania, LIFE Geisinger (Living Independently for Elders) is a federal and state-sponsored healthcare program that serves as an alternative to nursing home placement. Operated by Geisinger Health System, LIFE Geisinger provides comprehensive healthcare services that meet the individual’s medical, social and emotional needs, enabling them to remain at home, independently, for as long as is safely possible.  The first was opened in January in Scranton. 

LIFE Geisinger differs from a traditional adult day care center in that its participants also benefit from the on-site, day-to-day care of doctors, dentists, therapists, and counselors.

Individuals enrolled in the LIFE Geisinger program will attend the day center two or three days per week, where they will receive regular healthcare, therapy and take part in a number of activities. Participants will return home with family or caregivers at the end of the day. The program expects to enroll approximately 120 participants when at full capacity at the Kulpmont location.

“LIFE Geisinger is designed to provide a variety of services with the goal of maintaining health, preventing nursing home placements and improving the quality of life for the elderly,” said Amy Minnich, LIFE Geisinger program director. “It provides valuable support to a growing aging population, enabling them to remain independent longer.”

Eligible participants must be at least 60 years of age, live within Northumberland County and meet clinical nursing home criteria as determined by the local Area Agency on Aging. If eligible, the fees for participation are covered by Medicare and Medicaid; there are no out-of-pocket expenses for participants of the LIFE Geisinger program.

The LIFE Geisinger facility is expected to open December 2007. For more information or to enroll in the program, call the LIFE Geisinger Center at 1-800-395-8759.

Groundbreaking, July 2007: