Adult Day Health

National Church Residences Merges with Heritage Day Health Centers

Columbus, Ohio-National Church Residences (NCR) and Heritage Day Health Centers today announced a merger of the two central Ohio-based not-for-profit organizations. Founded in 1984, Heritage Day Health Services is the largest not-for-profit of provider of adult day services in Ohio. With four centers in Franklin and Delaware counties, Heritage Day Health Centers serve approximately 420 people per week. Programs are based on individual needs, and include health monitoring; rehabilitative therapy; nutrition assistance; personal care; counseling; therapeutic activities; and transportation services.

Heritage provides comprehensive adult day services in the central Ohio area to area resident who have cognitive and physical impairments. NCR's home health care program will complement Heritage services and best practices , and currently serves residents of NCR's affordable senior housing and senior health care communities in Franklin and adjacent counties, as well as Pike County. Eventual plans call for services to be expanded to NCR's 300 nationwide affordable senior and family housing communities, located in 28 states and Puerto Rico. As part of the new partnership, NCR created The Bonnie Walson Memorial Fund at The Columbus Foundation, named in honor of Heritage's founder. The objective of the new fund is to support the mission of quality adult health services.

'Both National Church Residences and Heritage Day Health Services are firmly engaged in the mission to provide quality affordable services to seniors. Heritage's outstanding history of superior home health services, coupled with NCR's 47 years as the nation's largest not-for-profit developer of quality, affordable senior housing, makes this an ideal marriage of missions,' according to NCR President and CEO Thomas W. Slemmer. 'The result is the creation of a strong community partnership of housing and health care resources that will include adult day health, service coordination, home health care, hospice care, affordable housing, skilled nursing, and assisted living.'

Erica Drewry, executive director of Heritage Day Health Centers, said that in addition to the ability to provide increased services to a wider range of seniors, the merger of Heritage and NCR makes economic sense. 'NCR's advanced business systems will enhance Heritage's core competencies and enable us to expand services beyond the central Ohio area, and allow us to continue to employ best practices in the service of our clients.'

The primary objective is to allow senior and impaired adults to continue to live in their own homes, rather than being placed in a nursing or assisted living community. Statistics show that seniors are able to live in their own homes approximately two years longer than would be possible without adult day services. The average daily cost for skilled nursing home care is $170.00, compared to $55.00 for adult day services. Community-centered care also allows the caregiver to maintain employment outside the home, which results in lower workplace absenteeism and increased productivity, which would otherwise cost American industry millions on an annual basis. Studies performed in 2002 demonstrate that 13 more adult day service centers are needed to meet the demand for services in Franklin County, as well as 262 centers to meet the statewide need.

Heritage Day Health Centers has been providing services to the central Ohio community for over 20 years. Heritage enables its clients to live more independently, while providing relief to their caregivers. Programs and services are designed not only to maintain adults' physical health, but to add new dimensions to their lives by helping them rediscover avenues of social, creative, and recreational enjoyment.