WILKES-BARRE, LUZERNE COUNTY (WBRE/WYOU-TV) — A new level of health care opened this week in Wilkes-Barre. People 65 and older can now access the Geisinger 65 Forward facility off of South Main Street.

Geisinger 65 Forward is a brand new health care facility right in downtown Wilkes-Barre. And it’s more than just a doctor’s office, it has everything for a one-stop shop.

“The patients who are 65 and older in northeastern Pennsylvania is the fastest growing population,” Juliann Molecavage, Associate Vice President, Geisinger, said.

A new program to make healthcare easier for all patients who are Medicare-eligible, 65 and older. It’s called Geisinger 65 Forward. Medical staff use a team approach, meaning your physician, nurse, nutritionist, and pharmacist are all under one roof.

“What we were looking to do was put a service together that specifically serves them in a way that they need healthcare,” Molecavage said.

“It’s much more than a doctor’s office,” Dr. George Avetian, Community Physician, Geisinger said. “What we focus on is the total well being of the patient.

The newest facility is located in Wilkes-Barre’s Midtown Village off of South Main Street, within walking distance to many senior high-rise buildings.

“It’s important for us to be in the downtown area. Patients who are coming here often struggle with transportation,” Molecavage said.

With a lab and x-ray on site, it’s convenient for those with greater health care needs.

Dr. Avetian says the health care needs of people 65 and older is different than the general population.

“Typically as we get older our medical needs are more and more intense. What we do is we focus on the specific needs of the individual,” Avetian said.

There is also a fitness center and a community center where patients can participate in games and crafts.

If you’re interested you can stop in or call to schedule a tour. For now their hours at the Wilkes-Barre location are 8 to 5 Monday through Friday, but those are expected to expand in the future.

To learn more, visit Geisinger.org/ForwardNews or call 866-972-0460.