Moon Township, PA, (January 14, 2013) - CJ Betters Enterprises has made a charitable gift of land to LIFE Beaver County, the joint venture between Lutheran SeniorLife and Heritage Valley Health System, for the GREEN HOUSE® model expansion of LIFE Beaver County onto the former Aliquippa Hospital site.   C.J. Betters Enterprises acquired the 24-acre Aliquippa Community Hospital site in July of 2009 and has transferred the land through a donation.

A GREEN HOUSE® is a de-institutionalization effort of senior care programming supported by the Robert Wood Johnson Foundation to restore individuals to a home in the community. This program is leading the transformation of long-term care by creating an intentional community that directly supports a culture of Abundant Life® so that each person can reach their highest potential.
 
THE GREEN HOUSE® home is a unique model of senior living, designed like a private home, housing up to 10 residents. The physical space is not meant to be “homelike” but to be home for residents needing skilled level of care.  One unique feature in this home is that it is staffed by self-managed work teams that share all care and household responsibilities. THE GREEN HOUSE® model will be an extension of LIFE Beaver County or Living Independence for the Elderly (LIFE) program.

The innovative model is intended to:

• Create an environment where staff can engage in meaningful relationships and activities with residents;
• Combine small homes to de-institutionalize care and create intentional communities;
• Honor autonomy and choice; and
• Provide supports and safeguards to improve health outcomes.

There are 135 GREEN HOUSES in 21 states that are in operation, and 110 GREEN HOUSES in development in 11 additional states.   

The expansion builds upon the successful joint venture between Heritage Valley and Lutheran SeniorLife, LIFE Beaver County located in Center Township.  With 317 persons enrolled, LIFE Beaver County and its New Castle-based counterpart, LIFE Lawrence County are community-based programs designed to provide an alternative to nursing home care, helping to restore and preserve adult independence for older individuals who wish to remain in their homes or who choose to live with family members.

The GREEN HOUSE® homes will be located in Center Township, which is bordered by Aliquippa, a Pennsylvania Act 47 financially distressed community; Monaca, and the Ohio River overlooking Beaver and Baden. In addition to the construction jobs, Lutheran SeniorLife will create more than 30 new registered and licensed nurses and certified nursing assistant jobs to staff the GREEN HOUSES. The GREEN HOUSES are the first stage of redevelopment of the site into what is envisioned as a campus dedicated to older adults. The property development can also serve as an economic catalyst and sustainable model offering new jobs for the Aliquippa community that has lost its hospital and many manufacturing jobs over recent years.

About Lutheran SeniorLife
Lutheran SeniorLife is western Pennsylvania's premier provider of senior living and health care communities. Now in its second century of caring for seniors, the Christian faith-based ministry is the cornerstone of its mission — helping seniors live a full and Abundant Life® in a setting that promotes wellness and independence. In addition to residential and assisted living communities. Lutheran SeniorLife provides a comprehensive array of health and wellness services for seniors, including: home health care, rehabilitation services and this region's premier Alzheimer's care program.  Additional information about Lutheran SeniorLife and LIFE Beaver County is available online at www.lutheranseniorlife.org.

About Heritage Valley Health System
Heritage Valley Health System is a $470+ million integrated delivery network providing comprehensive health care for residents of Allegheny, Beaver, Butler and Lawrence counties, in Pennsylvania; eastern Ohio; and the panhandle of West Virginia. In partnership with 4,000 employees and more than 450 physicians, Heritage Valley offers a broad range of medical, surgical and diagnostic services at its two hospitals, Heritage Valley Sewickley and Heritage Valley Beaver; in 72 physician offices; and 14 community satellite facilities.  For more information about Heritage Valley Health System, please visit www.heritagevalley.org.

About C.J. Betters Enterprises
C. J. Betters Enterprises is a multifaceted organization active in the fields of construction and construction management; real estate development; property management; and industrial redevelopment including Brownfield reclamation.  C. J. Betters Enterprises encompasses several affiliated companies including C. J. Betters Real Estate, Inc.; Bet-Tech Construction Co., Inc. and Beaver Valley Slag, Inc. through which it manages all of its mining, demolition, development, construction and property management operations.  C. J. Betters Enterprises acquired the former Aliquippa Hospital out of bankruptcy in July 2009 with the hope of maintaining it as a health care facility to serve the Aliquippa, Hopewell and Center Township communities.