[Congressional Record Volume 150, Number 93 (Thursday, July 8, 2004)]
[Extensions of Remarks]
[Pages E1322-E1323]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




                        HONORING MANATAWNY MANOR

                                 ______
                                 

                            HON. JIM GERLACH

                            of pennsylvania

                    in the house of representatives

                         Thursday, July 8, 2004

  Mr. GERLACH. Mr. Speaker, I rise today to honor Manatawny Manor in 
recognition of 30 years of dedicated service to the senior citizens of 
Chester County, Pennsylvania.
  On July 8, 1974, Manatawny Manor opened its doors to provide care for 
senior citizens in need. It was founded by two notable men: Thomas 
Natoli and Frank Genuardi. These men created Manatawny Manor with a 
vision of providing unsurpassed service to the senior citizens of 
Chester County. Originally, Manatawny Manor was a one-story structure 
with 99 beds and five nursing staff members. On its first night of 
operation, there was only one resident. Since then, the numbers of 
citizens that Manatawny Manor has cared for has greatly increased. In 
the past thirty years, Manatawny Manor has provided and cared for over 
4,897 residents.
  Just four years after Manatawny Manor opened, substantial 
improvements were made to the facility. In 1978, a 107 bed personal 
care unit opened and, in 1986, an adult day care facility was added. 
The day care facility made more services available to senior citizens 
and can accommodate up 28 clients.
  Increased need for bed capacity in 1989 and 1996 led to renovation 
projects that expanded upon the original building, bringing the number 
of beds to 133. These additions and improvements were not focused 
solely on bed space, but also on improvements in the administrative 
offices, and the Rehabilitation Services Department.
  In 1998, Manatawny Manor was purchased by the Lutheran Home at 
Topton, thus becoming a part of Lutheran Services Northeast. On January 
1, 2000, through the affiliation of Lutheran Services Northeast and 
Tressler Lutheran Services, Manatawny Manor became a facility of the 
Diakon Lutheran Social Ministries. Diakon is a private, non-profit 
charitable organization of the Evangelical Lutheran Church of America. 
Diakon Lutheran Social Ministries has sought to provide the very best 
in long-term care through continuing care retirement communities, 
assisted living services, special care for those with dementia or 
Alzheimer's disease, short and long-term care skilled nursing, and 
outpatient rehabilitation.

[[Page E1323]]

  Mr. Speaker, I ask that my colleagues join me today in recognizing 
Manatawny Manor and Diakon Lutheran Social Ministries for 30 years of 
exceptional long term care and service to the people of Chester County, 
Pennsylvania.

                          ____________________