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Family owned and operated since 1958

About Zerbe Retirement Community

Our Rich History of Creativity and Compassion Shapes Who We Are Today

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zerbe sisters

Since our founding in 1958, Zerbe Retirement Community has grown to become an extended family to the community, offering security and tender loving care to both residents and their families.

Strong family values shared by the ambitious entrepreneurs, Dot and Sis Zerbe, Ann Zerbe Good, and Ann's husband, Curly (Omar) Good, led to Zerbe Retirement Community's creation, previously known as Zerbe Sisters Nursing Center. The commitment to care for and serve residents with respect and compassion—the lasting legacy of the Zerbe Sisters and their family—still drives our mission, core values, and daily approach to care and service.

Family involvement also remains a hallmark at Zerbe Retirement Community, as the next generation continues the tradition of family warmth and caring, which has set the Zerbe Sisters apart from the beginning. Nancy Caffrey-Schafer, niece of the Zerbe Sisters, serves as President. Her son, Dan Caffrey, is now the CEO and is very active in the community.

Timeline:

1958 - the founders—members of the Zerbe family—began boarding residents at their farmhouse in Bowmansville, Pennsylvania.

1960 - Dot, Sis, and Ann Zerbe became Licensed Practical Nurses (LPNs) and began offering the quality nursing care that people remember and expect today.

1961 - The Zerbe Sisters and Curly (Ann's husband) purchased our current site, a 62-acre estate with two elegant stone buildings, from the late Dr. Walter Rigg. The Carriage House, now called the Annex, was renovated to accommodate 13 residents. The main house, known as the Mansion, housed 20 residents.

1973 - Two new nursing wings were built.

1978 - Another three nursing wings were completed. As these new wings were added, spacious lounges with beautiful brick and stone fireplaces were built for the enjoyment of the residents and their visitors.

1997 - A personal care residence, Harvest View, was added to respond to the changing needs and expectations of older adults. Its connection to the nursing center provides ready access to higher levels of care, while its separate entrance, dining, and activity areas provide independence and privacy for personal care residents.

Today - Zerbe Sisters Nursing Center, Harvest View Personal Care, and Woodland Heights, a campus of independent living cottages, combine to create Zerbe Retirement Community. This neighborhood offers a unique and friendly environment for people with a variety of interests and needs. At Zerbe Retirement Community, everybody knows your name, and we truly care about you.

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What We Can Offer You

At Zerbe Retirement Community, you can expect a senior living campus that delivers the best in retirement community living. As one of our residents, you'll enjoy a carefree, fun, independent, and secure lifestyle thanks to the attentive and excellent care and service provided by our staff members. Our mission at Zerbe Retirement Community is to enrich the lives of those who live and work with us by recognizing their unique needs and the universal desire for dignity and respect.

Life at our retirement community is made even more enjoyable by our dedicated and compassionate staff who help with our residents' every need. From groundskeepers and housekeepers, professional culinary team, to our personal care, medical professionals, and more—residents are surrounded by people who care about their happiness. There's a reason so many of our staff have been with us for years—our residents consider them family—and so do we. We're incredibly proud of our Zerbe family.

Compassionate Care

Here at Zerbe Retirement Community, residents regularly compliment us on our fantastic staff. We attribute this to hiring kind, empathetic team members with a willingness to listen and offer support and a desire to serve older adults. The ability to demonstrate these characteristics while bringing a person-centered approach to resident care is the pinnacle of what we strive for. Our compassionate caregivers are experienced in all senior health care areas and treat residents as individuals with the dignity and respect they deserve.

Extensive Experience

We have a well-established history of experienced caregiving at Zerbe Retirement Community. This history dates back more than 60 years ago when the Zerbe Sisters Nursing Center began serving the senior community with a commitment to compassionate care. Today, we continue this tradition by always providing quality care for our residents. Our skilled nursing facility consists of experienced, licensed, and certified RNs, LPNs, CNAs, and support staff who provide 24/7 constant care. Ensuring every resident enjoys the highest quality of life possible is our mission.

A Fulfilling Community

Community makes all the difference in life, and at Zerbe Retirement Community, you'll experience the benefits that come from being part of a close-knit and caring senior living community. You'll enjoy an ever-changing calendar of exciting activities and community events as well as a full suite of comprehensive senior care services and amenities. Plus, you're in convenient proximity to nearby shopping, restaurants, and local Lancaster County events. So every day is an adventure waiting to happen.

Do you think you'd enjoy your retirement years to the fullest in one of our Woodland Heights independent living homes? Perhaps you require personal care and general assisted daily living found in our Harvest View suites' nurturing environment? Whatever your unique needs might be, our friendly senior living campus is for you!

Why Choose Zerbe Retirement Community?

Located in northeastern Lancaster County, Zerbe Retirement Community provides worry-free independent living for active seniors in a caring environment. We are a rare, close-knit community made up of experienced, licensed RNs, LPNs, and CNAs, support staff, and residents that function as an extended family.

Our 60-acre campus supports all levels of retirement living in a continuing care retirement community (CCRC) format. From independent residents looking for a friendly senior living community to those in need of additional assistance from our warm, caring, and compassionate staff, Zerbe Retirement Community has it all. Surrounded by nature's beauty and the rich farmlands of Lancaster County, our residents enjoy peaceful country living as well as the convenience of nearby shopping, restaurants, and local events.

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Nearby Attractions and Things to Do

Our campus setting is naturally beautiful—located among farm fields and woodlands in pastoral Lancaster County. But, Zerbe Retirement Community is also located incredibly close to so many exciting attractions. Learn more about our fun-filled senior living community!

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Core Values

  • We exist to honor God by offering unconditional love to the older generations we serve and to each person who visits or works in our community.
  • We recognize the needs, accept and value the individuality of each resident, family member, visitor and staff member.
  • We treat each resident, family member, visitor and staff member as we would like to be treated.
  • We recognize and prioritize the needs of others in a respectful manner.
zerbe community

Join Us for a Visit

We are proud of the senior living community we've built at Zerbe Retirement Community and invite you to visit our campus to tour our facilities, talk with our staff, and meet all of our "extended family" here on campus.

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