Geisinger developments move forward; memory center planned

Sep. 10--Construction of two Geisinger facilities is moving forward on South Main Street while another facility is planned on South Washington Street to serve people with Alzheimer's disease and dementia.

Developer Marvin Slomowitz is building a 14,000-square-foot adult day care center for Geisinger at the nearly two-acre former Shapiro scrapyard site near the former Planters Peanuts headquarters on South Main Street.

Rob McQuillan, director of LIFE Geisinger, said older people will have access to health services like primary care and therapy as well as meals, bathing facilities and recreational activities in "one convenient location."

The new LIFE Geisinger location will allow the program to make routine health and social services easier for more than 150 members, McQuillan said.

That's about 100 more than the current location at Geisinger South Wilkes-Barre, which will be consolidated into the new facility once it opens.

Project engineer George Albert said the facility should be completed before the end of the year.

McQuillan said he expects the new LIFE Geisinger location will begin accepting patients in the spring 2021.

Construction of a 10,000-square-foot Geisinger 65 Forward Health Center for seniors also continues at the site of the closed Katana restaurant and other vacant space in Midtown Village in downtown Wilkes-Barre.

The center will open in October, said Stephanie Pacovsky, Geisinger 65 Forward operations manager.

Geisinger signed a long-term lease with Sandy Insalaco Jr., partner with the Insalaco Development Group, for the clinic that will be similar to the Geisinger 65 Forward Health Center that opened last year in Kingston.

"Much like how the 65 Forward Health Center in Kingston addresses the specific needs of those age 65 and up, patients at this new facility can expect longer appointments with their physician, walk-in appointments, social activities, exercise classes, X-rays, specialty care and more all under one roof," Pacovsky said.

Insalaco said work has progressed rapidly inside Geisinger's unit and he is making significant improvements to the courtyard

"New sidewalks, LED lighting and landscaping will be added to improve the aesthetics and safety for visitors," Insalaco said.

Dr. George Avetian has joined the program and will be the Wilkes-Barre location's first physician. He is currently seeing patients in Kingston and will transition to the new 65 Forward in Wilkes-Barre, Pacovsky said.

The 65 Forward program is enrolling new patients. Those interested in enrolling can call 866-972-0460 or visit geisinger.org/ForwardNewsWB.

Also in downtown Wilkes-Barre, Second Family Memory Care Center has proposed to open a facility to serve people with Alzheimer's disease and dementia at 89 S. Washington St. in the City Centre complex that extends to East Northampton and South Main streets and that also houses R/C Wilkes-Barre Movies 14.

Wilkes-Barre Zoning Hearing Board is scheduled to vote on a variance for the center for about 35 clients at a meeting 4:30 Sept. 16 in the lower level of the Innovation Center at 7 South Main St.

An advertisement for Second Family Memory Care Center states that it would provide "much needed respite for family caregivers" and is specialized to promote independence and socialization.

Its services would include individualized care plans, medication assistance, mind-stimulating activities, exercise programs, health monitoring and professional therapy services.

Contact the writer:

dallabaugh@citizensvoice.com

570-821-2115, @CVAllabaugh

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