Retirees flock to Pennsylvania for its lenient tax policy and outstanding health care. In particular, the Keystone State’s heartland attracts seniors with its temperature climate, steady economy and breathtaking nature. Discover the best retirement communities in central PA and decide which one fits your lifestyle.
How to Compare Retirement Communities
Senior living communities vary, catering to the unique needs of different retirees. Moving to an incompatible one will adversely affect your experience, depriving you of the medical attention you need and restricting your ability to enjoy life in your golden years.
Critical factors to consider are levels of care, housing, dining and notable amenities.
Levels of Care
Retirement communities generally offer four levels of care.
- Independent living: Independent living neighborhoods allow residents to enjoy a maintenance-free lifestyle so they can pursue various interests during their sunset years.
- Personal care: Personal care homes offer accommodation, prepare meals for residents and assist with activities of daily living such as bathing, dressing, eating and taking medications.
- Assisted living: Assisted living residences provide residents with various housing and dining options, plus complement personal care with skilled health care services.
- Skilled nursing care: Skilled nursing facilities go beyond the basics, providing round-the-clock advanced medical care for seniors with complex health needs. These communities employ staff trained to deliver specialized medical care — such as registered nurses and certified nursing aides. They also offer rehabilitation services to residents who need physical, occupational or speech therapy.
- Memory care: Memory care facilities specialize in delivering long-term care to residents with declining cognitive health. These communities offer customized exercise programs and activities to nurture the body, mind and spirit, promoting holistic well-being. Memory care environments feel more homelike than clinical, providing comfort and familiarity to people with dementia.
Independent living communities in the region may also offer respite care services that provide short-term living arrangements for older adults whose primary caregivers need a break.
Some communities double as home care agencies. They send personal assistants to retirees who choose to age in place. On-call caregivers can do chores on your or your elderly loved ones’ behalf, including grocery shopping, meal preparation, doing the laundry and decluttering rooms.
Housing
The retirement communities in the state’s capital region offer diverse housing options to suit different needs and budgets.
You can find freestanding homes and apartment units and choose from dozens of floor plans. Some units can house single persons for privacy, while others support communal living for socialization.
Dining
Senior living campuses have commercial kitchens to prepare delectable meals for residents who wish to dine in private or social spaces. These communities generally welcome concessionaires to offer more options to suit different dining preferences.
Amenities
The finest retirement communities are essentially small towns, bursting with modern amenities to make daily life fun and convenient for elderly residents. They offer well-thought-out programs and events to keep retirees physically active, emotionally satisfied, socially engaged and spiritually fulfilled.
3 Best Retirement Communities in Central PA
Out of the region’s dozens of established senior living communities, these three are high on the list.
1. Messiah Lifeways
Messiah Lifeways is an institution. This village started as an orphanage called Messiah Rescue and Benevolent Home in 1986.
Founded by two members of the Mechanicsburg Brethren in Christ congregation, the community expanded to accommodate aging adults in the 1960s after new care concepts emerged. This nonprofit never looked back, sustaining its mission to help adults aged 55 or over live their golden years with purpose and Christ-like love.
Key Features
Care options |
Personal care, assisted living, skilled nursing care, memory care, home care and respite care |
Housing |
Estate homes, cottages and studio and two-bedroom apartments |
Dining |
Kathryn’s on the Square, Fireside Grille, Evergreen Café and Café 100 |
Notable amenities |
Pool, strength training and fitness studios, Cerise Day Spa, Messiah Village Church and senior centers |
Locations |
Mechanicsburg, Mount Joy and New Cumberland, Penn. |
Who Is Messiah Lifeways Best Suited For?
Messiah Lifeways is one of the best retirement communities in Central PA for aging adults with unique lifestyles and medical needs. The organization’s broad range of options speaks volumes about its expertise in caregiving and nursing.
This nonprofit attracts retirees seeking diverse activities designed to promote holistic health. Its Pathways Institute for Lifelong Learning gives the 55+ community abundant educational opportunities to gain wisdom and discover new experiences.
Residents at Messiah Lifeways can participate in courses, lectures and cultural events in various educational settings. They can also mentor and lead discussions with peers, serve the community and immerse themselves in intergenerational exchanges.
This nonprofit also extends nonmedical caregiving services to home-based retirees, helping them with grocery shopping, meal preparation, housekeeping, pet care and other chores.
Messiah Lifeways makes life easier for the loved ones of home-based aging adults. The organization can welcome these seniors for 14 to 30 days, allowing their primary caregivers to recharge their batteries.
If you live with an elderly — especially one with memory loss or cognitive impairment — you can benefit from the nonprofit’s Adult Day program. It allows you to leave your loved one in a loving environment while you take care of your other responsibilities during the day.
What Types of Housing Does Messiah Lifeways Have?
Messiah Lifeways residences include studio, one-bedroom and two-bedroom apartments, cottages and estate homes. Dozens of floor plans are available, featuring units with garages, finished basements, sunrooms, balconies and dens.
Many of these residential units are single-story or on the ground level and close to life-affirming amenities, promising convenient and maintenance-free senior living.
What Dining Options Does Messiah Lifeways Offer?
This retirement community has four restaurants offering delectable snacks and wholesome breakfast, lunch and dinner meals.
Kathryn’s on the Square serves dinner specials reinvented weekly by its culinary team, and accepts reservations for small gatherings. Fireside Grille welcomes dine-in patrons and hosts Sunday lunch buffets, while Evergreen Café specializes in grab-and-go goodies. Café 100 is open daily from morning to evening and has a children’s menu.
What Amenities Does Messiah Lifeways Provide?
Messiah Lifeways has wellness facilities that encourage older adults to do moderate aerobic exercise. You can lift weights and participate in aquatic activities, including lap swimming, aqua yoga and water volleyball.
The organization’s Cerise Day Spa offers a menu of spa treatments for residents, staff members and guests. If you prefer to socialize with fellow residents, you can choose from two social hubs to connect with others and bond over countless activities.
Messiah Lifeways celebrates Christian values and principles. You can join the Sunday worship at the Messiah Village BIC Church. This nonprofit also offers pastoral care where you can explore contemplative opportunities, partake in Bible studies and more.
2. Harmony at West Shore
Harmony at West Shore is one of over 45 retirement communities nationwide operated by the award-winning Harmony Senior Services — an organization A Place for Mom has crowned as the Best for Senior Living. It also bears the Caring Star logo.
Harmony prioritizes carefree living, senior dignity and simplified billing. Its residents enjoy a maintenance-free lifestyle and preserve their connections with the outside world.
Key Features
Care options |
Independent living, personal care and memory care |
Housing |
One-bedroom and two-bedroom apartments |
Dining |
Chef-prepared meals, full-sized in-apartment kitchens and kitchenettes, a bistro with restaurant-style dining rooms |
Notable amenities |
Concierge service, round-the-clock fitness center, emergency call system, community game rooms, movie theater, library and scheduled chauffeured transportation |
Location |
Mechanicsburg, Penn. |
Who Is Harmony at West Shore Best Suited For?
Older adults who value freedom, flexibility and autonomy will likely find this community a paradise. Harmony at West Shore is Central PA’s best retirement community for independent living. Its calendar of activities makes every day eventful for all retirees. You can join clubs to sustain your beloved hobbies, explore novel interests and forge new relationships. This community’s life enrichment director has boundless ideas to help everyone find their passions and expand their horizons.
Harmony personal care residents enjoy the closest thing to aging in place. You never have to worry about housekeeping and laundry, plus you get to gain a sense of community with fellow golden-agers and friendly staff. With Harmony’s shuttle transportation, residents can go shopping and explore local attractions — including parks and historic sites.
The organization’s Reflections Program lets aging adults combat cognitive decline with music and art therapies to stimulate positive memories. Harmony collaborates with each memory care resident’s family to create a life story profile and craft a personalized plan based on the resident’s history, habits, routines and preferences.
Compassionate caregivers give cognitively impaired residents specialized attention 24/7 and engage them in their daily experiences.
What Types of Housing Does Harmony at West Shore Have?
Harmony at West Shore offers spacious one- and two-bedroom apartments. There are 27 floor plans, and many of the units are pet-friendly.
Independent living residents can access sought-after amenities — such as fully furnished modern kitchens, individually controlled heating and air conditioning, personal washers and dryers, private patios and sunrooms.
Harmony’s personal care residents live in well-appointed, pet-friendly homes with updated kitchenettes, individual temperature controls and accessibility-optimized bathrooms.
Memory care residents stay in one-bedroom apartments with secure indoor and outdoor areas. These homes are smaller by design to aid navigability and promote comfort for people living with dementia.
What Dining Options Does Harmony at West Shore Offer?
This program prioritizes structured meal and refreshment times and socialization. Independent living and personal care residents can chat with their neighbors at the community’s on-campus bistro. Independent living residents enjoy one chef-prepared meal daily, while personal care residents get three dietitian-approved ones. Everyone can enjoy refreshments and snacks as they please.
Dining with Dignity is part of Harmony’s Reflections program. It allows memory care residents to eat independently and socialize while receiving personalized support when needed.
What Amenities Does Harmony at West Shore Provide?
Residents of independent living and personal care neighborhoods can access Harmony at West Shore’s breadth of amenities. You can use the community’s fitness facilities to receive physical and occupational therapy and participate in cultural events and celebrations.
Everyone can enjoy the community’s concierge service, 24/7 emergency call system, weekly housekeeping assistance and landscape maintenance service.
3. Garden Spot Village
Garden Spot Village is a continuing care retirement community founded on the Christian faith. Despite this nonprofit’s religious origins, it has welcomed residents and guests of different creeds and backgrounds since 1996.
Key Features
Care options |
Personal care, skilled nursing, memory care and home care |
Housing |
Single-family homes, apartments and cooperative living houses |
Dining |
Refresh — Starbucks, The Creamery, The Coop, The Harvest Table and The Terrace Dining Room |
Notable amenities |
Personal transportation service, wellness centers, campus gardens, greenhouse, WellSpan Health Center, Garden Spot Village Chapel and shops |
Locations |
New Holland, Penn. |
Who Is Garden Spot Village Best Suited For?
Garden Spot Village is the ideal home for retirees with minimal or specialized medical needs seeking an engaging lifestyle. This nonprofit balances independence and support, giving residents control over their day-to-day lives while providing much-needed care.
Garden Spot Village emphasizes active living and socialization. You can join numerous microcommunities — clubs where you can connect with like-minded neighbors and share interests you’re passionate about.
Service is in the organization’s DNA. Garden Spot Village provides plenty of opportunities to contribute through donations, volunteerism, intergenerational interactions and purposeful trips.
The organization takes pride in delivering person-centered care. Its compassionate staff is available and ready to assist personal care residents with anything they need — from hygiene to medication management.
Garden Spot Village has an interdisciplinary team of health professionals, including social workers, dietitians, nurses and therapists, dedicated to attending to the unique needs of residents in intimate skilled nursing households.
The nonprofit has created a well-thought-out neighborhood for people living with dementia, helping residents manage the effects of cognitive decline with tenderness and comfort in mind.
Garden Spot Village offers nonmedical home care services to seniors aging in place. Its DayBreak program allows nonresidents to benefit from its state-of-the-art amenities, receive supportive care and engage in uplifting activities to live purposefully.
What Types of Housing Does Garden Spot Village Have?
Garden Spot Village operates six neighborhoods. With 29 floor plans, it’s the best retirement community in the Central PA region for housing diversity.
This organization recreates suburban living without spacious, fully furnished single-family homes — including carriage homes and cottages — with a layout built around the concept of community. Each unit has a thoughtful design to promote a sense of well-being.
This nonprofit has apartment complexes with studio, one-bedroom and two-bedroom units, balancing privacy and density. Its Thistledown Cooperative Living House sleeps up to five occupants who function as a family, combining companionship and affordable housing.
What Dining Options Does Garden Spot Village Offer?
Garden Spot Village has five restaurants that source fresh produce from an on-campus greenhouse. Each offers interactive menus, enabling you to compare dishes based on nutritional value. Some accept preorders for lunch or dinner, honor reservations and offer catering.
What Amenities Does Garden Spot Village Provide?
Garden Spot Village has a transportation service that chauffeurs residents to local attractions, errands, social events, doctor’s appointments and the airport
While you can conveniently go wherever you want, the campus is largely self-sustaining. Garden Spot Village has a pool, fitness area, gardens, church and three retail shops. The community is also home to the WellSpan Health Center — a full-service outpatient clinic.
Choose From the Best Retirement Communities in Central PA to Experience Fine Senior Living
Older adults deserve to enjoy a vibrant and fulfilling lifestyle in an environment tailored to their goals, needs and values. Do your research, read reviews and look forward to a retirement filled with comfort, convenience and personal growth. Begin the next chapter of your life in one of Central PA’s top retirement communities and savor the benefits of exceptional senior living.
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