Geisinger shows off new LIFE facility in Wilkes-Barre for seniors

May 6—WILKES-BARRE — No one asked him for a comment, but Roberto Vasquez offered an impromptu endorsement so resounding it couldn't be misinterpreted.

"Beautiful!" he said, the smile on his face barely hidden by the mask, his hat doffed and waved triumphantly above his head. "Beautiful!"

Vasquez, of Wilkes-Barre, was being helped from an exam room to a lobby chair in the new LIFE Geisinger center Wednesday, and clearly was more than impressed during his visit to the senior day care center that opened officially, though not quite completely, on Monday.

A bit of language barrier may have prevented Vasquez from elaborating much, but two other clients at the center Wednesday during a media tour filled in the picture.

"I love this place," Mabel Talpas said. "They make you feel right at home." She had been going to the old facility in Geisinger South about once a week before the pandemic, and looked forward to trying to schedule more time in the new center.

"It's fantastic!" Bill Bryan said. "I really appreciate what they do here. I hope they don't get tired of hearing it."

Admitting he was a "social person" — hardly a secret after more than a minute or two in his upbeat presence — the 89-year-old said he and others who met at the old facility "loved to get together" there, "but it was too much in too little a space."

Outreach and enrollment coordinator Maquene Klimchok said the old facility could host about 50 to 55 people at a time. Standing in the capacious new "common room" with tables, chairs and sofas, she said once COVID-19 restrictions are lifted the new center will be able to handle up to 150 people.

While a big chunk of the new building is just for that sort of socializing, with tables, chairs and a kitchen area, the other side has a wide range of equipment and space for medical and personal support, including two hospital-grade beds, a large gym, a "spa" with a special walk-in bath tub, and private exam rooms. A doctor and nurse practitioner will be available during daily operations.

The ultimate goal is to help people who would otherwise be in a nursing facility stay in their own homes, Klimchok said. In fact, one of the requirements for eligibility for the center is to be "clinically eligible for a nursing home." Other requirements include being 55 or older, a resident of the county, and being Medicare/Medicaid eligible. If all requirements are met and there is space in the program, the services — including home visits and support — are available no charge.

The center can serve as a medical clinic for check-ups and chronic care management of heart conditions and diabetes, a personal care facility for day visits with baths and laundry service, and a social club.

"As the pandemic has really shown, the social aspect can be very important," Dr. Rick Martin, the medical director said.

It sure is for Bryan, who noted that his wife Rose Marie developed dementia and was admitted to a facility in Scranton. With the pandemic restrictions "I haven't seen her in a year."

But being able to schedule a visit to a place like this and talk to staff and other clients, maybe get in a game of dominoes (his favorite) once the common room is available again?

Well, he has kids and grandkids — and getting fully vaccinated finally means he can hug them when he gets to see them — but for a guy who clearly enjoys being with others, "Life started getting a little lonesome."

Getting into the program at the old location helped, but it was once a week due to the space limitations. Now he's hoping, with the expansive new center, "Maybe I can get in two or three days a week!"