A Pennsylvania continuing care retirement / life plan community is changing up the aging services model by launching a nonprofit holding company to expand its reach outside its walls.
Aspire for Well-Being is a nonprofit holding company that will allow for flexibility and enhanced service delivery to even more older adults. Under its umbrella are Aspire for Well-Being Home Care and Aspire for Well-Being Healthcare Staffing, which will initially provide services to its CCRC, The Highlands at Wyomissing.
“The creation of Aspire for Well-Being represents a commitment to the future of senior living,” said Kevin DeAcosta, president and CEO of Aspire for well-Being and The Highlands. “This innovative structure will allow us to leverage our strengths in serving the interests of today’s older adults in new and broader ways.”
DeAcosta told McKnight’s Senior Living that residents of The Highlands won’t see any changes in services and care delivery. The new structure, he said, will provide versatility and financial freedom to explore new growth opportunities by spinning off its homecare and staffing service lines into separate nonprofit entities to serve the greater community surrounding the CCRC.
As part of Aspire for Well-Being, The Highlands will continue to operate under its existing name, but it will be able to more effectively leverage resources and expertise across its operations, DeAcosta said. Aspire for Well-Being Healthcare Staffing, created out of the COViD-19 pandemic to mitigate staffing shortages, serves as a staffing agency for The Highlands, but DeAcosta said they will consider off-campus growth into Berks County in the future.
While there is no specific timeline for expanding beyond the homecare and staffing services, DeAcosta said the holding company will work with its board to consider all options.
“I think for us, as a nonprofit organization, we are driven to expand our mission strategically as we move forward, and we continually look forward to sharing our expertise beyond our campus and supporting more individuals,” he said, adding that the Aspire brand demonstrates its commitment to innovation and growth.
The Highlands operates 240 independent living apartments and 62 villas, and recently opened 41 hybrid apartments that combine the best of its villas and apartments, including increased opportunities for social connections and natural lighting features. The campus also supports personal care, memory care, nursing care and short-term rehabilitation.
The Highlands was one of six senior living organizations that partnered back in 2021 to form The Colligo Group to be a “catalyst for a new vision of aging.” The partners planned to tackle labor force challenges and technology needs as a group.
