United Church Homes Begins In-House Service Coordination Ohio-Based Nonprofit Senior Living Provider Plans to Expand Programming to Neighbors
July 8, 2020
MARION, Ohio [July 8, 2020] – United Church Homes today announced it is expanding its service coordination services, with plans to continue the expansion of this unique model to improve health outcomes for older adults living in UCH affordable housing communities and in the surrounding regions in which they operate.
UCH has provided contracted service coordination in its own senior living communities since 2006. Today, it has service coordinators working in 56 of its 61 housing communities. The program serves more than 2,500 older adults living in its housing communities and over 600 older adults from the surrounding neighborhoods.
Beginning Friday, July 10, United Church Homes will bring service coordinators on staff. UCH has secured annual revenue of nearly $2.1 million to support the program.
UCH operates affordable housing communities in 13 states and two Native American nations, with its heaviest presence in Ohio, Mississippi, and Georgia.
“Service coordinators are vital in linking older adults with the services and resources they need to live full, healthy and independent lives,” said Terry Spitznagel, senior vice president and chief growth officer. “They identify immediate needs and risk factors for poor health and social outcomes and link older adults with service providers who deliver these resources.”
Social services, government agencies, and healthcare providers are familiar with the social determinants that can have significant positive or negative impacts on the health and well-being of older adults. These include key factors such as transportation, nutrition, isolation, and caregiver support.
Communities across the U.S. are beginning to understand, and eager to fund, services that better support older adults and help them live healthier lives.
To support the strategic plan to provide high-quality service coordination inside and outside UCH community walls, the organization this year hired two well-known leaders in housing with supportive services – Spitznagel and Dan Fagan, director of population health.
“I am beyond thrilled to join UCH to bring the service coordination program fully into the work of United Church Homes, and I plan to expand the program beyond our housing communities through collaboration with community partners,” Fagan said. He believes service coordination delivered in partnership with other housing and healthcare providers, health insurance providers, hospitals and city and municipal safety services, such as fire departments and emergency medical services will have significant positive impacts for older adults they jointly serve.
United Church Homes offers the full array of senior living options, including affordable housing, market-rate and middle-market independent and assisted living, short-term rehabilitation, memory care, and long-term care. In 2019, it partnered with Ohio’s Hospice to launch Ohio’s Hospice at United Church Homes, giving residents a new option for hospice and palliative care at UCH communities.
Organizations wanting more information about how United Church Homes can partner with them on service coordination are invited to contact Dan Fagan at dfagan@uchinc.org. Read more on the role of Ohio’s service coordination during the COVID-19 pandemic here.