For years, Mount Joy Country Homes has served seniors in 80 cottages on 31 acres where neighbors gather for shuffleboard, yoga, Bible study and gardening. This fall, the community entered a new chapter under the leadership of Pleasant View Communities.

As of Sept. 2, Pleasant View officially purchased Mount Joy Country Homes (MJCH) from Messiah Lifeways, marking a next step in the community's evolution, said Jonathan Hollinger, president and CEO of Pleasant View Communities.

"At Pleasant View, we are excited about the opportunity to expand our mission and welcome the Mount Joy community into our family," Hollinger shared. "Many MJCH residents have already engaged with our services, and we look forward to deepening those relationships and offering even more resources close to home."

Acquiring MJCH fit well into Pleasant View's strategic plan, he noted, adding that a focus on the plan is to actively seek and cultivate affiliations and partnerships with like-minded organizations to enhance the well-being of residents, team members and the local community.

For many years, residents of Mount Joy Country Homes had increasingly chosen to access health care and supportive services closer to home rather than relocate to the Messiah Village campus in Mechanicsburg. In response, the Messiah Lifeways executive team and board of directors explored long-term solutions to better meet the needs of the MJCH community. 

"After a period of research and thoughtful discernment, we identified Pleasant View Communities as an ideal partner to continue supporting and serving the residents of Mount Joy Country Homes," said Karl Brummer, president and CEO of Messiah Lifeways. 

Pleasant View Communities, located at 544 N. Penryn Road in Manheim, is just 10 miles from the Mount Joy Country Homes campus at 106 Bayberry Drive in Mount Joy. Pleasant View provides a full spectrum of care including personal care, skilled nursing, rehabilitation and memory support, in addition to an array of amenities. 

Hollinger noted that the acquisition of MJCH opens the door to even more opportunities in the future, including the possibility of adding smaller, more affordable cottages, and of developing a three-acre, commercially zoned piece of land on the Mount Joy Country Homes property. No decisions have been made yet on how to use that commercial land, but Hollinger said that a medical practice or a restaurant might be considered. Coordination with the borough will be needed to ensure that the use is compliant with ordinances and zoning, he said. 

The cottages at Mount Joy Country Homes are another option for seniors looking to downsize and be free of property maintenance. The community features an on-campus library, fitness studio, community room, support services and a resident-led calendar of activities.

  Residents of Mount Joy Country Homes can apply on a priority basis for personal care and skilled care on Pleasant View's main campus as needed and can enjoy the amenities at Pleasant View, like PVFiT, Hearth & Harrow, Hope Served Cafe, Esther's Collectibles Thrift Boutique, a hair salon, a wood shop and recreation courts.

Cottages at Mount Joy Country Homes are open to people age 55 and up, and there are currently cottages available. Pleasant View is open to people age 60 and older.

For Hollinger, the decision to purchase Mount Joy Country Homes was made because it diversifies Pleasant View's offerings but also furthers the community's mission. "We're a mission-driven, Christ-centered organization, and this purchase allows us to serve additional seniors," he said.

For more information, visit https://pleasantviewcommunities.org/mountjoycountryhomes or call 717-664-6644.