York’s newest senior living community breaks ground 

Construction has begun on York’s newest senior living community, believed to be the first in years. 

Groundbreaking for The Residence at Fitz Farm took place Nov. 19. The 124,000-square-foot state-of-the-art complex with 130 apartments is expected to open in early 2023. 

IntegraCare Corp., headquartered in Wexford, and Indianapolis-based Avenue Development are partnering on the project, which will include 68 independent living units, 42 assisted living apartments, and 20 memory care units for residents with Alzheimer’s and other types of dementia. 

A continuum of care “is always nice to have so folks can age in place,” said Brandon Smeltzer, vice president of sales and marketing for IntegraCare. 

Lancaster’s Warfel Construction is the general contractor for The Residence at Fitz Farm, which is at 2200 Springwood Home, York Township, near Interstate 83. 

Smeltzer said the community will have a number of cutting-edge features, such as ionizers that decontaminate, reducing the risk of virus transmission. 

“It looks like a metal detector,” he said. 

“We’re proud of that” innovation, which IntegraCare debuted even before the COVID-19 pandemic, Smeltzer said. 

Also, The Residence at Fitz Farm will boast smart locks, making it easy for someone who uses a wheelchair or walker to open doors, he said. 

The remote key – on a watch, bracelet or pendant, for example – unlocks the door on its own, Smeltzer said. That makes it safer for residents because they’re less likely to suffer falls. 

He said the system works in reverse as well, to keep people from mistakenly entering the wrong door. “It prevents unwanted intrusions.” 

The community, situated on 16.5 acres of the former Fitz Farm, will have studio, one- and two-bedroom apartments. 

Among the amenities that will be available to residents and their families are patios, walking paths, fitness center, hair salon, bistro, rathskeller (basement restaurant), library, activities rooms and a sunroom. 

Smeltzer noted that the fitness center technology and equipment are specially designed as well for the senior demographic. Individually programmed electronic resistance cards track each participant’s activity, he said. 

For seniors living with memory impairments, the Life Stories Memory Care Program “offers a safe, warm and dignified setting,” a press release said. 

And in the assisted living apartments, residents will have access to a 24-hour personal care team and three daily meals prepared by in-house chefs. Weekly housekeeping, laundry and other services are available upon request, too. 

Units will also be designed to maximize safety, mobility and independence. 

The Residence at Fitz Farm will offer a short-term respite care program as well, where guests will enjoy a home-like setting with medication management, personal care assistance, nutritious meals and rehabilitation with occupational therapy. 

Smeltzer said this program can be used by seniors in the larger community whose caregivers need a break; by residents who require more rehab before moving back into their apartments; or by those who want to give The Residence at Fitz Farm a trial run before committing. 

In the release, IntegraCare CEO Larry Rouvelas said, “York has a great tradition of senior housing but no new community has been built in the last 15 years. During that time, a lot has been learned, design-wise, about how to create a place where seniors live vibrant lives. York’s seniors deserve the state-of-the-art. Avenue and IntegraCare are proud to bring it to them.” 

Matt Kwapis, vice president of development for Avenue Development, said this is the first collaboration between his company and IntegraCare. 

“We were working to try to find the right spot,” he said. 

And Avenue Development “absolutely” wants to partner with IntegraCare again, Kwapis said. “It’s a world class organization with tremendous employees,” and the staff tenure is one of the best in the industry. 

Smeltzer said The Residence at Fitz Farm is IntegraCare’s first senior living community in York County and its 12th in Pennsylvania. The company also currently operates four others, in Virginia and Maryland. 

IntegraCare communities in the region include The Woods at Cedar Run, in Camp Hill, and Magnolias of Lancaster.