Elan Skilled Nursing and Rehab Receives $1.35 Million in Commonwealth Grants

Elan Skilled Nursing and Rehab, A Jewish Senior Life Community formerly known as the Jewish Home of Eastern Pennsylvania, received funding through two state grants that will help modernize and enhance its location in downtown Scranton. The grants, for $1 million and $350,000 respectively, were awarded through the Commonwealth of Pennsylvania.

“We are as proud, as we are pleased, to receive these grants,” said Elan Skilled Board President Jim Alperin. “We are honored by the Commonwealth’s re-investment into our Elan Skilled community that will assist our Board of Directors in providing the capital improvements that are fundamental to bringing this project to fruition for seniors in our northeast Pennsylvania region. These funds will not only add economic growth to the greater Scranton area but provide a service that will significantly improve the quality of care and quality of life for our seniors. This is another step in our strategic footprint to provide the best in care in northeast Pennsylvania and this funding will go a long way toward achieving and maintaining that goal.”

Elan Skilled Nursing and Rehab Center began a renovation of its 2nd floor in June 2022.

The first grant for $1 million was funded through the Redevelopment Assistance Capital Program for building infrastructure to update critical priorities such as HVAC, electrical work, demolition/construction and plumbing for the home’s five floors that serves more than 100 residents.

The second grant for $350,000 was funded from the Department of Community and Economic Development to assist with the construction and dedication of the 2nd floor renovation project to create “The Bridge at Elan.”

“The Bridge at Elan, will offer 20 short-term stay suites focused solely on providing rehabilitation services and high acuity nursing care for medically complex needs for seniors who need a short stay between hospital discharge and return home” said Elan Skilled Administrator Mary Rose Applegate. “Additionally, The Bridge at Elan will host a state-of-the-art, 1,200-square-foot dialysis den, where in partnership with DaVita Dialysis, we will provide dialysis services for both short-stay and long-term Elan Skilled residents in need of both services.”

“Both of these projects are absolutely critical to Scranton and to our region,” said State Sen. Marty Flynn, PA District 22 (Lackawanna). “The ability to modernize their building infrastructure and construct a unique on-premise dialysis center will bring both expert level care and more family sustaining jobs to Northeast PA. I was proud to support the funding of both projects and will remain a strong advocate for their mission.”

The Redevelopment Assistance Capital Program (RACP) is a Commonwealth grant program administered by the Office of the Budget for the acquisition and construction of regional economic, cultural, civic, recreational, and historical improvement projects. RACP projects are authorized in the Redevelopment Assistance section of a Capital Budget Itemization Act, have a regional or multi-jurisdictional impact, and generate substantial increases or maintain current levels of employment, tax revenues, or other measures of economic activity. RACP projects are state-funded projects that cannot obtain primary funding under other state programs.