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Latest Spirit Articles
Assistance Wherever You Live: UCH Growth Extends Beyond Housing to Services
United Church Homes (UCH) is well-known as a provider of affordable housing, independent living, assisted living, long-term care, rehabilitative care and memory care to thousands of older adults. Understanding and honoring seniors’ diverse needs, UCH maintains a constant focus on fulfilling its mission by expanding its reach – helping more…
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Human-Centered Design Generates Community Improvements
Among the creative ideas introduced to United Church Homes by Michael Hughes – who joined UCH’s leadership team late 2021 – is the use of human-centered design. This approach to problem-solving recognizes the perspectives and experiences of internal and external customers in all steps of the process. Functioning as Senior…
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Parker Center Celebrates 5 Years of Ministry
2022 marks the five-year anniversary of the establishment of an important donor-sponsored initiative of United Church Homes (UCH): the Ruth Frost Parker Center for Abundant Aging (RFPCAA). The center’s primary goal is to transform how society views aging through engagement, education and advocacy, aligning closely with UCH’s mission to transform…
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New Projects Advance UCH’s Strategic Growth Plan
United Church Homes’ (UCH) strategic growth goals have never been about the bottom line, but rather about advancing the organization’s mission to help a diverse population of older adults live abundant lives. “We cast a wide net in implementing our strategic growth plan,” explained Senior Executive Vice President and Chief…
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Age is Just a Number
Celebrating CENTENARIANS who embrace UCH’s commitment to LiveIt! Google “keys to longevity” and you’ll find lots of good advice but no guaranteed formulas for achieving it. Social-emotional issues also impact longevity, with research showing the benefits of maintaining social connections, spirituality, forgiveness and living a life of purpose. United Church…
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NaviGuide Launches, Links Older Adults with Services
United Church Homes (UCH) has launched NaviGuide, a new service for older adults living independently. Aging parents often turn to adult children for support in managing day-to-day activities like scheduling medical appointments, setting up home health care, navigating Medicare, cooking, grocery shopping and lawn care. NaviGuide makes life easier for…
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Best of the Best: Four Communities Receive Top Honors
Four United Church Homes (UCH) communities were voted “Best of the Best in the 2021 Readers’ Choice contests sponsored by local media groups. The awards covered numerous categories. Two communities were readers’ top choices by The Marietta Times: the Pines at The Glenwood Community was named the Best Assisted Living…
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Excellent Care Reflected in Quality Awards and Star Ratings at UCH
United Church Homes’ (UCH) commitment to quality care and continuous improvement in all areas of the organization runs deep. That commitment is especially relevant in highly regulated skilled nursing centers and assisted living communities that serve the most vulnerable residents. UCH benefits by both voluntary and government-mandated assessments that inform…
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Technology Helps Residents Live It! With Purpose
United Church Homes (UCH) constantly looks for ways to better serve its residents. Technology offers many opportunities to help residents achieve the three pillars of the LIVE IT! program: Live with Purpose; Social Connections; and Safe and Sound. There’s exciting news to share about various technology initiatives at UCH communities.…
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Leveraging Technology to Engage Residents
One might think that United Church Homes’ (UCH) focus on technology is only in response to the COVID-19 pandemic – a period in which people and organizations increasingly relied on technology to stay connected with friends, family and work. However, senior leadership and staff are always exploring ways to better…
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Sixth Annual Symposium Addresses Race and Age
The Ruth Frost Parker Center for Abundant Aging (RFPCAA) held its sixth annual Symposium, At the Intersection of Race and Age in the summer of 2021 in Columbus, Ohio. More than 120 individuals attended in person and online to hear several accomplished speakers discuss issues brought to the forefront of…
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Bringing Art Out in People
A lifetime of creativity and a little encouragement from family and friends sparked the teacher within Allan Norris and the idea for a painting class that has inspired many residents at The Glenwood Community. "Painting with Allan" began in 2017 after staff members at the community encouraged Allan to give…
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Communities Embracing Diversity
Diversity, Equity and Inclusion (DEI) has long been a part of the mission, vision and values at United Church Homes. The core values, written in an acrostic which spells the word CHRIST, encourage employees to welcome everyone, honor the differences among them and reflect God’s love. For Avonne Bennett, Service…
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Uplands Village Celebrates 100 Years
Uplands Village is a community of forward thinking older adults who’ve chosen to live there for its beautiful, wooded setting on the Cumberland Plateau in Tennessee, and the opportunity to live active lives where doing good and helping others is a focus. In August, members and staff of the Life…
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Fund for Growth Enables Opportunities
In a 2020 study by the National Investment Center for Seniors Housing and Care (NIC) on The Forgotten Middle, 54 percent of seniors cannot afford today’s senior housing and by 2029, 14 million seniors will fall into this category. The NIC expects this number to increase and noted the challenge…
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UCH Strengthens Focus on Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion
As a member of the Council for Health and Human Service Ministries of the United Church of Christ, United Church Homes (UCH) stands with a rich tradition of institutions who were chartered to help people work to end prejudice, poverty and discrimination. The UCH commitment to diversity, equity and inclusion…
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The Campaign for Abundant Life Announces Revised Goal of $45 Million
2020 marked the largest single donation in the history of United Church Homes by long-time friends who made an unparalleled lifetime estate gift of $17.5 million. This sacrificial gift inspired the creation of a new Fund for Growth to provide innovative programs and services at United Church Homes. “This generous…
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