Community Briefs: News and Notes from Our Neighbors

Three UCH Communities Earn Readers’ Choice Awards

Three United Church Homes communities in Ohio have earned Readers’ Choice Awards from two newspapers.

Harmar Place was voted Best Extended Care and Rehab Community in Marietta, and the Pines at Glenwood Community was voted Best Assisted Living in the Marietta Times’ Readers’ Choice Awards. Parkvue Community in Sandusky was voted Best Senior Living or Assisted Living Community in the Sandusky Register’s contest.

Harmar Place provides older adults with memory care, Fast Track Rehab and long-term skilled care. The community serves 86 residents, including 23 short-term guests and 16 memory-care residents. Residents and staff form strong bonds, and families appreciate the level of care their loved ones receive and the continuity of care providers at Harmar Place.

The Pines at Glenwood is a vibrant neighborhood comprised of comfortable, private apartments and suites where residents remain active through daily life enrichment. Glenwood is home to about 120 residents and offers independent cottage and apartment living and 48 studio and one-bedroom apartments in assisted living on a beautiful 70-acre campus.

“Glenwood Community and the Pines Assisted Living are honored to be recognized as the Readers’ Choice Community for Assisted Living in Marietta,” Executive Director Linda Dailey said. “It is an honor to serve these residents every day. What makes Glenwood so special for those who call us home is the unique partnership between residents and staff, engaging together in meaningful ways each day.”

Parkvue is a Life Plan Community offering independent and assisted living, memory care, rehabilitation and skilled nursing care to nearly 200 older adults. Parkvue’s dedicated team, highly engaged residents and beautiful campus combine to make the community a special place to call home.

Hoffner to Oversee Yardi Program in Housing Services

Shawn Hoffner, a seven-year United Church Homes employee, is in a new role and now managing the Yardi software program.

Affordable housing managers from throughout the U.S. traveled to the Marion headquarters in October for Yardi training. The software aims to improve efficiencies and collaboration among UCH departments.

Shawn will be responsible for all things Yardi related, including implementing upgrades and rent increases, assisting managers with questions, streamlining processes, providing training and more.

Beginning his career in 2012 as manager and maintenance person at Cherry Arbors in North Lewisburg, Ohio, Shawn became manager of Cherry Arbors and HardinCrest in Kenton in 2014. He is a graduate of the LeadingAge Ohio Leadership Academy.

With Shawn’s new role, he will continue to be the manager of Shawnee Springs in Bellefontaine, Ohio, in addition to his work in the central office managing Yardi.

Jessica Hall Joins SEM Haven Team

SEM Haven, a United Church Homes-managed community, has welcomed new Administrator Jessica Hall.

Jessica joined the team at SEM Haven in Milford, Ohio, after the retirement of longtime Administrator Barb Wolf. The campus follows the Eden Alternative care philosophy and is managed by United Church Homes, which also employs the community’s administrator.

Jessica grew up in southern Wisconsin. She moved to Cincinnati after graduating high school to major in social work at Xavier University with a minor in criminal justice. “I knew I wanted to work in the long-term care field after helping to care for my great-grandparents,” said Jessica, who earned her degree in 2005.

Jessica started her social work career in long-term care, working at three communities in the Cincinnati area. In 2013, she became a skilled nursing care administrator.

In her free time, Jessica enjoys running and walking with her dog, Jasper, traveling and spending time with her family, especially her grandmother, who has dementia.

SEM stands for Southeastern Ecumenical Ministry, a nonprofit organization formed in 1967 by leaders from area churches that had been particularly concerned with community development, justice and human need. These leaders formed a task force called Housing for the Aged, which grew into a retirement community of five freestanding buildings to provide many levels of care to meet the changing needs of older adults in the neighborhood.

SEM Haven opened in 1980 to provide skilled care to 100 older adults. The community expanded and renovated in 1989, 1996, 2007, 2011 and 2018.