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Latest Spirit Articles


Fairhaven Earns Five-Star Quality Rating
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CMS created the Five-Star Quality Rating System to help consumers, families and caregivers compare nursing homes more easily. Nursing Home Compare provides quality ratings to each of the nation’s Medicare and/or Medicaid-certified communities. Each community is rated from one star to five stars based on three critical areas: health inspection…

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Housing Services Expands Portfolio to 61 Communities
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Gateway Commons, located in Columbus, Mississippi, and Boardtown Village in Starkville, Mississippi, were purchased from National Church Residences for an undisclosed amount, per an agreement between UCH and NCR. “We are excited about adding Gateway Commons and Boardtown Village to the United Church Homes family. We look forward to providing…

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Murner Tapped to Lead Uplands Village
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Herschel brings a wealth of knowledge and expertise to Uplands Village having previously served in the Information Technology department and as chief operating officer. “I am both honored and excited for the opportunity to continue the lasting journey with Uplands Village,” he said.

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In Memory: Pastor Bill Michaels
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He was 73. Pastor Bill was a 1962 graduate of Sandusky High School and served in the U.S. Army during the Dominican crisis. He worked at Parkvue Community from May 2005 to April 2016. We extend our thoughts and prayers to Pastor Bill’s family.

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Q & A with Dr. Majd Alwan, Executive Director of LeadingAge CAST
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Q: When and why was LeadingAge CAST started? A: CAST was started in 2003 because of a strategic scenario planning exercise that LeadingAge, AAHSA at the time, conducted in partnership with the Wharton School of Business in 2002. The report identified technology as a major factor in how we will…

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Eversound Pilot Finds Success at Trinity
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  Eversound is a group-oriented headphone solution that enables residents at any level of care to be more engaged in life enrichment programming and their communities. Eversound’s mission is to end social isolation among older adults. The technology helps seniors overcome the effects of hearing loss, according to research studies…

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Are You Afraid You Will Outlive Your Financial Resources?
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This fear often leads to seeking alternatives, such as investing a portion of retirement funds in investments designed to provide steady income during one’s lifetime, regardless of how long they live. What you may not know is that while your financial advisers can help, so can some of the charitable…

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Tibbitts Joins UCH as New Leader for Information Technology Department
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Glen Tibbitts, an Ohio State University graduate and resident of Delaware, Ohio, for 22 years, has joined UCH as director of IT services. Born in Boston, Glen attended elementary and high school in Marion, Ohio, and St. Joseph, Michigan. Glen holds a bachelor’s degree in consumer affairs with a concentration…

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EMR Systems Help Physician Residents Improve Patient Care
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  Dr. Jodi Sperber, medical director and attending physician at Trinity, is overseeing second- and third-year physician residents from the Indu and Raj Soin Medical Center Family Medicine Residency Program, part of the Kettering Health Network. The partnership will fulfill an Accreditation Council for Graduate Medical Education requirement for physician…

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Predictive Algorithms, Artificial Intelligence: Tools for Early Intervention
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  According to a January 2017 report from management consulting firm NewVantage Partners, approximately 95 percent of Fortune 1000 companies have made significant investments in big data initiatives within the past five years. The senior living profession is no exception. United Church Homes collects demographic and health data of its…

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Renovations Nearly Complete at SEM Haven
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  SEM Haven, a United Church Homes–managed community in Milford, Ohio, is in the final stages of a two-year, $5 million renovation project to continue the transformation of its campus for maximum comfort for the residents and in keeping with the principles of the Eden Alternative™ philosophy. SEM Haven became…

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2018 Annual Symposium: Abundant Aging Through the End of Life
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Dr. Byock will present Surprising Opportunities for Well-Being Through the End of Life and What Mortality Has to Teach Us About Living during the Symposium, set for 9:30 a.m. to 3 p.m. Friday, Oct. 12 at Marriott Columbus University Area, 3100 Olentangy River Road, Columbus. Dr. Byock is a fellow…

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First Legacy Leadership Award Honors Rev. Dr. Paul Kiewit
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Rev. Dr. Kiewit said he isn’t easily surprised, but he was surprised to receive this honor 72 years after his ordination. “Thank you very much for all that you’ve done for me and all that you’ve given me this evening. I love you all,” Rev. Dr. Kiewit said. The award…

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Telemedicine Fills Gap for Residents
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  The rural setting provides a unique opportunity for the remote delivery of healthcare services and clinical information using telecommunications technology. Telemedicine uses internet, wireless, satellite and telephone technology to bring the best care services to older adults in the Jackson area. Telemedicine is a rapidly growing component of healthcare…

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Parkvue Community Aims to Help Residents Stay Secure, Socially Engaged
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K4Connect creates solutions to serve and empower older adults and people living with disabilities. The flagship K4Community product integrates home automation, health data and social engagement software to promote more abundant living for older adults in retirement communities. With K4Connect, residents can fully manage multiple areas of their lives, such…

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WeCare Connect Gauges Employee Satisfaction
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WeCare Connect is a program that unites new and existing employees to their supervisors via phone, email or mobile app, and instantly sends an organization’s human resources team email notifications of any issues that may lead to a resignation. UCH’s goals for the program are to reduce staff turnover and…

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Tyson Whistler Brings Passion to Ice Sculpting
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Tyson is taking culinary science to a new level with his creative presentations that include a talent he has developed over the past decade — ice sculpting. With this unique skill, Tyson is regularly sought in the Marietta community to showcase his talents. He was nominated for the 2017 Overachiever…

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Four Winds Earns Eli Pick Award
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Mary Casey, administrator at Four Winds Community in Jackson, Ohio, recently was nominated for the Eli Pick Leadership Award from the American College of Health Care Administrators (ACHCA). Only 11 percent or 1,310 communities nationwide receive the distinguished award. The award uses outcomes-driven quality measures to objectively identify high-performing skilled…

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Two Graduate from CHHSM’s Nollau Institute
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Erin Foos, United Church Homes Central Office manager and executive assistant to the president, and Beth Montgomery, Fairhaven Community assisted living director, recently graduated from the yearlong Nollau Institute servant leadership program.The program is part of the Council for Health and Human Service Ministries of the United Church of Christ…

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Housing Residents Receive Needed Support
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In an Associated Press poll, among families with incomes below $50,000, just 35 percent said they felt financially ready for retirement, while 66 percent of those in higher-income households felt ready. United Church Homes is committed to its mission to provide abundant living for older adults, regardless of their financial…

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