MOUNT VERNON – The Ohio Eastern Star Home in Mount Vernon is open to anyone 55 or older and features different levels of care so that residents can age in place over the years without having to move.

“You can transition through our campus as your health care needs change,” Marketing Director Cyndi Wyatt told the Mount Vernon News. “We have 12 independent living apartments. We have 19 assisted living suites. We have a rehab center, and we have what we call long-term living. We don’t want to call it long-term care. We want to focus on living here and enjoying it and embracing your latter years.”

Speaking of enjoying Eastern Star, it’s pet friendly and even has a new dog park. There are also pets on campus that belong to employees.

There are four “health care neighborhoods” at Eastern Star. Two have 15 rooms and two have 16 rooms.

“All the rooms on our campus are private with a full private bath,” Wyatt said. “So if you are living in one of our health care neighborhoods, you’re sharing that neighborhood with either 14 or 15 other people. You become one large family. We get to know you as an individual, not just as an elder. We know if you like hot tea for breakfast or if you like hot coffee.”

Staff are encouraged not just to care for residents but to sit down and have a meal with them.

“Be part of their day,” Wyatt said.

This is the time to enjoy life without having to do yard work or cook. There is a beauty parlor and a barbershop.

There are life enrichment teams that keep residents engaged.

“We have a 12-passenger bus that we use for outings,” Wyatt said. “We will go to Ariel-Foundation Park. We will go to outdoor concerts. We will go to Memorial Theater.”

One resident just turned 101 and another will soon celebrate that milestone.

Eastern Star, a nonprofit owned by its members, has been COVID-free during the pandemic.

“It took a lot of work, a lot of commitment, but so far we haven’t had any cases,” Wyatt said.