Published: November 11, 2005 04:42 pm            

People specialists

Downtown facility prides itself on caring

JOHNSTOWN — Steve Seman is a well-respected local sports historian who, at 90 years of age, has instant recall of events that happened decades earlier.

Seman is one of 80 residents living at The Atrium, a personal-care home at 216 Main St. in downtown Johnstown. The facility will mark its 20th anniversary Tuesday with a party for staff, residents and their families.

While age has limited Seman’s movements, he is looking forward to the celebration.

“This is a wonderful place,” he said, as he sat in the recliner that he brought with him six years ago when he took up residence at the facility. “They treat me like royalty. What more could I ask for – three meals a day, and I don’t have to do dishes.”

The Atrium is owned by Philadelphia-based Senior Choice Inc., which also owns Patriot Manor in Somerset and Beacon Ridge in Indiana.

Valerie Tillotson, a regional director of referral development, said Tuesday’s celebration will begin with a blessing before a rededication takes place.

The Atrium has adopted the Eden Alternative concept, where residents are treated not just medically but as whole persons.

Tillotson pointed to “three plagues” that often exist in care facilities – loneliness, helplessness and boredom.

To counter those woes, the facility offers a homey environment complete with live plants, a community kitchen and a computer room.

“We offer a place where people can continue to grow and learn rather than an institution for the sick and frail,” Tillotson said. “We are in the business of giving a person the dignified and compassionate treatment that all human beings deserve.”

Administrators and staff strive to give residents a feeling of being at home. That has been accomplished by allowing residents such as Seman to bring some of their prized possessions to make their rooms more inviting.

Seman is surrounded by familiar things, such as his own double bed, a dresser, television and desk. He also has his treasured electric typewriter that he uses for correspondence and to keep in contact with the outside world.

But residents aren’t restricted to the facility, which was the Downtowner Motel until it was transformed in 1985.

If residents are able, they are encouraged to get out and enjoy all the things the downtown has to offer.

“Once a month, we have organized shopping trips for about 15 or 20 residents who want to participate,” said Administrator Jackie Perkosky. “We also have a Red Hat Society chapter here, and about 12 residents do things like going uptown to the cafe@central park for lunch. It’s a wonderful site.”

While The Atrium frowns on residents bringing pets into the home, there is a four-legged friend on site.

Dubbed Reggie the Wonderdog, a Yorkshire terrier that was adopted by residents when his original owners decided they couldn’t keep him, has the run of the facility.

“Reggie has been here for nine months, and every resident has some sort of treat in their room that they share with the dog,” Perkosky said. “We like to say that Reggie is a dog who has 80 humans.”

The average age of residents is 92. The Atrium is for people, mainly senior citizens, who are ambulatory but may need some assistance with grooming, bathing and medications.

The facility is licensed for 92 occupants because it offers double occupancy for husband and wife.

Funding for many of the improvements made at the facility has been generated by The Atrium Grill, an enterprise that brings the community and residents closer together through food.

It has grown to successful proportions.

“These are weekly cookouts that were started because budgetary constraints prohibited us from buying items that the residents desired,” Perkosky said.

The grill is open for lunch from the first Tuesday in June until the last Tuesday in August.

Anybody can go there for lunch, and a line of customers often extends along Main Street.

“When they first started, we did just over $100 in sales,” Perkosky said. “It now generates between $800 to $1,000 a week.”

All of the money goes to the residents’ council, and it decides where the money should be spent.

Items purchased include a large fish tank, big-screen television and new wicker benches for the first-floor annex.

In the midst of preparing for the 20th anniversary celebration, capital improvements are being made.

Rooms and hallways are getting new carpeting, and a kitchenette, candy store and computer room also have been installed on the first floor.

“Residents expressed an interest in making some of their favorite foods,” said Perkosky. “One of our residents was a former baker, and he wants to make breads, pierogies, cupcakes and homemade noodles.”

The residents also share in each others’ special occasions.

Family and friends of Sue Fleck, 80, a resident of the Atrium for about a year, surprised her with her first-ever birthday party on Sunday. Guests and residents also shared in the celebration.

“It was held in the first-floor dining room, and we had enough cake for everyone to enjoy,” said her son, Walter. “She has four children, nine grandchildren and four great-grandchildren.”

Visitors will see that walls have been painted, new borders have been installed and different wall hangings are being considered.

“People are free to do whatever they desire.

“Even if a group of folks wants to get together and play cards until 2 or 3 in the morning, they can,” Perkosky said. “When families can’t care for a loved one 24/7, facilities such as The Atrium are a godsend.”

Johnstown sisters Theresa Hubbard of Coopersdale and Dorothy Lengyel of Morrellville make regular visits to see their aunt, Elizabeth Scherdinger, 95.

“We do view this place as a blessing because when our aunt moved from Connor Towers, she had no other caregiver to ensure that she ate properly and got her medications,” Lengyel said.

Tillotson said marking 20 years of service is significant.

“We are not selling equipment, but we specialize in helping people,” she said.



Tom Lavis can be reached at 532-5054 or tlavis@tribdem.com.

        

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