Willow Valley Steps Into At-Home Care

Business Editor [email protected]

The people behind Willow Valley Communities are no strangers to new ventures.

That's being proven again this summer, as Willow Valley Communities rolls out a pair of businesses to serve seniors who don't live at its complex.

Connections at Home via Willow Valley, which began operating Tuesday, is a licensed nonmedical home-care agency for Willow Valley residents and the public.

SmartLife via Willow Valley, to begin operating in late June, will be a membership-based, licensed lifecare-at-home program for the public, only the third such program in the state.

Both new enterprises will serve Lancaster County and surrounding counties, extending the services of Willow Valley Communities beyond its campuses for the first time.

Connections at Home will help seniors with the activities of daily living, said Scott Summy, Willow Valley's corporate director of new business development.

These activities include bathing, grooming, dressing, doing light housekeeping, preparing meals, providing transportation and providing companionship.

"It can be customized to whatever those needs are," said Summy.

Connections at Home has 20 employees, but its workforce could grow as high as 75, he said.

SmartLife is "an alternative to long-term care insurance, with added benefits. For people who desire to develop a plan for their future care needs, this is something to look at before a crisis hits," said Summy.

For a membership fee and a monthly fee, SmartLife offers in-home support and wellness programs, carried out by the staff of Connections at Home.

On top of that, SmartLife members will have select access to Willow Valley amenities such as the Cultural Center and The Clubhouse, a recreation facility to open next month.

Finally, if a SmartLife member someday needs personal, nursing or memory care, he can get it by moving to Willow Valley or a comparable facility, if that's closer to home.

Upon signing up, each SmartLife member will be assigned to a lifecare coordinator who acts as a sort of concierge, helping the member find the best options for them.

"SmartLife provides (seniors) with the protection of lifecare coverage while staying in their own home," said Summy.

Fees vary by age and plans.

SmartLife hopes to reach 200 members. If it hits that goal, it will need about 10 employees, including lifecare coordinators, administrative support staff and event planners, supplemented by the Connections staff.

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