Allied Services facility in Wilkes-Barre undergoes $10M renovation

REPOSTED FROM CITIZEN'S VOICE - by Denise Allabaugh, Staff Writer

WILKES-BARRE — A $10 million enhancement project is nearing completion at Allied Services Center City Skilled Nursing and community members and staff toured the facility at an open house Monday.

Jim Brogna, vice president of strategic partnership development for Allied Services, showed the nursing home and short-stay rehab facility at 80 E. Northampton St. in Wilkes-Barre. It now has 42 private rooms with private balconies as well as 50 semi-private rooms, a new therapy gym, new lobby, four resident and family dining areas, resident lounges, an outdoor patio and garden.

Brogna called the outdoor dining area with a gazebo and flower garden “a little oasis in downtown Wilkes-Barre.”

While leading a tour of the spacious private rooms with modern, high-end finishes, he showed the private balconies offer city skyline views which aren’t typical nursing home amenities.

“You can look outside and see the sights of downtown Wilkes-Barre,” he said. “We took what was personal care and licensed it to a nursing home. We knew the need was here in downtown Wilkes-Barre, especially for private rooms.

Skilled nursing care, including physical, occupational, and speech therapy, will be offered at the facility 24/7. The facility will employ more than 100 people, Brogna said.

“We’ve transformed personal care and made it the most beautiful and upscale skilled nursing with private rooms,” he said. “We are proud of our significant and beautiful capital investments in downtown Wilkes-Barre.”

Thirty-one apartments are located behind the building. Its exterior also is being renovated and a beauty salon and activities room will be added.

Brogna expects all renovations will be completed by the fall but he said that Allied Services should begin admitting residents before the end of the month. Residents must have certain short-term or long-term medical needs to be admitted to the skilled nursing facility, he said.

While Allied Services has invested millions in the renovation project, Brogna said the costs are a planned long-term investment that are not passed onto residents and new admissions.

“In fact, our nonprofit status allows us to maintain a private pay nursing home rate below the maximum market rate as well as expectations that most admissions will be covered by insurance and Medicare coverage,” he said.

Allied Services Center City Skilled Nursing earned national recognition when it earned the 2022-2023 Best Nursing Home title in the latest U.S. News and World Report.

Allied Services acquired the skilled nursing facility, which was the former St. Luke’s Villa, as well as Little Flower nursing home on Meade Street in Wilkes-Barre and the facility’s next door personal care home, St. Therese Residence, from the Diocese of Scranton in 2019. Renovations also have been completed at Allied Services Meade Street Skilled Nursing.

Additional free tours will be held at Allied Services Center City Skilled Nursing from 3:30 to 5 p.m. Wednesday, July 17 and July 19. For information or to learn about job opportunities, call 570-830-3917 or visit centercityskilled.com.