Winter 2018


On The Cover

United Church Homes supporters raise hand-painted hearts during the kick off for the Campaign for Abundant Life at Fairhaven Community.

Download the Winter 2018 Issue

Inside the Issue:


Transforming the Conversation: Weekly Blog Extends UCH Mission, Vision, Values

The goal? To change the way we think about aging in our homes, schools, workplaces, churches, communities and society. Abundant Aging: Transforming the Conversation focuses on transforming aging, including advocacy issues, spirituality and aging, housing- and health-related issues and challenges and opportunities with living longer lives. The writers approach the…

Read More

Fairhaven Community Rededication

In November, United Church Homes celebrated renovations at its flagship location, Fairhaven Community, and launched the public phase of the Campaign for Abundant Life, an effort to raise $20 million over five years. UCH and its supporters celebrated the journey at Fairhaven, blessed the ministry and moved the mission into…

Read More

A Spiritual Journey: Seven Decades in the Making

Carol moved to Pilgrim Manor in Grand Rapids, Michigan, in March 2017 and immediately hit it off with Rev. Beth Rodenhouse, the full-time chaplain. As a faith-based nonprofit organization, United Church Homes is committed to providing full-time chaplains in each of its senior living communities. They foster spiritual wellness for…

Read More

UCH Welcomes New Board Member, Makes Leadership Changes

Phil is a lifelong member of the United Methodist Church with a law practice that has focused on nonprofit institutions including church-related organizations. He graduated from The Ohio State University and Harvard Law School. He was the founding director of the Center for Constitutional Studies and an associate professor of…

Read More

Longtime Parkvue Leader Retires, Welcoming Back Former Colleague

Ken Keller retired as administrator effective Dec. 15 and Dan Miller was named the new executive director. Over the first quarter-century of Parkvue’s existence, Ken has been a strong leader and friendly face at Parkvue and throughout United Church Homes. Ken began his tenure with United Church Homes in 1989…

Read More

UCH Partners with Community Foundations to Improve Quality of Life for Residents

Muir Manor partners with many community organizations to improve quality of life for its residents. In 2017, the Horseshoe Foundation of Floyd County, Indiana, partnered with Muir Manor to replace 10 bathroom floors, 11 kitchen floors and bedroom and living room carpet in nine apartments. The foundation awarded a $10,000…

Read More

The Three-legged Stool

Often this confusion comes into play because we don’t think we have many worldly possessions, but that is only one piece of the puzzle. Estate planning can be viewed as a three-legged stool, each with a separate and unique purpose. The first leg is the emotional side of planning. This…

Read More

Trinity Staffer Named Top Activities Professional in Ohio

  In October, he received the state’s highest level of recognition for that role. Ron received the Dr. Charles Peckham Sr. Award from Resident Activity Personnel in Ohio, the association for residential activities professionals in senior living communities. Ron, who was elected to serve as RAP Ohio’s 2018 president after…

Read More

Exploring Uplands Village

So, when potential new residents come to visit, they are offered the full guest treatment — three days and two nights in a guest apartment with a full schedule to see what life is like at Uplands. Uplands Village is the latest community to enter a full-service management contract with…

Read More

Fairhaven Chaplain Earns Board Certification to Enhance Ministry

Last fall, Rev. Dr. Rebecca King, chaplain at Fairhaven Community, took her ministry a step further when she was approved as a board-certified chaplain through the Board of Chaplaincy Certification Inc. of the Association of Professional Chaplains (APC), a national nonprofit professional association. She was the second United Church Homes…

Read More

Farmer Finds Abundant Life in Parkvue Community Expansion

Looking over the acreage outside the healthcare center, Bob gets a glimpse of his life in another era. When he moved to Parkvue more than a year ago, Bob was having trouble walking. His physical limitations were contributing to an overall sullen demeanor. He just wasn’t himself. Bob’s life began…

Read More

Volunteer Breaks through Noise of Alzheimer’s

This type of work is for perseverant and committed individuals who strive to make an impact in the lives of older adults. And every once in a while, they get to experience a breakthrough. Patti Crookston, a resident of Kroft Commons independent living at Chapel Hill Community in Canal Fulton,…

Read More