Autumn 2016

A volunteer at Fairhaven Community since 1984, a donor since 1999, and a board member since 2013, Robby is a cherished member of United Church Homes’ family. His personal mantra when asked about why he does all of the things he does includes: “because it’s the right thing to do.”…

Rev. Geoffrey A. Black served as general minister and president (GMP) of the United Church of Christ (UCC) for six years until his retirement in 2015. He was elected as GMP after serving as conference minister for the New York Conference UCC. His 40-year career in the ministry began as…

Alzheimer’s disease has been described as a marathon in which residents and families progressively feel as if they’re losing control of minor details in their lives. As the mind and memory begin to fail, however, feelings of isolation, confusion, desperation, and frustration often emerge, compounding the disease’s impact on the…

Lauren Dean has a rare medical condition that affects her physical and neurological health. Her 13-year-old daughter, Alyssa, is cared for by Lauren’s mother. For years Alyssa saw her mom only when her grandmother could visit, so Lauren only rarely participated in raising her daughter. After living at four other…

Two United Church Homes’ communities in Ohio — Trinity in Beavercreek and Chapel Hill in Canal Fulton — both recently completed expansion projects that added new independent living cottages to each campus. These projects are an essential part of the organization’s long-range strategic plan to increase independent living accommodations where…

There are many reasons for the lack of charitable giving in people’s estate plans, but a lack of charitable intent is not one of them. Consider the following example: John Smith is a widower in his 70’s with three children who are all on successful career paths. Mr. Smith has…

UCH recognizes that we need to make our communities safe and accepting places for all people. A Culture of Inclusion As America ages, so does its lesbian, gay, bisexual, and transgender (LGBT) community, creating both issues and opportunities for a generation of people who have lived relatively openly as themselves…

Janice was relieved to find Sandy there and stopped by to drop off clothes, letters, and pictures. All of the notes contained the message, “YIL.” No one except Sandy knew what that meant. The nurses met Janice outside, at her request, to retrieve items being left for Sandy. They invited…

For the past year, United Church Homes has been a certified partner with Music & Memory, a nationally recognized program that encourages providing personalized music playlists to residents suffering from Alzheimer’s and related dementia. Music & Memory served as a centerpiece of UCH’s recent Centennial Celebration, with a third of…

“The most important thing to remember about faith is that it is not apparent. Faith is promised, but never seen. If you think about the origins of United Church Homes, the people who put this beautiful organization in place never got to see what it looks like today, and the…