Leaving the Pace and Politics of the Nation's Capitol

Every once in a while it’s nice to leave the pace and politics of the nation’s capitol and explore communities beyond the beltway. I recently journeyed to New Holland in Lancaster County, Pennsylvania, where the Old Order Amish and Mennonites still toil the fields and get from place to place by horse-drawn buggy. Lancaster County is home to America’s oldest Amish settlement, where thousands still live a centuries-old “Plain” lifestyle.

Amidst the farms, fields and simple life, which harken back to days gone by, lies a community at the forefront of person-directed care and services.  Garden Spot Village is among the AAHSA  members who offer skilled nursing households where groups of 16-22 seniors reside.  Though I had heard much about the household model, experiencing it firsthand was far different. I immediately sensed the feel of home as I stepped through the front door of this community within a community within a community. As CEO Steve Lindsey explained, the sounds and smells of a meal preparation offer comfort and familiarity, and often evoke fond memories. In this newer model of care, individual needs and choices are paramount.  Residents rise when they wish, congregate around the kitchen for conversation, and enjoy made-to-order meals.

My brief visit made a strong impression. As I left, pulling out onto a thread of highway in the otherwise open green landscape, I marveled at the innovations and advancements  that Garden Spot Village and other members have successfully implemented.

When I drove past a horse-drawn buggy plodding its way up a hill, I caught sight of three Amish women huddled inside in the 95 degree heat,  and it struck me that progress takes place in all types of settings and appears in many different forms.