Boonsboro, MD – Today, Fahrney Keedy proudly marks its 120th anniversary, celebrating over a century of compassionate care and commitment to Washington County’s senior community. Since its founding in 1905, Fahrney Keedy has remained a steadfast provider of quality senior living and healthcare services, honoring its mission to never deny care to residents already within its community, regardless of financial circumstances.
The property that soon became “Fahrney Memorial Home for the Aged” was a generous gift from Dr. Peter Fahrney of Chicago to the Church of the Brethren on February 7th, 1905. The donation was made in honor of his grandfather, an early physician in Washington County, Maryland, of the same name, who had resided in Mapleville. Having passed away in 1837, his log-structure laboratory was situated on Fahrney Keedy’s current campus and saw the development of patented medicines derived from localized plants.
This mission of care and service was reinforced in 1952 when a bequest from Hagerstown businessman Clarence Keedy led to the renaming of the facility as Fahrney Keedy Memorial Home.
“Fahrney Keedy has provided service from its inception to the most vulnerable and needy of our community,” said Steve Coetzee, President & CEO of Fahrney Keedy, who has led the organization since 2015. “Our legacy has helped in many ways to provide service to those that traditionally fall through the gaps of society. That mission continues today and is growing exponentially.”
Over the past 120 years, Fahrney Keedy has evolved into a comprehensive continuing care retirement community (CCRC), providing a full continuum of senior care services, including a day program through the Jone L. Bowman Adult Day Medical Center, rehabilitation (both inpatient and outpatient), skilled nursing, memory care, assisted living, and independent living. Nestled on 147 scenic acres, Fahrney Keedy remains a rare haven of natural beauty, offering a serene setting for seniors to enjoy their golden years.
“High standards, compassion, dedication to quality, and respect for our most valued population—our seniors—have been the gold standard for the past 120 years,” said Leslie Hart, Chair of the Board of Directors and an independent living resident at Fahrney Keedy. “As we move forward into the future, those top standards become the foundation for a supportive, loving, and respected senior community. I look so forward to making Fahrney Keedy and Coffman Nursing Home the number one choice for the quad-state community for quality senior living.”
Fahrney Keedy’s legacy of care was expanded in November 2022 with the acquisition of Coffman Nursing Home in Hagerstown, furthering its commitment to serving the region’s seniors. This addition strengthens the organization’s ability to meet the increasing demand for senior care, particularly as many similar communities struggle in the aftermath of the COVID-19 pandemic.
“It’s my vision for the future that Fahrney Keedy becomes the premiere employer of Washington County and remains foremost in the minds of those who need healthcare support in their golden years,” added Coetzee. “Our commitment is not only to excellent care but also to the greater family that we create here with our members and employees.”
Hart echoed this vision, saying, “My vision for the future is to be the senior living choice for all: to be the career choice for the local community; to provide the finest services; to offer the finest amenities while having fun-filled days with loving, compassionate staff members reflecting the highest quality of senior living.”
Strategically located on the outskirts of historic Boonsboro, Fahrney Keedy is uniquely positioned to grow and expand in the coming decades, continuing the visionary work of its founders. “Dr. Fahrney and Mr. Keedy were visionaries ahead of their time in planning for Washington County,” said Hart. “We have continued that vision with our 147 acres, growing over the next 120 years. Our location near a major interstate places us in an ideal position to expand and serve even more seniors in need.”
As Fahrney Keedy celebrates this milestone, the organization reaffirms its mission to provide exceptional, compassionate care to all seniors. With a renewed commitment to excellence and expansion, Fahrney Keedy is ready to meet the challenges and opportunities of the future, ensuring its legacy of care endures for generations to come.
