New administrator named at Westmoreland Manor

Abby Testa has first-hand knowledge of what it’s like to have loved ones who live at Westmoreland Manor.

As three of her grandparents called the Manor home in 2013, Testa, then a college student, volunteered at the Hempfield nursing home to help care for family and other residents. For more than three years, she served as a unit assistant and nurses assistant while she completed her studies.

County commissioners now have promoted Testa, 27, of Hempfield to serve as the Manor’s new administrator.

“It means something to spend so much time here. It’s a big nursing home, and being a part of it is amazing, watching staff take care of my grandparents. It’s such a hardworking team here, and it means a lot to me to have this opportunity,” Testa said.

After graduating with a bachelor’s degree from California University of Pennsylvania, Testa worked as an assistant administrator with a private nursing home company before she was hired in the same role at the Manor in August 2019.

In October, she was named interim administrator after commissioners forced the firing of the facility’s top executive, who was employed by Premier Healthcare Resources of Penn Township, the private management company for the nursing home. County officials later severed ties with Premier.

Commissioners on Monday set Testa’s annual salary at $110,000 to run the 403-bed facility in Hempfield.

“Abby has done an absolutely amazing job with everything that has happened this year. She’s proved herself over the last few months,” Commissioner Gina Cerilli said.

It has been a rough 12 months for the Manor, as 2020 started with the discovery that the bacteria that causes Legionnaires’ disease was found in water at the nursing home and ended with a coronavirus outbreak that resulted in 179 residents and 92 staffers infected. Ten residents have died from the virus.

As of Monday, there were no active coronavirus cases among residents. Two employees are in quarantine with the virus.

Vaccinations of residents and staff started in late December and are ongoing. About 83% of residents and nearly half of all nursing home employees have received vaccinations, officials said.

With the coronavirus outbreak easing, Testa said life could become more normal soon for the 302 residents living at the Manor.

“We hope to restart window visits soon and hope to receive new guidance now that vaccines are out as to when we can restart in-person visits. It’s been almost a year since we’ve allowed visits. We’re their second family, but nothing beats family time,” Testa said.

Commissioners said the county plans to seek proposals from private management companies to assist Testa with overseeing operations. The scope of the work is to be determined, officials said.