Vassar Warner Home Set to Reopen in Poughkeepsie After 18-Month Closure

One of Dutchess County's most enduring elder care institutions is making a comeback. The Vassar Warner Home, a 155-year-old pillar of the Poughkeepsie community, is preparing to reopen its doors as an independent living facility and adult daycare program after closing in 2024 due to financial constraints.

Leading the charge is Erica Von Salews, Executive Director of the Vassar Warner Home and recently honored as one of New York's 2026 Above and Beyond Women. Von Salews has dedicated more than a decade to the organization and credits her passion for elder care to personal experience. "When I was born, my family was older," she explains. "I was around elders and had to help choose nursing homes for grandmothers and great aunts, and it was something that I had a passion for." After earning a master's degree in nursing home administration, she found Vassar Warner Home and never looked back.

Founded in 1871 originally as the Old Ladies Home, the organization has evolved significantly over the decades, eventually merging in the 1970s and 80s to become the Vassar Warner Home and opening its doors to men as well. Located at 52 South Hamilton Street on the south side of Poughkeepsie, the home operated as an assisted living and adult home until financial pressures forced its closure in 2024. During that difficult period, a new board of directors formed, including president Richard Schuster, whose mother was a resident for 19 years, and Dawn Ravel, whose mother also lived there for years.

The reopening marks a fresh chapter. The home is launching as an independent living facility, where residents can come and go freely, combined with an adult daycare program that has already been operating since last July. "Vassar Warner Home is a 155-year-old staple or pillar of the Dutchess County and Poughkeepsie community," Von Salews says. "We are reopening after being closed for about a year and a half as an independent living facility and an adult daycare program."

The adult daycare program, developed in partnership with the Dutchess County Office for the Aging, serves older adults who may have mild cognitive impairments and whose family members need to work during the day. The program includes structured activities, meals, and socialization, with eligibility determined through individual evaluations. Families with financial need may qualify for assistance through the county office's funding programs.

Renovations to the first-floor rooms are complete, and work on the dining room and kitchen is nearly finished. Communal dining will be a centerpiece of daily life, and Von Salews is working to bring back beloved programs such as pet therapy visits, culinary collaborations with students from the nearby Culinary Institute of America, and activities focused on cognitive wellness, music, and trivia.

For those considering residency, the process is designed to be as welcoming as possible. Families are encouraged to tour the facility privately before bringing their loved one, and the team works to ensure a safe and comfortable transition. "We try and make it as painless as possible," Von Salews notes. "I'm always available by text messages, emails, and calls, whatever I can do to make them feel as comfortable as possible."

Costs are currently private pay, though long-term care insurance may apply depending on individual policies. The adult daycare program also offers a private pay option alongside Dutchess County Office for the Aging support.

Von Salews, who was nominated for her Above and Beyond Women honor specifically for her determination to keep the home alive, reflects on what has driven her through the challenges: "My stubbornness in saying that we're not gonna close, and we're gonna keep opening, and we're gonna keep this alive."

A grand reopening date is still being finalized. In the meantime, those interested in learning more, scheduling a tour, or applying for either program can visit www.vassarwarner.org or call 845-454-3754.

Listen to the full interview: https://open.spotify.com/episode/73D60KeUy5TepDLks1WrWd?si=yM7MRIEdTV-r7emLctfBkw