Mission

The United Church of Homes mission is to…

…transform aging by building a culture of community, wholeness and peace.

At the Ruth Frost Parker Center for Abundant Aging, we seek to transform how our society thinks about aging through engagement, education and advocacy.

We strive to:

    • Champion the gifts older adults contribute to our communities and our society.
    • Confront and eliminate ageism in our culture.
    • Grow everyone’s understanding of the many facets of aging — physical, spiritual, intellectual, emotional and social.
    • Facilitate partnerships with other organizations seeking to enhance the quality of life for older adults.
    • Be a resource about aging to community partners, public and private organizations, the media and anyone interested in aging.
    • Reflect on our values and practices about aging.

United Church of Homes: Where Senior Living Becomes Abundant Life

The Parker Center is a unique education and advocacy initiative launched in 2017 by United Church Homes, a leader in transforming the experience of aging for thousands of people. United Church Homes has a long history of celebrating older adults and evolving healthcare and senior living. At its 75+ life plan, healthcare and affordable housing communities in 14 states and two Native American nations, United Church Homes helps residents define what living abundantly means to them and provides experiences that lead to more joy and purpose in their lives.

The Parker Center is a donor sponsored program of United Church Homes—a registered, Ohio nonprofit organization. All donations are tax deductible to the fullest extent allowed by the law.

Ruth Frost Parker

The Parker Center is named in honor of the late Ruth Frost Parker, a former United Church Homes Board member whose vision and generosity continues to inspire and impact so many.

There is still so much work to be done. -Ruth Frost Parker

Leadership

Vice President of Engagement, Director Ruth Frost Parker Center for Abundant Aging, Rev. Beth Long-Higgins

Rev. Beth Long-Higgins is a tireless advocate for older adults. She joined the United Church Homes Board of Directors in 2007 while serving as copastor of David’s United Church of Christ in Canal Winchester, Ohio. In 2013, she was called to serve on the staff at UCH and in 2017 was named as the founding executive director of the organization’s Ruth Frost Parker Center for Abundant Aging. A graduate of Heidelberg (College) University with degrees in psychology and music, Rev. Beth holds a Master of Divinity from the United Theological Seminary of the Twin Cities. Beth has been an ordained minister in the UCC for over 30 years. She is a musician, a fiber artist and the mother of two adult children.

Parker Center Advisory Committee

Dr. Bob Applebaum
Professor, Department of Sociology and Gerontology, and Scripps Research Fellow, Miami University 

Rev. John Cramton
Casual Hospice Staff Chaplain at Ohio Health at Home and retired clergy, United Church Homes

Rev. Kenneth Daniel
President and CEO, United Church Homes

Dr. Cynthia Dougherty
Director, The Ohio State University College of Medicine, Office of Geriatrics and Interprofessional Aging 

Mr. Dan Fagan
Director, Population Health, United Church Homes

Mr. John Franklin
Principal, Pearl Creek Advisors 

Rev. Geoffrey Black
United Church Homes Board of Directors member and retired clergy, United Church of Christ

Rev. Mark Frey
Retired clergy, United Church of Christ

Ms. Gloria Hurwitz
Vice President, Advancement, United Church Homes

Rev. Beth Long-Higgins
Vice President, Engagement, Director, Ruth Frost Parker Center for Abundant Aging, United Church Homes

Dr. Susan McFadden
Professor emerita, University of Wisconsin, Oshkosh

Ms. Larke Recchie
Chair, RFPCAA Advisory Committee and Director, Ohio Association of Area Agencies on Aging

Rev. Bob Tussing
Retired clergy, United Church of Christ

Ms. Susan Wallace
President and CEO of LeadingAge, Ohio

Founding Funders

Supported by the Board of Directors and organized under United Church Homes’ tax exemption for charitable purposes, the Parker Center for Abundant Aging was created with the support of the founding funders during United Church Homes’ centennial year.

    • Linda Brewer
    • John Cramton
    • Kenneth Daniel
    • E. Anne Eddowes
    • Adelle Elshoff
    • Suzanne Schoedinger Ellis
    • The Family of Ruth Frost Parker
    • The Frost-Parker Foundation
    • Plante Moran
    • Thomas, Inc.
    • United Church Homes Board of Directors

Awards

The Parker Center is honored to have received the following awards:

    • 2019 Partner of the Year Award from Ohio Association of Area Agencies on Aging for co-presenting the 2019 LGBT Horizons of Aging Summit
    • 2018 Social Impact Award from LeadingAge Ohio for the annual symposiums