YOUNGSTOWN – Shepherd of the Valley opened its $31 million senior living campus in Liberty over the summer.
The new campus, which replaced Shepherd’s operation in Niles, offers independent living apartments, assisted living suites, skilled nursing, rehabilitation and memory care.
The company also launched several community partnerships in 2020 to help seniors living at home navigate the new landscape caused by the coronavirus. Shepherd worked with the Retired Senior Volunteer Program, Scope Senior Services and the League of Women Voters to provide food, transportation and access to care during stay-at-home orders.
With Respiratory Care Partners, Shepherd launched a pulmonary rehabilitation program for those with advanced lung disease and those diagnosed with COVID-19.
“One of the most critical lessons we learned is the importance of flexibility. We were required to evaluate COVID-19 very quickly and identify ways to protect our residents and employees. We had to re-examine the way we have always done things in order to reduce risk and maximize safety,” says CEO Rich Limongi.
At Home with Shepherd, the company’s home health agency, added services to its repertoire. Among them are wound care and respiratory therapy, along with specialized care for those with memory and pulmonary issues.
Shepherd’s Foundation created a COVID-19 Crisis Response Fund that secured $32,280 to defray the cost of PPE for employees. The fund also enabled the purchase of 21 iPad Minis, which residents used for FaceTime calls with family when in-person visitation was suspended, as well as telehealth appointments with doctors.
“Staff and families had to become comfortable with visiting virtually and new ways to communicate,” Limongi says. “Due to our quick actions, we have been able to limit resident and employee infections. These changes have become our new normal.”