Our Story

Founding of Loretto — Loretto was established by the Roman Catholic Diocese of Syracuse as the first diocesan home for the aged in North America.

Official opening — The main Loretto Rest building was completed and opened serving 100 residents after fundraising and construction efforts by the Diocese who fulfilled the vision of Most Reverend John Grimes, the second Bishop. Total cost of construction: $850,000. Early care was provided by the Sisters of the Third Franciscan Order.  

Formation of the Loretto Guild — A volunteer and support organization formed to assist residents and enhance programs at Loretto.

Construction of Pius X wing — The Diocese broke ground on the Pius X wing to care for retired priests — noted as the first such project of its kind in the U.S.

Medicaid Passed — Loretto helped found the American Association for the Aging and supported the passage of Medicare, Medicaid, and the Older Americans Act—developments that laid the groundwork for significant organizational growth in the years ahead.   

Opening of The Bernardine Apartments — The new Loretto facility offers 216 affordable living apartments.  

The Loretto Foundation is established to support individuals served by the Loretto family of care.  

Opening of the Cunningham Residential Health Care Facility – The skilled nursing facilities offers 520 beds.   

Loretto Rest rehabilitated — Loretto Rest is now Loretto Adult Home offering the first respite program in Central New York with 8 units available for respite, 173 units for assisted living.  

Reorganization as nonprofit — Loretto was restructured into a private, charitable not-for-profit organization to expand services beyond just a residential home. It also developed a larger 33-acre campus in Syracuse. 

Leadership Transition — Norman Harper becomes the first official president of Loretto, formally transferring operational oversight from the Diocese. He was the first of only five presidents to date. Dr. Kimberly Townsend is the current, serving in this role since 2014.

Launches enriched living services — Loretto opens the Bernardine Apartments, the region’s first enriched living program designed for older adults who need supportive services but do not require the intensity of skilled nursing care.

Offers adult day programs — Loretto expanded beyond residential care to meet growing community needs, adding services such as adult medical day care as part of its broader commitment to keeping older adults engaged, supported, and connected to the community.

Mental Health Community Residences — Loretto establishes the Community Residence Program offering three homes in the Syracuse community that provides safe and supportive living environments for 26 individuals living with mental illness.

 Opening of The Nottingham — A major expansion providing a continuum of care concept, enabling residents to stay in one community through changing care needs. 

Opening of The Fahey Residence — Loretto opens The Fahey Residence, a 200-unit adult care facility serving low income and special needs older adults.

Transformation of original building — The original Loretto Rest facility was repurposed into J. Stanley Coyne Heritage Apartments, now called The Heritage, one of the first residential facilities in Central New York dedicated to Alzheimer’s and dementia care, serving 75 individuals. It remains the only dedicated memory care community in the area that accepts Medicaid.  

Opening of Buckley Landing — The new Loretto facility provides affordable housing and support services for frail older adults.   

Launch of PACE CNY — Loretto introduced the Program of All-Inclusive Care for the Elderly (PACE), offering a community-based alternative to traditional nursing home care.    

Conversion of a local landmark — Sedgwick Heights, an assisted living community supporting the needs of individuals on Medicaid, opens in the former Dinkler Motor Inn on James Street. Once a mid-20th-century hotel, it was a recognized local entertainment hotspot in the Syracuse area. 

Loretto expands into Cayuga County — Loretto expanded its presence in Auburn,  NY, assuming leadership of the merged Cayuga County Nursing Home and Mercy Health & Rehabilitation  Center and investing  millions in renovations. Now known as The Commons on St. Anthony, this 300-bed skilled nursing facility is the largest in Cayuga County.  

Loretto’s first female president — Dr. Kimberly Townsend is named Loretto’s 5th president, after serving as the chair of the Loretto Management Corporation Board and remains in this leadership role today. 

 LH&R Advances Cardiac Rehab – A new 25-bed, technology-enabled Restorative Care Unit (RCU) opens. The first of its kind in Central New York, this telemetry monitoring unit incorporates advanced technology, enabling us to care for those who have had recent heart surgery in a more home-like setting, while advancing their rehabilitation and reducing risk of rehospitalization.  

LPN Apprentice Program Opens — Loretto launches the Licensed Practical Nurse (LPN) Apprenticeship Program, the first federally recognized LPN Apprenticeship in the nation. In partnership with 1199SEIU. It was developed to help frontline workers overcome the barriers of cost and accessibility to higher education by offering paid on-the-job training, free tuition, mentorship, and guaranteed employment.

Nottingham Expands Memory Care — The Borer Memory Life Community opens on the Nottingham campus thanks in part to a major gift from Frank and Patti Borer and family.  The Memory Special Care Unit offers customized environments and specialized care for individuals with Alzheimer’s Disease and dementia.

Advanced Memory Care Expansion in Syracuse — With the support of some grant funding, Loretto opens a new Memory Special Care Unit at Loretto Health & Rehabilitation.

New Memory Special Care Unit in Auburn – Loretto opens a Memory Special Care Unit at The Commons on St. Anthony, the first facility of its kind in the region.

Loretto is a vital nonprofit healthcare provider, serving more than 10,000 individuals each year through 19 specialized programs across Onondaga and Cayuga counties. The organization continues to expand its services, partnerships, and innovative models of care throughout Central New York, reaching thousands more annually.