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Phoebe Berks Premiers Virtual Reality Rehab System

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Category: Phoebe Berks

Created on Wednesday, 27 February 2013 10:35

Wernersville, PA- Phoebe Berks offers comprehensive short-term rehabilitation services including physical, speech, occupational, and aquatic therapy.  At a rehab open house in October, Phoebe Berks introduced OmniVR™, a virtual reality augmented therapy system known as the world’s first virtual rehabilitation system for senior adults.

OmniVR™ operates by using a 3D camera that captures the patient’s actual movement and does not require extra materials like a mat or remote while performing an exercise. According to Chris Kwiatkowski, a Physical Therapist Assistant at Phoebe Berks, The OmniVR™ system benefits therapists by keeping the staff up-to-date with new treatment strategies.
 
Kwiatkowski adds, “It has been a motivating factor for patients in that they feel immersed in an activity which may relate to one of their normal activities of daily living. Sometimes it is something they have been unable to do and are now able to enjoy this activity in virtual reality.” 

The system has six multi-disciplinary exercise programs and three assessment tools that concentrate and identify different areas of recovery and their progression in treatment. Patients can perform these exercises at different levels based on their performance ability.   

The OmniVR™ at Phoebe Berks has provided Phoebe therapists a new, innovative way of making therapy easier and more effective for patients, and helps patients understand their level of strength and development through their recuperating process. The six multi-disciplinary exercise programs include:
• Seated Exercises: Patients are required to move arms, legs, and lean in various directions while seated.
• Wheelchair Control: Patients who are dependent on wheelchairs are able to partake in exercises that require moving in various directions with the use  of their wheelchair.
• Walking Exercises: In these exercises, patients are required to avoid obstacles by walking in place with the option of moving left, right, or stepping-up to get over objects.
• Balance Exercises: Patients are challenged to use their ankle, hip and foot to step during balance exercises.
• Upper Extremity Exercises: Patients are required to complete these exercises by extending their upper body to its maximum limit.
• Cognitive exercises: This exercise allows patients to practice and train cognitive skills and memory.

To learn more about services offered at Phoebe Berks and coming soon to other Phoebe communities, please visit www.phoebe.org/berks or call 610.927.8200.

Phoebe Preserves the Past to Create Housing Opportunities for Seniors

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Category: Phoebe Berks

Created on Wednesday, 13 February 2013 11:54

Wernersville, PA-In the tradition of our organization’s rich history, Phoebe Ministries has made an effort to preserve and renew historic structures while re-purposing them to meet the changing needs of local communities. Three of Phoebe’s affordable housing senior apartments in Berks County are on the National Register of Historic Places even as they serve as modern and secure residences for people over the age of 65.

In 1997, Franklin and Noble Manor in Shoemakersville came under the management of Phoebe Ministries. The apartment building had once been the Merit Underwear Company, built in 1916. Its line of ladies fine-gauge garments had an international reputation until the factory shut down manufacturing in 1993. A few years later, the historic building was converted into apartments by Berks Housing Opportunities and Phoebe managed the property.

By 1999, Berks Housing opportunities dissolved and Phoebe assumed total control of the complex. Among the first residents of Franklin and Noble was Helen Brendel, who had memories of the red brick building long before it became apartments. She and resident Grace Yoder each worked in the garment mill as young women. More than 50 years later they returned to the factory where they’d once made a livelihood, but this time they called the building home.

Like Franklin and Noble Manor, the John F. Lutz property has a fascinating history. The unique and historically significant building was the oldest business in the borough of St. Lawrence. Built in 1900 by John Lutz, the store served his duel occupations of cabinetmaker and mortician. Cabinetmaking evolved into furniture making, and eventually two building additions.
In 1931, Lutz’s son, Elmer, relocated the funeral business to Mt. Penn near Reading. His daughter, Minnie, and her husband took over the furniture store, eventually selling it to another manufacturer that went out of business in 1990. It was also developed into senior apartments by Berks Housing Opportunities and was acquired by Phoebe at the same time as Franklin and Noble Manor.
While Phoebe Ministries expanded affordable housing into the outlying areas of Berks County, it also moved into the heart of Reading. In 1997, the city approved Phoebe’s request for a $1 million dollar development grant to partially fund the conversion of the historic Wyomissing Club into apartments for seniors. The club had been abandoned and deteriorating for more than 10 years when Phoebe first proposed its conversion into apartments.

The Wyomissing Club started in 1890 as a gentlemen’s meeting place. The recessed bar in the billiards room was designed to be hidden from the law during prohibition. The bar was removed during renovations but other unique architectural features were preserved. The glassed-in porch overlooking Walnut Street remains, as do the fireplace and hardwood dance floor in the ballroom.
It took two years to reclaim the stately old landmark at Fifth and Walnut Streets. This once-vacant building was transformed into superior housing for modest-income seniors. It preserved and reflected the former grandeur of the century-old club for Reading’s High Society. In 2001, Phoebe received official commendation from Reading for its contribution to preserving the city’s heritage.
Today, Phoebe completes renovations and upgrades to the historic properties so they continue to be comfortable homes for seniors while preserving the heritage and history of the local communities they serve.

Phoebe Berks Announces Director of New Wellness Program

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Category: Phoebe Berks

Created on Friday, 11 January 2013 14:51

Wernersville, PA – Star High, RN, was promoted to Village Wellness Director at Phoebe Berks. High has been a Phoebe Berks employee since 2000 and most recently served as Director of Nursing, Phoebe Berks Health Care Center.

In her new role, High will be responsible for developing, implementing and managing a comprehensive holistic wellness program for independent living residents. The program will involve proactive management of health issues by tracking clinical markers and coordinating campus services to meet their needs.

The need for this program stems from the desire for residents to age in place for as long as possible. In order to accomplish this, a comprehensive process will be implemented to ensure a proactive approach to matching services to need as early as possible. The program will include data collection and analysis to identify trends or changing clinical markers, resident education, and inter-disciplinary communication to identify and match resident need to campus services. High will help to link residents to social activities, fitness programs, volunteer opportunities, and spiritual programs that fit their life goals.

A resident of Reinholds, High graduated from Lancaster General Hospital School of Nursing and Franklin and Marshall College with a BS in psychology.

Phoebe Berks Chaplain Elected President of PA Society of Chaplains.

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Category: Phoebe Berks

Created on Friday, 11 January 2013 10:23

Wernersville, PA –Rev. Dr. John Fureman, Chaplain, Phoebe Berks, was elected President of the PA Society of Chaplains and is serving a term as president elect for 2013 prior to his two-year term as president.

The Society of Chaplains is an association of chaplains that serves in many different settings in Pennsylvania and adjacent states. These settings include hospitals, hospices, retirement communities as well as other institutions and organizations. The objectives of the Society of Chaplains include continuing education, mutual support, as well as serving as a forum for the broad range of issues facing chaplaincy today.

Rev. Dr. John Fureman has served as chaplain of Phoebe Berks since 1997.  He is board certified by the Association of Professional Chaplains and ordained by the United Church of Christ. 

A graduate of Bloomsburg University and Lancaster Theological Seminary, he received his Doctor of Ministry degree from Lancaster Theological Seminary in 1994. Fureman received Clinical Pastoral Education at Lancaster General Hospital and the Reading Hospital and Medical Center and completed the Cancer Residency for Clergy through the York Health Care System.  In 2002, he was elected to Board Certified Chaplain status in the Association of Professional Chaplains.

A resident of Lebanon, he served pastorates at St. John’s United Church of Christ, Red Lion, PA (1988-97); Immanuel United Church of Christ, Shillington, PA (1984-88); and St. John’s (Blymire’s) United Church of Christ, Dallastown, PA (1974-84).