We are happy to announce Bob Reichard’s promotion to Vice President of Finance. As Controller for Graceworks for the past decade, he has spent 35 (non-sequential) years with us, dubbing himself a “boomerang.” A man who loves a constant challenge, Bob’s proudest moment was completing a full Ironman triathlon. He also enjoys staying active by playing golf and sand volleyball. We look forward to many more years of faithful service!

Congratulations to Mike Allen on his retirement after 25 years of service. Mike oversaw many of the expansion projects over his career as well as stewarding the many investments made by Graceworks. We are grateful for Mike’s dedication to our organization, and wish him many happy years ahead!

We counted on staff, family and community votes to help us achieve the title of “Best in Dayton”— and are excited to announce that those efforts paid off!  Bethany Village placed in the top spot for both “Best Nursing & Rehabilitation Center” AND “Best Assisted Living” facility in Dayton.com’s contest.

As part of the voting process, companies must first be nominated and rank among the top finalists in their category. Once top nominees are finalized, community voting helps Dayton.com and the Dayton Daily News select the winners in each category.

To be ranked #1 among the top 6 nominees from across the region in two categories is an outstanding recognition of our staff’s commitment to providing such high quality care and quality of life for residents. Being recognized by the community, supports all that we do every day as an organization.

A recent grant from Lutheran Services of America, helped to fund 16 new computer stations in 16 Graceworks Housing Services communities. HUD does not provide funds for purchasing computers. With a lack of funding for technology, many communities had older computer that were donated by the community. Providing up-to-date computers with high-speed internet access, helps residents to address feelings of loneliness and isolation. The new computers have empowered residents to reach out to friends and family, attend online bible study groups, research questions, play games, connect with their doctors, apply for and update their benefits information, and order online.

One resident commented, “I’m able to stay in touch with my family and friends when I use the computer. I’ve discovered many new websites that I’m learning to use.” Other residents have mentioned, “I like using the computer during the day because it gets me out of my apartment so I don’t sit around all day and I can meet up with friends in the community room.”

Connecting seniors online has helped expand their opportunities to learn and interact with a wider community of people and has added new social opportunities for engagement and social activities. We are grateful for the support of Lutheran Services of America.

Six Bethany Village employees, enrolled in nursing school, were awarded Sloan Scholarships ranging between $1,000 and $5,000. This year $22,000 in scholarships were made possible by the late Dr. Malachi W. Sloan II, a retired physician and Bethany Village resident.

Dr. Sloan established the fund to encourage individuals to further their educations in nursing – specifically with an intention to practice geriatric care. Bethany Village employees receiving this year’s scholarship awards were:

• Christopher Haley, Resident Care Technician
• Amy Honious, LPN
• Joshua Hust, Resident Care Technician
• Tatiana Lewis, Resident Care Technician
• Robert Pangallo, Resident Care Technician
• Delaney Reynolds, Resident Care Technician

A core part of our mission is supporting adults with developmental and intellectual disabilities with dignity and wholeness. Our culture of faithful caring led Graceworks Enhanced Living staff to go above and beyond when a recent move increased the distance between Trent and his family. Trent had never lived alone before he joined the family in one of our Dayton homes nearly 10 years ago. What Trent quickly found was that it was a perfect home for him to experience living independently, especially when he found a job of his own. When Trent’s parents recently moved to Cincinnati for a new job opportunity, the Dayton team knew they needed to support Trent in finding a new place that was closer to his parent’s home.

“We all wanted Trent to stay in our Graceworks family,” said Kelly Bergstrom, senior services manager. “His parents would have continued to drive to Dayton every weekend to pick him up for home visits, but we knew there had to be a better option for him.”

During a staff meeting, Kelly’s ears perked up when she heard another manager mention an opening at one of our Cincinnati homes that was much closer to Trent’s parents.

Trent was determined to make the decision to move on his own. With the full support of the team, Trent set up his own visits, tours, and overnight stays, and eventually fell in love with the new home and individuals – only telling his parents after he’d decided to make the move and had made all the arrangements. He was even able to transfer his job to a Cincinnati location near his new home.

“Trent has grown so much since he first moved in. He’s finding his voice with the support of a caring staff. If you look at the picture of the day he moved into his new house, he has such joy on his face because he’s home. This is the right place for him.”

– Kelly Bergstrom, Senior Services Manager, Graceworks Enhanced Living

In the end, Trent got what he wanted and needed by staying with the Graceworks family while being close to his family. And he moved the way he wanted to, leading with his own choices and the Enhanced Living team guiding him to ensure he maintained his independence.

Graceworks Lutheran Services is pleased to announce the promotion of Lauren Coyle to Administrator of Bethany Village. Lauren is a passionate leader with a heart for providing exceptional care to aging adults.

Prior to joining Bethany Village, she earned her Bachelor of Nursing degree from Wright State University in 2007 and began her career as a nurse on the Oncology Unit at Springfield Community Hospital. Later, she worked as a Case Manager, Team Leader, and Certified Hospice and Palliative Care Nurse for Hospice of Dayton.

In 2016, Lauren started her career at Bethany Village as a Nurse Manager in the long-term care unit. Her humble leadership and passion for providing quality care led to a promotion to Chief Nursing Officer in 2017.

Leading up to the retirement of long-time Bethany Village Administrator John Brinkman, Lauren expanded her leadership skills by completing the Administrator in Training (AIT) program in 2019. In her new role, Lauren will oversee the day-to-day operations of the entire Bethany Village campus and ensure the delivery of Faithful Caring to more than 700 residents at Bethany, including independent living, assisted living, skilled nursing, skilled rehab, and memory support care.

“I feel very honored to take on the role of Administrator because I’m able to work with so many hardworking, dedicated, and talented teammates,” Lauren said. “We all bring different strengths to the table, motivating each other to be our best and to provide residents the compassionate care they deserve.”

“It’s always rewarding to support employee growth and to be able to promote from within, supporting the organization’s values and commitment to Faithful Caring,” said Judy Budi, President and CEO. “Lauren is a shining example of a servant leader dedicated to quality of life for older adults as they age.”

Centerville, Ohio (July 26, 2019) – Bethany Village, a large retirement community, has earned the distinction of Bronze Employer of Choice. More than 600 individuals work at Bethany Village. Sponsored by Graceworks Lutheran Services, Bethany Village is recognized as one of Centerville’s largest employers.

LeadingAge is the advocate of non-for-profit services for older Ohioans. The organization recently selected top employers from around the state.

Bethany Village was one of only 23 organizations statewide within LeadingAge Ohio’s 400+ members to receive a prestigious Employer of Choice designation.

The Bronze Employer of Choice designation runs through the end of 2020. This acknowledges a strong commitment to high quality recruiting and retention standards.

Applicant organizations must have a 3-star or better rating on the Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services Five-Star Quality Rating system, and an occupancy rate of 80% or higher for at least one year as of the date of application for newly-opened communities.

In early 2019, Bethany Village opened Crescent Crossing Assisted Living. This new 90,000 square foot building required the additional hiring of 60 staff members. This increased staffing at Bethany Village by nine percent.

“We are working on a recruiting and retention program called Learn, Train, Succeed,” explains Graceworks Lutheran Services President and CEO Judy Budi. “This program helps us identify top talent and ensures we train them to be leaders at Bethany Village for tomorrow and years to come. I am very proud we are known as an Employer of Choice.”

View open positions online at bethanylutheranvillage.org.

We all deserve quality, safe housing that is also affordable. Living in the right housing environment promotes better mental and physical health and a better quality of life for everyone. These positive outcomes, in turn, support healthier communities.

Affordable housing is especially important to the well-being of seniors. Housing instability–such as high housing costs or poor house quality–can lead to physical and mental distress, difficulty sleeping and depression. When housing costs take a significant portion from already-limited incomes, many seniors are forced to curtail spending on life necessities like food, healthcare, transportation or, in many cases, in-home assistance.

Affordable housing helps seniors achieve stability

A majority of seniors today want to stay in their own homes as they age. Moreover, having a safe, comfortable place to live is even more significant to older adults aging in place, since they will spend much of their time there.

Affordable housing can improve the stability of seniors living at home by freeing up their resources for food and in-home care. Ensuring that housing is easily accessible to in-home caregivers is also key to helping older adults age safely and comfortably.

Affordable housing helps seniors take better care of their health

It’s a fact of life that as we age, we develop more chronic illnesses. Heart disease, strokes, auto-immune conditions such as arthritis, asthma and diabetes are some of the most common chronic conditions faced by older adults. Unfortunately, living on a limited income causes many seniors to postpone essential medical visits or delay buying the medications they need to properly monitor and treat these illnesses.

Another too-common situation among this population is a high incidence of hospital readmissions. One contributing factor is the lack of an appropriate place to recover after a hospital stay. For seniors to recover adequately, accessible, affordable senior housing is a must. The right housing can also serve as a suitable place to receive wellness and therapeutic services during post-hospital recovery.

Affordable housing helps seniors live more safely

One of the most significant contributors to health care costs and emergency visits among aging adults is falling. About one in four adults over the age of 65 falls each year. Falls are the leading cause of injury-related deaths among seniors, and most of these dangerous accidents happen at home.

Safety and accessibility improvements in homes—such as shower and bath bars and non-slippery floor surfaces—can help prevent these injuries. Other safety features seniors at home can benefit from include fall monitoring systems and wearable emergency alert devices. Affordable housing helps put these safety features within reach for older adults living on small, fixed incomes.

Affordable housing is more than a place to live

The goals for seniors aging in place is to achieve good health and mental well-being so they can live enriched lives for many years to come. Some affordable housing communities, such as those offered by Graceworks Housing Services, are conveniently located near services and amenities that allow older adults to maintain their schedules and live more independently in their homes.

Graceworks Housing Services recognizes that affordable housing is more than just a place to live; it’s a place to thrive. With well-maintained apartment communities available throughout Indiana, Ohio, and Kentucky, there’s bound to be one that’s right for you or your loved one. For more information about Graceworks Housing Services, pleasecontact us today.

Day programs, such as those offered by Graceworks Enhanced Living, provide a place for adults with intellectual and developmental disabilities to be active within their community and socialize with others, outside of a home environment. These coordinated programs give participants the independence and freedom to be themselves and pursue their interests, while at the same time providing necessary support and care that is catered to their unique needs.

To learn more about the value of activity and community-based programs for individuals with intellectual and developmental disabilities, we sat down with Scott Osterfeld, Director of Day Program and Waiver Services at Graceworks Enhanced Living.

When did you first realize you wanted to help people with intellectual and developmental disabilities?

I think it was in junior high that I discovered I wanted to work in the disability field. I always thought it was unfair that the kids with intellectual disabilities were never with me in the same classroom, or in gym classes, lunch, or school dances. This was my first inclination to invest my life in this field and provide opportunities for individuals to participate in daily life within their communities.

I’ve been working in the disability field for 32 years now. I started working in a children’s home in 1986 and then worked in various community homes for people with intellectual disabilities. About a year and a half ago, I began working at Graceworks Enhanced Living as the Director of Day Program and Waiver Services. My job is to oversee our two day programs in Montgomery and Hamilton County, and mentor and supervise the managers of these programs.

What kinds of activities do individuals participate in during the Day Programs?

The entire focus and purpose of Day Programming offered by Graceworks Enhanced Living is to help adults with intellectual and developmental disabilities become more involved and integrated into their community. During the day, our staff will take individuals out to different places, so they can experience the activities that they enjoy doing.

Each participant in our day program has a service plan, which lists the activities that they love to do. For example, if an individual loves animals, we’ll make sure they get to interact with animals, whether it’s going to a local park or the aquarium or zoo. Other examples of outings include going to restaurants, seeing plays, getting manicures, or going to a cultural event within the community. We’ll also organize hands-on arts and crafts and exercise activities.

Why is Day Programming so important?

Day programs ultimately enhance the lives of individuals with developmental and intellectual disabilities. Instead of being isolated from others, they are out and about, doing the things that everyone else is doing. Our goal is to create an environment where these individuals are fully integrated and active members of their community and enjoy a higher quality of life. Caregivers and family members benefit from the day programs as well, because it gives them time to themselves for errands, work, or self-care.

What do you enjoy most about your job?

What I like most is the team atmosphere I have with my co-workers. Being able to mentor our staff has allowed me to pass on my knowledge and help them grow. While I may not make a direct, day-to-day impact, I am able to effectively equip and empower the managers and staff, so they can go forth and make a difference in the lives of the individuals we serve.

I also strive to go out of my way to show our staff that I appreciate and value them. I have a “Manager Appreciation Menu,” where, once a month, managers can pick something off the list that I will do for them. For example, I will deliver takeout to their family, get them a gift card, take the company vehicle for an oil change, or bring over cookies and snacks. It’s important to do those little things that show the staff that I’m thinking about them, and I appreciate their hard work.

What has been a highlight of your experience working at Graceworks Enhanced Living?

For the day programs, a huge highlight is seeing people do the things that they enjoy. I remember a group of individuals went to the University of Dayton arena to watch the basketball teams practice before the NCAA tournament. Everyone had so much fun and got to be a part of the experience. It means a lot to watch people go out and do the things they enjoy, just like everybody else.

Another highlight was a block party hosted by some of the residents in one of the Graceworks Enhanced Living homes. Together with our staff, the residents opened their doors to their neighbors and invited them over for a block party with food and music. It provided a chance for the neighbors in the community to get to know the residents a little bit better, enjoy each other’s company and create a stronger connection throughout the neighborhood. It was really amazing to watch.

Learn more about Graceworks Enhanced Living

As our name implies, we enhance lives every day through our Graceworks Enhanced Living services. Everything we do is based on our principles of Gentle Teaching, servant leadership, and building community.

Our Montgomery and Hamilton County Day Programs are uniquely designed to cater to each of our client’s needs as a group while at the same time giving them independence and freedom to be themselves individually. Participants in our Montgomery and Hamilton County day programs enjoy a broad range of recreation and leisure activities. Activities are planned based on each individual’s needs. Some of our activities include hands-on arts and crafts, daily exercise, current events exploration and community outings. We also offer separate activity rooms for those who require a quieter environment to thrive. Day programming services are available Monday through Friday, 9 a.m. to 3 p.m., excluding holidays.

In addition to day programming, Graceworks Enhanced Living provides a variety of services to persons with developmental and intellectual disabilities, including residential services with 24/7 care and medical and non-medical transportation services.

To request further information about our day programs or supportive residential services, please contact us. We would be delighted to speak with you!

Centerville, Ohio (June 5, 2019) – Graceworks Lutheran Services, a non-profit organization based in Centerville, Ohio is pleased to announce the creation of a new Employee Resource Network ® (ERN) and Success Coach. The ERN, which is a partnership of three local employers plus Graceworks, is the first of its kind in southwest Ohio.

Called Soaring to Success, it is just the fourth ERN in all of Ohio.

Kathleen Rome will serve as the Success Coach for this new ERN. She is employed by the Miami Valley Community Action Partnership. Ms. Rome will split her time amongst all four employers. Her work with employees is completely confidential.

Graceworks employees may reach out to the Success Coach for a variety of issues, including seeking help securing childcare, homelessness prevention, legal matters and more. Rome is skilled at navigating agencies and community services.

While Kathleen Rome does not formally begin her position as Success Coach until June 10, she has already helped several Graceworks employees impacted by the recent tornado outbreak in Dayton. This assistance includes rehoming, sourcing companies for property cleanup and locating food sources and donations.

“I am happy to welcome Kathleen Rome to Graceworks as our Success Coach,” says Jennifer Wurzelbacher, Human Resources Manager. “Having Ms. Rome available to help employees during a time of crisis or transition helps us to live our organizational value of Faithful Caring.”

Graceworks and the other three employers spent about a year researching and building the Soaring to Success ERN. The goal of the ERN is to increase work/life balance among employees and to reduce turnover.