This time of year, we are reminded about the passing of time as the leaves change color around us. My favorite season, fall, is a good time to reflect on the year’s accomplishments.

At United Church Homes, our newest ring marks a tree that will be 104 years old in 2020. Our growth comes from our dedication to our vision, which is to create those places where the Spirit creates abundant life in community.

Advancing the Mission

This year, we made some major steps forward in advancing our mission. We launched three initiatives to expand our impact on more people’s lives — people who are experiencing the Spirit’s presence in new ways through United Church Homes.

In April, we launched a joint-venture partnership with Ohio’s Hospice to meet the needs of people who will benefit from palliative and end-of-life care. This strategic relationship will bring high-quality, person-directed care to people at an important time in their lives. We’ve rolled this program out in our four Dayton communities, and over the coming months, we will expand throughout the rest of Ohio.

In November, we celebrated the integration of our newest community, Trinity Community at Miami Township, an independent living residence south of Dayton, into UCH. One of our goals has been to expand our residential communities and services. This latest achievement adds over 100 people to our ministry. We are also hard at work designing a new model for independent residential and supported living that we plan to launch next year.

Dedicated to Chuck Mooney, With Admiration

Much of this growth can be credited to the vision and leadership of Chuck Mooney, our senior vice president of senior living services and chief operating officer. Chuck will retire at the end of the year, concluding over 40 years of service to older adults, seven at United Church Homes. Chuck has been a valued colleague and mentor to many. It is impossible
to overstate his impact on our organization. He has achieved a dramatic redesign of our long-term care services and improved quality performance and fiscal sustainability. We dedicate this issue of Spirit, with appreciation and admiration, to Chuck. His impact will be felt for many years to come.

United Church Homes continues to grow and strengthen our ministry. The colors of autumn help us give thanks to God, whose Spirit brings new life to all people and to United Church Homes.