Shepherd of Valley Breaks Ground in Liberty

By Danielle L. Procopio, director of marketing, sales & communication

YOUNGSTOWN, Ohio – Shepherd of the Valley had a successful 2018 and as we begin 2019, we are excited to see construction progress on our largest capital project to date and prepare for the launch of a home health program to prevent falls.

We broke ground in August on our Liberty community, which is expected to open in the summer of 2020. At $31 million, the campus will sit on 55 acres, 37 of which will be green space. The community will house 30 independent apartments, 30 assisted living suites, 30 memory care suites and a 79-bed skilled nursing and rehabilitation unit.

The new construction will measure 110,475 square feet and it is designed to have a special emphasis on patient-centered care.

Also on the agenda this year is the introduction of Steady Steps with Shepherd, a home health program.

“One in three older adults falls each year but less than half are talking to their health care providers about it,” says Kris Siciliano, director of At Home with Shepherd. “Falls are the leading cause of injuries among older adults. The annual medical cost of falls is $32 billion and it is a public health problem that is largely preventable. Our program provides tangible ways to decrease falls.”

Steady Steps is a multidisciplinary approach that uses physical and occupational therapy services in conjunction with home health nurses, medical social workers and pharmacists. The program also uses home modification contractors to assist with installing safety equipment at little or no cost to the patient. All skilled services are provided through traditional Medicare or Medicare replacement plans, usually at no out-of-pocket cost to the patient.

In 2018, Shepherd’s Boardman, Howland and Niles skilled nursing facilities received five-star ratings from the Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services. Our Poland skilled nursing facility is still too new to have a rating. At Home with Shepherd, was awarded Home Care Elite and was named one of the top 500 agencies in the country. All of our assisted living facilities had perfect annual state surveys from the Ohio Department of Health.

Also last year, we collaborated with the Retired Seniors Volunteer Program as a placement site. Shepherd’s Foundation held five fundraising events, expanding our donor base. We honored 22 outstanding seniors and advocates and recognized eight award winners at our 14th annual Valley Legacy Awards.

Copyright 2024 The Business Journal, Youngstown, Ohio.