Centre Care, the nonprofit that operates the current Centre Crest in Bellefonte, has been approved for a $34 million direct loan from the U.S. Department of Agriculture for the planned new, 240-bed skilled-nursing facility in College Township.
When operational in 2020, the new Centre Care Health Center will replace Centre Crest. The new facility will be located just east of the Nittany Mall on Benner Pike.
“The USDA commitment is the biggest financial infusion to happen to our facility in its 80-year history,” said Betsy Boyer, president of Centre Care’s board. “We are thrilled to receive the backing of the USDA so we can move forward with the board’s vision of building a new home for the county.”
The USDA loan is contingent on contributions from Centre Care totaling an additional $6 million, which it hopes to cover with a fundraising campaign this fall and organization savings.
“With the community’s help, Centre Care can meet the USDA’s requirement to provide matching funds for the loan and create an up-to-date healthcare facility to serve Centre County residents.” Campaign chair Al Jones said.
Plans for the new, 135,645 square-foot facility were announced in 2017 and College Township Council approved land development plans in March. In June, Centre Care completed the purchase of 30 acres in College Township for $1.4 million from former ownership group Benner Pike Five, consisting of Calvin E. Zimmerman, Gary Wienken, Richard L Kalin, Philip G. Roberts, Jr. and Thomas F. Songer.
In announcing plans for the new facility last year, Centre Care leadership said a number of factors played into the decision to move forward, mostly related to the size and age of Centre Crest’s home on East Howard Street. Built in 1938, with additions in the 1970s and 1990s, Centre Crest faced exorbitant costs to meet codes once current exemptions expire in 2022.
The building also is usually at maximum capacity and has no place to expand for additional beds and offerings.
The new facility will offer traditional long-term care along with three specialty care ‘neighborhoods’ that are in high demand: a high acuity neighborhood for patients with complex medical conditions; a memory care neighborhood; and a short-term rehabilitation neighborhood.
With the new facility, the number of private rooms will increase from four to 66 and bedroom sizes will increase by about 100 square feet. Overall, the new building will offer larger rooms, more programming, enhanced food service and greater personalized care, according to Centre Care. A central building will be flanked by two wings and the site will have room to expand in the future.
Demand for nursing care for those 85 and older in Centre County is expected to increase by 6 percent in the next five years and continue to grow in future years. The new facility will be the largest of only three in Centre County licensed to provide Medicaid care.
Centre County owned and operated Centre Crest from 1938 until 2013, when it transitioned business operations to the Centre Care nonprofit board.
