Our Antwerp Chamber of Commerce spotlight for February is Antwerp Manor Assisted Living Facility located in the old elementary building at 204 Archer Drive in downtown Antwerp.
Brian McLaughlin is the administrator of Antwerp Manor and he has a special connection to this particular area of the town. His great grandfather was the architect of the old Antwerp school and Brian’s father helped with the project when he was home from college back in 1963. This was the last project they worked on together as Brian’s great grandfather died shortly after the completion of the school. In 2004, Brian’s father was selling tooling to Dana and a few other machine shops in Antwerp when he discovered that the city was planning on demolishing the old school as the new K-12 building had been constructed just east of town. Armed with a desire to preserve what he and his grandfather had built he made a deal with the city council to build a field house at the new school in exchange for the old school buildings. Brian’s father was now the proud owner of an old school with no idea what to do with it. After discussion with local and state officials, the idea of having an assisted living facility in Antwerp would be just what the community needed. The remodeling of the old school began in 2005 and all of the supplies that were left behind were shipped to Haiti to help with the rebuilding of schools after Hurricanes Ivan and Jeanne devastated the island.
On January 1st 2006 the Essen House Restaurant opened to the public, a full year before the first phase of the Manor House opened in January 2007. The second and third phases of the facility opened in 2009. The recession of 2008-2010 started a chain reaction which resulted in a change of ownership in 2013. The new owner leased the business to a company named Vancrest, and the facility was renamed Vancrest of Antwerp. In 2018 Vancrest did not renew their lease, and it was decided on a sort of portmanteau of the two previous names and now calls the facility Antwerp Manor. In, January, they began their 15th year of operation. Covid 19 has made the past year particularly difficult for residents and staff, but the management is confident that the vaccine will change things in 2021.
Antwerp Manor is a full service 52 room Assisted Living facility. They offer 24 hour care which includes Physical, Occupational, and Speech Therapies available on site. They provide meaningful and engaging activities, serve three delicious meals a day, provide medication management, assistance with activities of daily living, housekeeping and laundry services. The dedicated and caring staff goes out of their way to make sure that every resident knows that they are here for them and that help is only moments away at all times. One of the most unique things about Antwerp Manor and its staff is the love they have for the residents. Antwerp Manor is here to help make family’s lives better. Most of the children of the residents still work and they no longer have the ability to devote the time needed to deliver the care their parents need. This often results in tremendous guilt, anxiety, and physical exhaustion. Antwerp Manor provides them not only around the clock care but also delicious meals, social interaction, activities, supervised medications and housekeeping. The resident’s life improves and the family’s life gets better.
Antwerp Manor serves the greater Northwest area of Ohio. They have had some residents come from as far away as Florida or New York to be closer to their children, but the majority of residents have lived in the community their whole lives.
There is an internal courtyard called nature’s corner. It has housed chickens, goats, rabbits, and even at one time Peacocks. The owner was informed that Peacocks were flightless birds who would stay inside the courtyard and display their beautiful plumage for the residents. It turns out that they don’t fly very high or very long, but more than enough to clear the wall and end up out on what at the time was US 24 causing all kinds of traffic mayhem. By their 4th escape, and dozens of hours spent running around after them it was decided they would live out their days on the farm.
It takes a special type of person to dedicate your life to caring for others. Brian is extremely proud of his staff and the emotional sacrifice that occurs as they become close caregivers to the residents. Recently, the facility was just voted “Best Senior Living Facility” in Paulding County by the Paulding Progress Reader’s Choice poll.
Brian stated, “We are here to help, it’s OK to get help, and it will make both of your lives better. Second important tip. Getting on Medicaid takes months. Start the process way before you need it. There is nothing we can do to rush the government.”
If you have any questions about services available, please call Jennifer @ (419) 506-0316.
The Antwerp Chamber of Commerce is excited to have Brian McLaughlin and Antwerp Manor Assisted Living partnering with us in the Antwerp Community.
