Long-Term Care

Since 1908, Good Shepherd has provided long-term care for people with severe neurological and physical disabilities.

Whether an individual requires a life-long home or a stepping stone to independent living, Good Shepherd’s long-term care centers can help realize his or her fullest potential while living in a comfortable, professionally supervised environment.

The long-term care program at Good Shepherd Home – Raker Center in Allentown and Good Shepherd Home – Bethlehem is home to 159 individuals, with the average age ranging from 45 to 55. The program’s primary focus is to support and promote independence as defined by each resident, regardless of his or her physical or neurological challenges.

Criteria for Admission

• Applicants may refer themselves or they may be referred by family members, agency representatives, pastors, physicians or others.
• Applicants must be at least 12 years of age.
• Applicants must have a diagnosis meeting criteria for a special rehabilitation long-term care facility, as defined by the Pennsylvania Department of Public Welfare. Diagnoses are neurological and neuromuscular in nature and include cerebral palsy, spina bifida, muscular dystrophy, quadriplegia, multiple sclerosis, spinal cord injury and brain injury.

How to Apply

To provide basic information about an applicant and to request an application, contact:

Sandra Honsel
Administrative Assistant, Good Shepherd Home – Bethlehem
Phone: 610-807-5627
Fax: 610-776-3143
shonsel@gsrh.org

Emily Shaffer
Administrative Assistant, Good Shepherd Home – Raker Center
Phone: 610-776-3511
Fax: 610-776-3143
eshaffer@gsrh.org

Diagnoses Served

• Brain injury
• Cerebral palsy
• Multiple sclerosis (MS)
• Muscular dystrophy
• Quadriplegia
• Spina bifida
• Spinal cord injuries
• Other neurological disorders

Long-Term Care Environment

Good Shepherd’s long-term program provides an environment for expanding a resident’s life experiences and maximizing his or her potential.

Good Shepherd’s physical therapists work with residents to improve or preserve strength, flexibility and overall mobility. Occupational therapists help maximize functional independence in the areas of self-care, work and leisure by using adaptive equipment and assistive technology.

Speech therapists help improve, alter, augment or compensate for a communication disability. A well-rounded leisure program led by certified therapeutic recreation specialists includes social opportunities, creative expression, leisure education, intellectual stimulation, physical exercise and community integration.

Interdisciplinary Team and In-House Services

• 24/7 medical coverage with in-house visits by the same physician groups for better continuity
• Rehabilitative services, including physical therapy, occupational therapy, speech therapy and therapeutic recreation
• Assistive technology, including state-of-the-art wheelchairs, adaptive seating, adaptive computer access, environmental controls and augmentative communications. Assistive technology expertise is provided by licensed therapists and assistive technology professionals.
• 24-hour individualized nursing care by registered nurses (RNs), licensed practical nurses (LPNs) and certified nursing assistants (CNAs), including specialized wound and skin care and a certified infection control preventionist
• Respiratory therapy services that include, but are not limited to, tracheotomy and ventilator care
• Care management services by licensed social workers, each assigned to individual residents and their families, to offer support for all psychosocial and behavioral needs
• Pastoral care services provided by an on-staff chaplain plus the accessibility for residents of different faiths to practice their beliefs
• Care clinics for dental, podiatry (including orthopedic footwear and orthotics), optometry, cardiology, GYN and wheelchairs
• Nutrition services with registered dieticians who closely follow each resident’s nutritional status
• Beautician services
• Resident Council and Family Council
• Public and private transportation
• Access to Good Shepherd Rehabilitation Network services, such as radiology, laboratory, pharmacy and support groups, including head trauma, muscular dystrophy and multiple sclerosis
• Community Transition Program that assess each resident’s potential for independent living. When appropriate, transitional planning, which includes skill development and the coordination of community services, will be provided.