Former Conemaugh Valley Elementary School being transformed into Villa Crest nursing home

Jan. 13--It will be four years in the making when Cambria County's newest nursing home opens this summer.

Villa Crest Rehabilitation and Nursing home is being developed in the former Conemaugh Valley Elementary School off Frankstown Road in Conemaugh Township.

The 56-bed home will offer both skilled nursing and rehabilitation care, under the direction of owner Dr. Richard Kastelic.

The Conemaugh Township area is an ideal location for a new full-service nursing home, Kastelic's son Michael Kastelic said.

"It's missing from that area, and it's a beautiful site," Michael Kastelic said.

Richard and Suzanne Kastelic bought the school and 40-acre property in 2015 after township supervisors and zoning hearing board approved development of the home.

Richard Kastelic, who also owns Villa Personal Care at 429 Napoleon St. in Johnstown, told the zoning board members he fell in love with the elementary school facility. He plans to continue developing the property, adding trails and gardens to encourage the public to enjoy the grounds.

"It's going to be something different," Richard Kastelic said at Villa Crest.

Additional development may include personal care and memory care units in the future.

"The goal is to have a continuum of care," Richard Kastelic said.

He originally planned to develop an assisted living home, but later decided a skilled care home was needed, his son said at the Kastelics' Berkeley Hills Professional Campus, 322 Warren St., Upper Yoder Township.

Jerry Otto has been named Villa Crest's administrator. Otto helped launch Conemaugh Memorial Medical Center's transitional care unit and went on to direct Maple Winds Healthcare and Rehabilitation nursing home near Portage.

All of the Villa Crest's residents will have private rooms, Otto said.

"That is going to be one area that sets us apart," Otto said.

The rooms will be spacious and the building includes plenty of areas for therapy and support services, along with activities and administration space, Otto said.

A typical classroom is being divided into two residential units, including large private shower rooms. The gymnasium is being divided to create a lounge, an activities room and a chapel. The former cafeteria will be the dining room, and there will be gas fireplaces in the lounge and dining room.

Converting a school into a nursing home required massive renovations, Michael Kastelic said. In order to include private bathrooms with all resident rooms, workers dug trenches through the halls.

Work continues at the location, as the Medicare licensing process continues. All beds will be licensed for Medicare, and there will be no Medicaid-licensed beds, Kastelic said.

It's too early to announce an opening date, or to begin taking reservations or employee applications, he added.

Randy Griffith is a multimedia reporter for The Tribune-Democrat. He can be reached at 532-5057. Follow him on Twitter @PhotoGriffer57.

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