By Jack Chavez, Staff Writer

(Oct. 6, 2022) Harrison Senior Living, an assisted-living community with four locations, has been celebrating its 50th anniversary this year as it looks toward the future of its brand.

“It’s amazing,” CEO Harrison Saunders said of making it to 50 years. “It’s an amazing moment for our company, our employees and our family.”

The company, which began with its first location in Christiana, Pennsylvania, has been on the lower Eastern Shore area for 45 years, ever since setting up shop in Snow Hill.

Over the years, there have been “significant changes” in what consumers want from assist-living communities and as such, how the industry serves its markets has also changed, Saunders said.

“(The professional) skill of nursing, we’re now doing primarily sub-acute (or short-term) rehabilitation services rather than long-term care for seniors,” he said. “What we have now are essentially skilled nursing homes (acting as) small rehabilitation hospitals rather than the nursing homes people typically think of.”

“On the living and assisted living side, people come much later in life — 80s, even 90s — with greater frequency, so I think the commitments have changed in terms of what level of service or healthcare are provided at both those industry segments.”

To celebrate 50 years, the company has been marking the occasion at each of its four locations — Snow Hill, Salisbury, Georgetown as well as one in Pennsylvania.

Last month in Snow Hill, the company held a community day in which it invited members of the community, business leaders, local officials and town management.

“We had an upscale picnic, essentially, to thank everyone for their support over the last 50 years,” Saunders said.

Employees were also recognized for years of service.

A similar event was held in Salisbury last week.

“(All year we are) thanking all of our employees,” Saunders added. “We are immensely proud of them because they’re who have allowed us to get to this point of this golden anniversary and we certainly couldn’t be here providing such great care without them.”