Area seniors have an alternative to living in a personal care facility with Wesbury at Home’s unique approach to senior living, the Care Cottage. Care Cottages are a residential three-bedroom home that offers a maximum of three residents’ around-the-clock “Wesbury at Home” services to meet their day-to-day needs. Staffed twenty-four hours per day, seven days per week, the cottages are furnished, private homes that are beautifully decorated with plenty of room for the residents to visit with one another, with family, or to have privacy in their own space. There are seven Care Cottages in Crawford County with locations in Meadville, Titusville, and Cochranton. Meadville’s newest Care Cottage, located very close to Wesbury’s main campus, just completed its renovations and is now accepting new residents.
Care Cottages are designed to provide safety and support to low-income residents who qualify for the PA Waiver Program or to those that can pay privately who prefer to reside in a homelike setting as an alternative to a care environment. Fees are determined on an individual basis and never exceed the resident’s income and affordability.
Jackie Palmer, Wesbury at Home Care Cottage Coordinator, says, “Our care cottages provide the needed home services to help residents maintain their independence and the pursuit of their interest. I love that residents are able to spend time using the common areas for socializing together and with visitors, at the same time, they also have their own space when they want privacy to spend time by themselves.”
While living in their Care Cottage, residents receive meals, housekeeping and laundry services, transportation to appointments and social outings. Each resident has an individualized care plan that may include assistance with bathing, dressing, ambulation, and medication reminders.. Residents are encouraged to participate in exercise, activities and help plan menus. They are welcome to be involved in tasks around the cottage including meal and dessert preparation if they wish. Residents may also participate in games, movies, bird watching, gardening, or simply kicking back to relax and enjoy the peaceful setting. In addition to the resident’s hobbies, and playing favorite games, residents look forward to the new activities and crafts that are delivered monthly to the cottages by the Care Cottage Coordinator. All of the cottages are smoke-free, have easy access from the garage into the house and outdoor communal spaces as well as the spacious bathrooms and walk-in showers.
