For the 16 residents living at Pleasant Trees Assisted Living and Personal Care Home, 65 Lizard Creek Road, Lehighton, it's an inviting and friendly place to reside.

Peter Fitzgibbon, owner and administrator, enjoys planting flowers and planted a vegetable garden that will be shared with the residents. Fitzgibbon leaves most of the day to day running of the center to his qualified, caring and pleasant staff.The word pleasant is more than a name at Pleasant Trees. The pleasant atmosphere surrounds the residents and staff who are more like family with the residents.Pleasant Trees has mostly 70-plus year old seniors who need a little help in their personal lives with medication or meals and don't want to be a burden on their families.At Pleasant Trees, seniors find socialization, friends and activities that liven up their days. They might take a ride for ice cream cones in the middle of the day or they may need transportation for medical appointments that would be difficult to schedule for many working families. There are also a variety of other activities to look forward to at the center.Seniors can receive visitors or take part in exercise activities, plus they can have support for bathing and in the bathroom. Their clothes are laundered at the center and they enjoy home cooked meals, which are made on premises. The staff observes holidays with parties and hosts a Mother's Day Tea and Father's Day Barbecue to give the seniors plenty of social times with family and friends. Church services are held every Sunday at Pleasant Trees."We have a smaller center, which allows us to offer more personal services," said Donna Smith, director of resident services.Pleasant Trees has suites and semi or private rooms, depending on the need or preference.There are a variety of seating areas, where seniors can entertain small or larger groups of family, plus they offer privacy for in-home services or for therapy sessions."A lot of the services come here to the residents because it is more convenient," said Julie Gintvainis, med-tech. "Our staff is available 24 hours a day, so if mom or dad isn't feeling well, you know they are not home alone.""We find that our residents become close friends and are concerned about each other," said Smith. "They care about each other."Gintvainis also noted that Pleasant Trees also offers short term respite care in a pleasant setting.Pleasant Trees is neat and clean with rooms painted soft pleasant colors. Each room is decorated a bit differently and residents bring personal items to make each room feel like home."Smith said that the staff at Pleasant Trees knows the residents so well that when one of them isn't feeling well, it is quickly noted and they call the families right away."We treat our residents like they are family," said Smith. "We know that is how we would want our family member to be treated. We act as though they are our family."Pleasant Tress also offers continence management, health monitoring of blood pressure, diabetic management, nutritious meals and snacks, individual attention, recreation activities, on site podiatry, home-care and hospice services. Veterans benefits are welcome.Pleasant Trees senior living facility is situated on five acres of lush countryside in East Penn Township, just outside of Lehighton in Carbon County. For more information about Pleasant Trees, please call (610) 377-3966.