Luthercare: Reflecting Christ’s Love Through Service to Others

Custom elements in Ruth’s kitchen include lower cabinets outfitted with pullout shelves and drawers and an overhang on the peninsula that provides added workspace, as well as a seating area.

Meet Ruth Lohmeyer

Ruth has been a resident at Luther Acres, a Luthercare community in Lititz, since 2017. In some ways, Lititz reminds Ruth of Culpepper, Virginia – where she lived previously – as both have quaint and historic downtowns. She chose Luther Acres through visiting “dear, older friends” who had moved there in 2000. “Seeing their enjoyment in living at Luther Acres, and the care they received, when necessary, convinced me that Luther Acres – and Lititz – would be a wonderful place to live during my retirement years,” Ruth explains. “Making the adjustment to living at Luther Acres was fairly easy for me, plus it helped that other long-time friends had moved here a week before I did.”

As for cooking, Ruth enjoys trying new recipes in her cottage’s kitchen, noting that “new flavors and new methods of cooking” intrigue her. “I grew up on a Kansas farm with a large vegetable garden and typical farm animals, which provided much of the food for our family,” she recalls. “My mother was a very good cook and baker; her cinnamon rolls and pies were delicious. From a fairly young age, I’ve always enjoyed trying new recipes. The past several years I’ve been experimenting with sous vide cooking, as well as smoking meats on my small outdoor smoker.”

Ruth (above, left) welcomes friends and neighbors, Debby Kramer (center) and Carol Samara, to lunch at her cottage-style home. The three boast backgrounds in education. Ruth and Debby work part-time at The Savory Gourmet in Lititz.

The Importance of Kitchen Design at Luthercare

We have designed our cottage and apartment kitchens to be functional and stylish, with features and storage solutions that make life a little easier for older adults. Our goal is to offer beautiful kitchen spaces that lead to a relaxing, enjoyable retirement – whether you love to cook or would rather order in and entertain!

Most of our floor plans include open-concept kitchens and living space. In full kitchen renovations, residents can customize much of the space to suit their personal needs and preferences through their selections of cabinetry, hardware, countertops, flooring and paint. There are numerous upgrade options, such as extending kitchen cabinets to the ceiling, adding a backsplash or including a countertop overhang for more workspace and additional seating. Our storage options maximize kitchen space, while soft-glide drawers and cabinets are easy for anyone with arthritis to use. Ruth’s favorite features in the design of her kitchen include the large peninsula, which is perfect to serve buffet-style meals to guests, and the large lower-level drawers she opted for, rather than cabinets with shelves.

Dining Options on Campus

Our chef-inspired dining venues have the feel of your favorite full-service restaurant – complete with professional waitstaffs and menus to delight all tastes. Each day, you’ll enjoy choosing delicious made-from-scratch items, including signature dishes, regional favorites and freshly made desserts. We offer dine-in or take-out options. Additionally, residents are welcome to enjoy BYOB dining with friends and neighbors.

Food Culture

We know that food is one of the best ways to bring friends and neighbors together and enjoy each other’s company! In our dining venues, we offer fresh, locally sourced fruits and vegetables; many of our dishes include ingredients from local farms. At Luther Acres, residents can grow their own vegetables in the Horticulture Center; many enjoy sharing their homegrown fare with friends. We also offer special dining experiences such as multi-course themed dinners; beer, wine and cordial tastings; BYOB gatherings and more.

Overview

Type of Community

Continuing Care Retirement Community (CCRC)

Range of Services

Luthercare’s three senior-living communities – Luther Acres in Lititz, St. John’s Herr Estate in Columbia, and Spang Crest in Lebanon – offer a lifestyle rich in services, amenities and programs. Luthercare provides active Independent Living, supportive Personal Care, Memory Care, Skilled Nursing Care, Rehabilitation Services and In-home Care.

Residential Options

Our communities feature comfortable and stylish Independent Living cottages and apartments whose designs, styles and budgets meet a resident’s needs. We also offer beautifully updated private Rehabilitation rooms, private/companion Personal Care suites and private/semi-private Skilled Nursing Care rooms.

Clubs/Activities

Our communities offer a variety of opportunities for residents to share their interests, cultivate hobbies or develop new pursuits. Such opportunities include clubs devoted to books, poker, walking, computers and gardening to name a few. Other activities include a water-volleyball team, choirs and many more.