Press Releases

Pine Run’s Wilfredo “Willie” Macatantan volunteered to serve as a housekeeping associate in the COVID unit, took extra shifts when colleagues couldn’t work, and even did personal laundry and visited with residents when family members could not

DOYLESTOWN, Pa. (June 2021): – Pine Run Retirement Community is deeply honored to announce that housekeeping associate Wilfredo “Willie” Macatantan has been named Staff Member of the Year by LeadingAge PA, a chapter of the national aging industry organization LeadingAge.

Macatantan works in the housekeeping department at the Pine Run Health Center, a 5-star rated Skilled Nursing and Rehabilitation Facility in Doylestown. On typical days, his job on the short-term rehabilitation floor involves cleaning, disinfecting, sterilizing carpets, emptying trash and soiled linen, and stocking supplies. But the COVID-19 pandemic transformed housekeeping jobs, making it clear to all just how essential this work is.

“The COVID-19 pandemic has presented countless obstacles, both personal and professional, to all of our staff members,” said Pine Run Executive Director Maria Santangelo. “As a community, we have weathered the pandemic by supporting and sustaining one another. We are grateful to all of our Associates who come to work every day to make sure that our residents can live their best lives in this community that they have chosen to be their home, either for a short-term stay or permanently.”

All staff and residents of the Bucks County senior living community who wanted the vaccine have received both required doses, a significant step forward in protecting those most vulnerable to the pandemic

DOYLESTOWN, Pa. (February 2021): – Pine Run Retirement Community, one of Bucks County’s leading senior living and senior care providers, is pleased to announce that it has completed the distribution of COVID-19 vaccine to its residents and staff, a significant milestone in the fight against the deadly pandemic that has been spreading for over a year.

With astounding sugar creations, Bucks County senior living community captured grand prize and second prize in national gingerbread competition hosted by leading provider of corporate dining services

DOYLESTOWN, Pa. (February 2021): – Pine Run Retirement Community, one of Bucks County’s leading senior living and senior care providers, is proud to announce that its talented associates have won grand prize and second prize in the Future Living category of Flik Hospitality’s national gingerbread contest.

Pine Run’s grand prize-winning submission is a remarkable multi-story house, surrounded by handcrafted trees, plants, and shrubbery. Designed and built by David Fogel, Pine Run’s senior director of dining services, the building’s gingerbread and candy exteriors are entirely edible, secured together with over 40 lbs. of royal icing and covered in confections of every kind.

“The gingerbread house project is a Pine Run holiday tradition that residents, villagers, associates, and guests look forward to each year,” said Fogel. “It is a pleasure to be recognized with the top prizes in this national contest.”

Sharon Smith, director of dining services at Pine Run’s Lakeview personal care residence, started building a gingerbread display at Pine Run in 1985. Over the years, many individuals have worked to complete the gingerbread display. This year, Smith created a snowy cathedral complete with steeple, dripping in white icing, stained glass windows, draped with sugary evergreen boughs, and flanked by snowy trees and a frozen pond. Her cathedral used 30 lbs. of sugar and seven dozen egg whites.

“I look at old Thomas Kinkade Christmas cards and old churches,” said Smith. “Then I sit down with a ruler, box cutter, foam board, and start building.” The church is 37″ tall and lights up! “Sharing this treasured holiday tradition with everyone at Pine Run is a highlight of our year,” continued Smith. “We love the smiles that the display sparks on people’s faces.”

“It is wonderful to see our associates being recognized for their passion and dedication to their work,” said Pine Run Executive Director Maria Santangelo. “Our dining team uses their creativity and attention to detail to outdo themselves every year with the gingerbread display, and we are proud of their incredible talent.”

Flik Hospitality is a leading national provider of corporate dining and hospitality services, with a focus on quality food and locally sourced ingredients that support a healthy lifestyle.

About Pine Run: Pine Run Retirement Community in Doylestown, Pennsylvania is one of Bucks County’s leading senior living and senior care providers, with 272 independent living cottages and 24 apartments situated on a beautiful 43-acre private campus. The campus is home to Pine Run Health Center, which offers rehabilitation services and 90 skilled nursing beds; The Garden, a 40-bed, secure dementia neighborhood on the top floor of the Health Center; and The Willows, an intimate setting for palliative, services. Pine Run Lakeview is a 107-bed personal care residence owned and operated by Pine Run Retirement Community and located on Lower State Road in Doylestown. Generations of families have turned to Pine Run for the certainty of comforts and services in the bonus years. Call 800.992.8992 to learn more about independent living, personal care, or skilled nursing and rehabilitation programs, or visit www.pinerun.org.

DOYLESTOWN, Pa. (December 2020) – Pine Run Retirement Community is proud to announce that it has been named among the “Best Nursing Homes” in the country for 2020-2021 by U.S. News & World Report.

Pine Run earned its Best Nursing Home status by achieving the highest possible rating, “High Performing,” for its Short-Term Rehabilitation services. U.S. News bestows the designation of Best Nursing Home only on organizations that demonstrate consistent performance in quality measures and appropriate use of key services.

“We are proud that U.S. News again has recognized the top-tier care that our Pine Run team offers to our rehabilitation patients every day,” said Maria Santangelo, executive director of Pine Run Retirement Community.

Offering independent living, personal care, nursing and rehabilitation care, and specialized memory care services, Pine Run Retirement Community is a vital component of Doylestown Health network’s continuum of care. Based in Doylestown, the health system includes Doylestown Hospital and an interconnected network of local providers, as well as Pine Run.

Bucks County newspaper readers named Pine Run Retirement Community the best provider in a dozen categories related to care for older adults, including independent living, personal care, skilled nursing, and memory care

DOYLESTOWN, Pa. (December 2020) – Pine Run Retirement Community is proud to announce that it has been named the best provider in 12 categories in The Intelligencer’s annual “Best of Bucks Mont” awards. The categories range from retirement community to in-home senior care to memory care, rehab, personal care, and more.

“We are thrilled to be recognized among the best senior care providers in Bucks County,” said Pine Run Retirement Community Executive Director Maria Santangelo. “We thank all of our supporters who voted for us, and thank our staff and residents for their dedication to building this special community of senior care.”

One week after a tornado damaged the day care center at Doylestown Health, Children’s Village reopened in a new location, with new toys, books, supplies – and 140 Good Bears, courtesy of the Villagers at Pine Run Retirement Community.

On Aug. 4, 2020, an EF2 tornado spawned during Hurricane Isaias caused extensive damage throughout the Doylestown area, including the campus of Doylestown Hospital and its early childhood education center, Children’s Village. In the wake of the storm, generous donations of books, supplies and other materials have poured into Children’s Village, including Good Bears for each of the center’s children.

The cuddly teddy bears are handmade by members of the Good Bears Club at Pine Run, just as they have been for decades. Since 1989, dedicated Pine Run Villagers have sewn the bears to donate to children during their hospital stay at Doylestown Health. One of the longest-running clubs at Pine Run, the Good Bears Club has maintained a devoted following over the years, most of whom are experienced in the sewing arts.

One week after the storm, Children’s Village reopened at a new site just north of the hospital campus on Ferry Road. As the center reopened, each child was given one of the donated Good Bears. And, included in the group of donated bears was the 25,000^th Good Bear from Pine Run. The milestone bear will remain at the childcare center as the Children’s Village Bear, and will be comfortably ensconced in a place of honor in the center’s entryway as a reminder of the ways in which the oldest members of the Doylestown Health system take care of the youngest members.

Read more about the Good Bears Club here.

DOYLESTOWN, Pa. (July 2020) – The culinary team at Pine Run Retirement Community is used to bringing people together over meals. When the coronavirus pandemic suddenly changed their usual dining options, they shifted gears to find new and creative ways for residents to come together and break bread, virtually.

Since the beginning of the pandemic, Chef Doug Runyen, executive chef of Flik Hospitality at Pine Run, and the culinary team have been striving to do at least one thing each week to keep meals exciting for Villagers. From fresh catch stations to root beer floats, to strawberry shortcake, the culinary team has maintained their focus on customers to improve the guest experience.

DOYLESTOWN, Pa. (June 2020) – Pine Run Retirement Community’s bridge clubs are more than just a place to play bridge. From an official American Contract Bridge League game to social bridge meetings at a friend’s cottage, these gatherings are a community of people playing, learning, and forming lifelong friendships and partnerships. When the novel coronavirus pandemic dealt Pine Run’s bridge players and the world a wild card, players adapted by transitioning to play bridge online.