News & Awards
Recent achievements by Certus and communities managed by Certus
The Care Center at The Heritage of Green Hills Wins Prestigious Excellence in Construction Award
29 January 2024
ABC Keystone has awarded the Care Center at The Heritage of Green Hills Senior Living Community an Excellence in Construction Award in the category of Best Health Care Building, $10 to $25 Million. The EIC Awards recognize outstanding work performed on projects built by ABC Keystone members. Certus Living, which manages The Heritage of Green Hills, contracted ABC Keystone member Benchmark Construction Company, Inc., to begin building the state-of-the-art Care Center in April 2021 on the senior living community’s campus in Shillington, PA. It was completed on schedule and under budget and began welcoming residents in June 2022.
The Light-Filled Design
The beautiful Care Center features 70 large personal care and memory care one-bedroom and studio suites. Natural light pours into its wide hallways through oversized windows, which also offer great views of the rolling hills on The Heritage’s 78-acre campus. The stunning Personal Care patio has a firepit and a peaceful water feature bringing together earth, wind, fire, and water, while the lovely Memory
Care patio affords residents plenty of outdoor seating, perfect for enjoying fresh air and nature in a secure setting. The Care Center’s bright dining rooms offer delicious and nutritious chef-curated meals with locally sourced and seasonal ingredients in a thoughtfully designed and inviting setting. All gathering spaces and apartments offer a sense of elevated coziness and comfort built on a solid foundation of quality materials and construction.
Exceptional Care
The Care Center’s beautiful design and construction seamlessly support the attentive and individualized care offered within its walls. Whether offering a helping hand with personal care and activities of daily living, specialized health services for those needing memory care, hospice care in a private, respectful setting, or respite care, the Care Center’s dedicated health professionals ensure loved ones get the support they need. The Heritage listens to each resident’s personal story and honors their achievements. Personal preferences are respected, and individual needs are catered to, ensuring that every resident is living life to the fullest. On a recent resident engagement survey where all residents and family members were given a chance to provide feedback, the Care Center scored a 97% overall satisfaction rate, which is representative of the high level of care The Heritage strives for every day.
Many Achievements in 2023
In addition to winning the Excellence in Construction Award, the Reading Eagle’s honored The Heritage of Green Hills with a Readers’ Choice Award, while Berks County Living gave the community a Best of Berks Award. The Heritage has received these two accolades for an amazing seven years in a row.
About The Heritage of Green Hills
The Heritage of Green Hills is a leading independent senior living community offering the full continuum of care on its sprawling 78-acre campus in Cumru Township.
Photo Caption:
(From Left to Right) Doug Walther – Executive
Director, The Heritage of Green Hills
Andrew Figlio – Project Manager, Benchmark
Kevin Thibeault – Project Superintendent, Benchmark
Will Haase – CEO, Certus
Harry Kinser – Lead Carpenter, Benchmark
Source: Care Center at Heritage of Green Hills wins award (readingeagle.com)
Source: Care Center at Heritage of Green Hills wins award (timesherald.com)
The Heritage Wins Best of Berks and Reader's Choice Award for the 7th Year in a Row
15 November 2023
The Heritage of Green Hills has much to celebrate this fall. In addition to winning the Reading Eagle’s Readers’ Choice Award and Berks County Living Best of Berks Award for an amazing seven years in a row, the pet-friendly and fun-loving senior living community in Shillington, Pa., recently marked the first anniversary of its state-of-the-art Care Center.
“These two awards are near and dear to our hearts because they represent our neighbors throughout Berks County offering their support and recognition through the region’s premier lifestyle magazine and newspaper of record,” says Executive Director Doug Walther. “Every member of our team — from our activities staff to our restaurant servers to our housekeepers to our health care aids and LPNs — works hard to offer the best hospitality and care to our residents in the county every day.”
The Heritage of Green Hills is a full-service retirement community set on a beautiful 78-acre campus. Independent living residents enjoy the peace of mind of knowing that they have access to additional levels of care, should they be needed, in the community’s state-of-the-art Care Center. The Care Center, which opened in 2022, features 70 spacious personal and memory care one-bedroom and studio suites.
The community’s innovative and holistic Well By Design(sm) program promotes genuine mind-body-spirit well-being in all residents through a full schedule of events, classes, club meetings, games, performances, and volunteer opportunities in combination with resort-style amenities and convenient health services.
“This year’s honors were extra special because the Care Center was recognized for its excellence for the first time,” says Walther. “We endeavor to ensure that our community is always one that our team members, our residents, and their families are proud to be a part of.”
The Reserve of Geneva Named One of Kane County's Finest 55+ Independent Living Community
5 November 2023
GENEVA, IL – November 6, 2013 – The Reserve of Geneva is proud to announce that it has been named one of the “Kane County’s Finest” in the Reader’s Choice Contest for 55+ Independent Living Communities. This prestigious recognition celebrates the community’s commitment to providing exceptional living experiences for seniors in the Kane County area.
The Reader’s Choice Contest, organized by Kane County, aims to honor and acknowledge distinguished and beloved businesses that have made a significant impact on the local community. The Reserve of Geneva, with its outstanding services and dedication to its residents, stood out among the competition, making it the preferred choice of the readers.
Angie Kotschi, the Executive Director of The Reserve of Geneva, expressed her delight at receiving this esteemed award. She said, “We are truly honored to be recognized as Kane County’s Finest 55+ Independent Living Community. This achievement would not have been possible without the unwavering support and trust of the residents who call The Reserve home. They are not just our residents; they are our extended family. Their support, along with our dedicated team, is what sets us apart. We couldn’t ask for a better posse of supporters.”
The Reserve of Geneva offers a unique and vibrant living environment for active seniors, combining luxury amenities, a strong sense of community, and exceptional care services. With a wide range of activities and social opportunities, residents enjoy a fulfilling and enriched lifestyle.
This award not only reflects the dedication of The Reserve of Geneva but also the trust and satisfaction of the community it serves. The Reserve of Geneva is committed to maintaining the highest standards of excellence in 55+ independent living and will continue to provide a warm and welcoming home for seniors.
About The Reserve of Geneva
The Reserve of Geneva is a boutique independent living community for active adults age 55+, located in the heart of Geneva, IL. Offering a blend of luxury living and vibrant social activities, The Reserve of Geneva is dedicated to providing seniors with an enriching and fulfilling lifestyle. With a commitment to excellence and a strong sense of community, The Reserve of Geneva stands as a testament to superior senior living in the Kane County area. Learn more at: www.reserveofgeneva.com
Heritage of Green Hills Unveils New Health Care Center
2022
The Heritage of Green Hills, a Life Plan Community in Shillington, PA, celebrated the grand opening of a new state-of-the-art Health Care Center featuring local leaders, current residents of the personal care neighborhood, and a bevy of enthusiastic seniors. The Meyer Senior Living Studio provided architecture, interior design and FF+E procurement services for the project.
The new Health Center services both personal care and memory care residents and enhances the retirement community’s already comprehensive and popular offerings while bolstering its award-winning legacy (the community has just won both the Berks County Living’s Best of Berks and the Reading Eagle’s Readers’ Choice awards for four years in a row).
Featuring 70 spacious personal care and memory care one-bedroom and studio suites, each unit includes a private bath with top-of-the-line fixtures. The personal care suites are among the largest assisted-living-style homes available in the market.
The Health Care Center’s concrete and steel construction features wide hallways and oversized windows to allow for an abundance of natural light and afford residents picturesque views of the community’s scenic 78-acre campus. Amenities include multiple lounges, a wellness suite, and a large dining room with a display kitchen. The dining room has direct access to a beautiful patio with outdoor seating, firepit and built-in pergola for shade. The Memory Care neighborhood includes welcome spaces, a sensory lounge, a dedicated dining and activity area, and a gorgeous outdoor secured patio to encourage residents to remain active and enjoy the outdoors.
Residents in both personal care and memory suites will enjoy all the benefits of the Heritage of Green Hills’ community-wide Well by Design program. Personalized activities, programming and services in this mind, body and spirit initiative focus on eight dimensions of wellness — social, physical, intellectual, emotional, vocational, spiritual, environmental and health services — to empower residents to live rich, fulfilling lives.
Project team members included:
Owner: Lapis Advisers
Owner’s Representative: Certus Financial
General Contractor: Benchmark Construction
Structural & MEP/FP Engineering: Kleinfelder
