Community & Financial Strength
Wesbury Hillside Home has been a treasure in the Meadville community for over 100 years. The history of Hillside Home dates back to 1886 when three local women became interested in the unfortunate children of the greater community. In 1890, the home was founded, now these pioneer women of Meadville who continued to investigate the cases of needy and neglected children had a placement location while waiting for foster homes. The home became an official non-profit corporation in May of 1906.
As the residence became overcrowded, the need for expansion arose, making way for the present Hillside Home building that was erected in 1908. The organization received support from many individual community contributors. This new home was originally used for boys and girls, as well as aged men and women. In 1928 a children's wing was added at which time residents were limited to women and girls. Hillside Home went under further renovations in 1951.
In 1965 the decision was made to eliminate the care of children at Hillside Home and in 1967 another round of extensive remodeling was done making it possible to provide two levels of care, senior personal care and licensed skilled care.
Hillside Home's skilled care unit discontinued operations in 1995 in order to increase the capacity of senior personal care residency. This change resulted in more renovations that resulted in the availability of private rooms and suites with private baths. In 1998 Hillside Home entered into an affiliation with Wesbury United Methodist Retirement Community ensuring Hillside Home would continue to provide quality personal care service in a warm, homelike surrounding for many years to come. This affiliation adds the security of benevolent care and priority access to a full continuum of services provided on the Wesbury campus.
While Hillside has undergone many changes of the years, the policy of caring continues to stress a "home” rather than an institutional atmosphere. The pleasant relationship and feeling of personal responsibility still exists today among the dedicated staff, volunteer Board of Directors and volunteer Auxiliary Board.
