Rebuilt Colonial Courtyard at Clearfield has chance to shine after devastating fire

CLEARFIELD, Pa. - July 7, 2016 - PRLog -- Elizabeth Lumadue is hoping for a solid turnout during a two-day Open House event at the rebuilt Colonial Courtyard at Clearfield on July 9-10.

    Lumadue, 25, is optimistic about the prospects of the public and potential future residents of the senior living community stopping by the site at 1300 Leonard Street from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m. both days.

    "This is an exciting time," said Lumadue, a medication assistant in the Colonial Courtyard at Clearfield Nursing Department. "The new Colonial Courtyard at Clearfield is bigger and better than the previous building. The fire might have destroyed the old building, but our spirit and determination to improve the lives of our residents is even stronger now than three years ago."

   Lumadue was part of the team at the Clearfield senior living community before a fire destroyed the building on June 25, 2013. No one was injured during the blaze, which was caused by a lightning strike.

    After the fire, she continued to work for IntegraCare, which operates Colonial Courtyard at Clearfield as well as a number of communities throughout Pennsylvania and Maryland. Lumadue, who resides in Clearfield, commuted to Blair County to work at Colonial Courtyard at Tyrone, another IntegraCare senior living community.

    "Liz had to drive an hour each way to work at Tyrone, but she was committed to continue to work for IntegraCare," said Candy Shomo, Executive Director of Colonial Courtyard at Clearfield. "Liz is a dedicated team member."

     The June 2013 fire destroyed the original structure, which was demolished and rebuilt in the form of a modern 46,591 square foot building with 71 suites in assisted living (54) and memory care (17) neighborhoods.

    A grand opening was held in March, but now that the Colonial Courtyard at Clearfield team and residents have had time to settle in, it seemed like a perfect opportunity to hold an open house for the public.

    "We want to invite anyone who might not have known that we're back to stop by and check out our newly-opened community," Shomo said. "We also welcome those who are familiar with the Colonial Courtyard at Clearfield community to become reacquainted with us."

    Lumadue was part of the Clearfield team for five years prior to the fire.

    "I volunteered with the Courtyard even before I had a job here," she said. "The staff is pretty much family to me. The residents we had before the fire, a lot of them decided to come back to the new community. They're like a family to us."

    The new building has made quite an impression in the months since it opened.

    "It's very spacious. There is a lot more room for the residents and each room is handicap accessible," Lumadue said. "The residents have a lot more to do than in the old building. We have a beauty salon, a movie theater, two courtyards, as well as a lot of places they can go and things they can do in the building."

    "Our old building did not have a break room, and now we have a break room," she continued. "The wellness center is a lot bigger, which allows more room to interact with residents and address the residents' needs. We are more organized in the new building. We have more room in the new building."

    For more news on Colonial Courtyard at Clearfield and IntegraCare visit: www.integracare.com.