MapleShade Meadows Senior Living Community, Nesquehoning, wants people to retire their old notions of what a personal care home is all about.

At MapleShade, it's about Tai Chi, shopping trips, live entertainment, parties, enjoying a cappuccino with friends in the MapleLeaf Bistro and perusing the menu to decide what to have for dinner when you want it.It's also about short-term "respite" stays of weeks or months: Taking a break from shoveling snow and struggling with frozen pipes during the winter months, or having a cozy, caring place to recuperate from cataract surgery. It's also about long-term living, free from the burdens and worries of maintaining a house.While MapleShade Meadows has always been a pleasant place for seniors to stay, its new management, Genesis HealthCare of Kennett Square, Chester County, is making the community an even better place to live.Genesis came on board with MapleShade, owned by the Insalaco Development Corp., in April, said Regional Director for Sales and Marketing Kristen O'Leary. Genesis replaced

P.E.P.P. Unlimited, of Doylestown, Bucks County."We oversee the day-to-day operations," O'Leary said. That encompasses the clinical responsibilities, which include guests' initial assessments, evaluations, developing care plans, medication management, wellness programs, monthly in-servicing for staff on nutrition, diabetes management, fall prevention and other areas.The company also manages the dietary department."We're going toward more of an open-dining" plan, O'Leary said. "Normally, in these communities, you have breakfast at 8 a.m., lunch at 12 p.m. and dinner at 5 p.m." There are usually two choices of foods for each meal.At MapleShade, Genesis plans to open the dining room from 7 a.m. to 7 p.m., allowing guests to decide when to have their meals. Guests will also be able to order from menus."We're still keeping the favorite dishes here, and the favorite foods, and some residents' recipes," O'Leary said. "But we're also going toward things like omelet bars and Belgian waffle days and buffets. It's kind of like when you're on a cruise."Genesis also manages MapleShade's activity program, offering a variety of things to do."For years and years, all there was was Bingo," O'Leary said. The popular game is still offered, but now guests can also participate in horse racing, trivia, Wheel of Fortune, Uno, giant crossword puzzle, Concentration and other games. There are also group activities, including Down Memory Lane, "armchair traveler" cruises, Movin' and Groovin', Tai Chi and other exercise options, one-on-one visits and visit from folks who participate in local senior centers.MapleShade Meadows Director of Marketing and Admissions Kimberly Infante invites the senior center people to visit the senior community," O'Leary said."They'll come and they'll have card games, Bingo games, they'll eat breakfast here and mingle with our residents," she said.The visits bring new friends to MapleShade guests and allow the visitors to become familiar with MapleShade so they will feel at home if they decide to come for short stays or permanently, she said.She said that although people are staying in their own homes longer, with the help of outside agencies that provide help with meals, laundry, cleaning and medical needs, older people often feel lonely. Being in a senior community not only provides the necessary assistance, it provides a ready-made "neighborhood" of friends.MapleShade is offering a "Beat the Winter Blues" offer of 15 percent off rent for the three months."You can be lonely and isolated in the winter or you can here," O'Leary said. MapleShade is aiming for "more of a retirement community feel," O'Leary said. "But you still get the care you need."The Bistro offers wireless service, so guests can use their own laptops. O'Leary said Genesis is looking at bringing Skype to MapleShade, so that guests can talk "face-to-face" with distant family and friends."Genesis is definitely a positive change," Infante said."For us, Genesis coming in was wonderful because we weren't brought in to fix anything," O'Leary said. "We were brought in to enhance. They have great operations, they have great staff, they have great residents."