Latest Spirit Articles



Advocate

As Jennifer Adams sees it, making sure residents have access to plenty of nutritious food is an important aspect of her job as the service coordinator, or NaviGuide, for two affordable housing communities in rural Indiana. Thanks to Adams’ extraordinary efforts, residents at Maple Leaf Commons and the Oakhaven Community…


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Abundant Culture Extends to Staff

United Church Homes’ (UCH) mission – to transform aging by building a culture of community, wholeness, and peace – focuses on residents, as does its vision of abundant life. But the organization’s senior leaders are also committed to creating an abundant culture for staff who work in its 80-plus communities…


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What is Abundant Life?

What is Abundant Life? The Merriam-Webster Dictionary defines it simply as: existing or occurring in large amounts; marked by great plenty; amply supplied. According to The New Interpreter's Dictionary of the Bible, abundance refers to a large quantity or plentiful amount of either material or non-material entities. In Biblical texts,…


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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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