RESIDENTS SET TO MOVE IN
Manor wing welcome addition to community

Brief dedication ceremonies Sunday afternoon at Guy and Mary Felt Manor in Emporium included a ribbon-cutting and plaque presentation to George Coppersmith (second from right) by master of ceremonies Tony Moscato. Also shown, from left, are Dr. Joe Blackburn and Emporium Mayor Bruno Carnovale. Phil Jones looks on.

It could be just a matter of days before residents begin moving into the new "assisted living" wing of the Guy and Mary Felt Manor in downtown Emporium.

Sunday's dedication ceremony, which also marked the adjacent nursing home's 35th anniversary, attracted about 200 people to celebrate the addition and to tour the new section.

Ten residents already registered to move into the home will be able to do so as soon as the Pa. Dept. of Public Welfare gives the go-ahead. That approval is expected after inspectors visit Felt Manor next week. A small waiting list has also been started.

Tony Moscato, president of the Felt Manor board of directors, presented a plaque to George Coppersmith, who made the addition possible by selling the property -- formerly an apartment house -- to Felt Manor. Additional property was acquired from Leona Hall.

Administrator Kim Jones said the staff was "overwhelmed by the local support" for the expansion.

It addresses a growing demand for supervised living facilities in an era when the Cameron County population is steadily aging.

Many older residents need assistance with their daily activities, but not to the point where they require the skilled care that has been provided for more than three decades in Felt Manor's original section.

Jones announced that Patty Becquet has been named administrator of the assisted living facility. She also said a therapy section is being operated under contract with Elk Regional Health Center.

Each resident has a personal bedroom, bathroom and kitchenette. A larger kitchen is available for residents' use. There's a common dining area with a big-screen TV and an activity center.

The new wing has assistance with personal care, laundry service, transportation, medication administration, hair care and 24-hour staff assistance. Safety and security measures are also in place.

Jones said Felt Manor will offer programs promoting independence, such as organized shopping trips, picnics, walks, ecumenical worship services, arts and crafts workshops and special events, including birthday and holiday observances.

Assisted living costs less than nursing home care, but is not covered by Medicare. Residents at the new wing pay a monthly fee. Telephone and cable service are also available at an additional cost.

Felt Manor has also renovated the 40-bed nursing home, relocating the nurses' station and expanding the dining area. Estimated price tag of the two projects was $3 million.

Swanson and Sons of Bradford was the general contractor. Architect was Habiterra, the same firm that designed the original structure.