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Living Life to Its Fullest Margaret “Peg” Darling, a 92-year-old Abernethy Laurels resident is evidence that age is just a number. Peg was in her late 40s and living in Marietta, Georgia when she enrolled in a local pottery class. After several lessons and spilled water bowls, throwing pottery became a hobby for Peg. She enjoyed the texture of the clay and using her hands to create art, a feeling she describes as “meaningful”. Peg’s love of making pottery is shared with her oldest daughter Connie, who lives in Texas. Due to moves and life happenings, more than 35 years passed without Peg partaking in her favorite pastime. That was until recently when Connie planned a visit with her mom and arranged for them to go to Dirty Ankle Pottery in Newton. Since more than three decades had come and gone, Peg was excited and anxious about her abilities to try pottery again. Like riding a bicycle, the moment Peg sat down at the pottery wheel many of her skills came back. Peg and her daughter spent hours laughing and reminiscing in the pottery studio. They each made a special piece of art that day. That piece of pottery does not only serve as a reminder of the fun-filled day they had together, it’s a reminder to all of us to live life to the fullest. Photo courtesy of Dirty Ankle Pottery TELLING THE UCHS STORY A Christian ministry committed to providing vibrant senior living opportunities, diverse programs of outreach and compassionate healthcare services. SPRING 2015 UNITED CHURCH HOMES AND SERVICES | www.uchas.org

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Living Life to Its FullestMargaret “Peg” Darling, a 92-year-oldAbernethy Laurels resident is evidencethat age is just a number. Peg was in herlate 40s and living in Marietta, Georgiawhen she enrolled in a local potteryclass. After several lessons and spilledwater bowls, throwing pottery became ahobby for Peg. She enjoyed the textureof the clay and using her hands tocreate art, a feeling she describes as“meaningful”.

Peg’s love of making pottery is sharedwith her oldest daughter Connie, wholives in Texas. Due to moves and lifehappenings, more than 35 years passedwithout Peg partaking in her favoritepastime. That was until recently whenConnie planned a visit with her momand arranged for them to go to DirtyAnkle Pottery in Newton. Since morethan three decades had come and gone,Peg was excited and anxious about herabilities to try pottery again.

Like riding a bicycle, the moment Pegsat down at the pottery wheel many ofher skills came back. Peg and herdaughter spent hours laughing andreminiscing in the pottery studio. Theyeach made a special piece of art thatday. That piece of pottery does not onlyserve as a reminder of the fun-filledday they had together, it’s a reminderto all of us to live life to the fullest. Photo courtesy of Dirty Ankle Pottery

TELLING THE UCHS STORY

A Christian ministrycommitted to providing vibrant senior livingopportunities,diverse programs ofoutreach andcompassionatehealthcare services.

SPRING 2015

U N I T E D C H U R C H H O M E S A N D S E R V I C E S | w w w. u c h a s . o r g

A Doll Day AfternoonTenants at The Willows were gracedwith a lovely friendship and an arrayof beautifully crafted dolls duringtheir Doll Day festivities. Ms. LoisBauder, a neighbor to The Willows,and an avid doll collector, sharedmore than 60 dolls from hercollection with tenants. Yes, share!She gave tenants a doll (or two) oftheir choice to keep as their own.

Ms. Bauder’s collection of dollsranges well over 1300. She feels leadto share the dolls so that they mightbring happiness to others; andknows, she will be blessed in return.

The tenants were in awe, somenostalgic, others reminiscing, and yetothers simply dazed by the generosityof Ms. Bauder. The dolls were allsizes, dressed to perfection and inpristine condition. Ms. Bauder wasso delighted with the excitement ofthe tenants, she asked to bring moredolls out during her next visit.

Nancy Holt, Site Coordinator at TheWillows, summed up the afternoon,“today, we are the recipients of manyblessings”.

Remembering POW, MIAApril 9th was National Former Prisoner of War RecognitionDay and a day that participants at Carolina SeniorCare willlong remember. Members of the Davidson County HonorGuard held a special ceremony at Carolina SeniorCare toremind everyone that there are Americans who served ourcountry and are listed as unaccounted.

The ceremony included an empty table with five hatsrepresenting the different branches of the military set in a placeof honor with each item holding special significance. Theempty chairs represented the veterans missing; a white clothstood for purity and their willingness to answer the call of duty.A candle reminded everyone of the light of hope and to lightthe way home. A single red rose signified the blood that wasshed. A slice of lemon symbolized the bitterness and salt areminder of the fallen tears of families as they wait return oftheir loved ones. The Bible represented strength achieved fromthe faith to sustain those lost and unaccounted.

One guest noted, “This was emotional for me; I served on thefront line. I can’t get it off my mind. It is important for peopleto remember those who didn’t make it.”

“It is important for all Americans to remember those 83,000service members who are still listed as missing or as POW.Americans must make an effort not to forget them,” sharedWoody Bowman, a member of the Davidson County HonorGuard.

Carolina SeniorCare, along with all United Church Homesand Services communities, takes great pride in celebrating thelives of the men and women who served and continue to serveour country and the freedoms associated with their service.

Photo courtesy of The Dispatch

Lake Prince WoodsBegins New PartnershipA wonderful partnership has begunbetween Lake Prince Woods and theGenieve Shelter in Suffolk. TheGenieve Shelter provides assistanceto women and children who areescaping domestic abuse byproviding both short-term andlong-term housing and assistance.

Lake Prince Woods residents andstaff take great joy in assisting theGenieve Shelter whenever possible.Anticipating the priceless expressionsof delight, 18 Easter baskets forchildren at the shelter were preparedby residents and staff. Baskets werebrimming with stuffed animals,stickers, toys, and of course lots ofchocolate.

Residents also collected canned foodand other non-perishable items forthe women and children andreceived an overwhelming responsethat resulted in more than 100pounds of food being delivered.

The partnership is a win-win for all;for it is in giving that we receive.

Piedmont Crossing Offers Memory Care ServicesPiedmont Crossing recently completed a project to offerimproved services to those needing a secure place to live. TheParkway Healthcare Center now has a secure environment where18 residents receive care and have activities geared especially forindividuals with Alzheimer’s disease or other dementias.

The project included securing several doors, enclosing outdoorspace, and dedicating an employee solely to provideprogramming for the residents living in the newly designed area.An outdoor space provides a place where these residents cansafely enjoy the fresh air and relax on the patio furnitureprovided.

The Memory Care area meets a need for current residents withdementia and prepares Piedmont Crossing for the growingdemand. By 2015, the Centers for Disease Control (CDC)estimates 14 million people will be living with Alzheimer’sdisease.

“We are excited to offer this level of service to our residents andprepare for the future,” stated Priscilla Vint. “It’s important thatresidents with any type of dementia receive appropriatestimulation and are able to safely remain in an atmospheresuited for their needs. We are fulfilling the UCHS Vision - toenrich lives by providing the right services, at the right time, inthe right setting.”

U N I T E D C H U R C H H O M E S A N D S E R V I C E S | w w w. u c h a s . o r g

Glen Campbell DocumentaryUnited Church Homes and Services and OmnicarePharmacy Services partnered to bring the Oscarnominated Glen Campbell I’ll Be Me documentary toHickory and Lexington, NC and Suffolk, VA. Campbell is

documented beingdiagnosed withAlzheimer’s disease,his daily struggles,and the dailychallenges for hisfamily.

“This is a wonderfuldocumentary of

how a family copes with Alzheimer’s disease,” shared LeeSyria, President/CEO of UCHS. “It reaches your heartwith moments of sadness and others of humor, whilesharing the notable talents of Campbell as a musician. Wewere delighted to bring it to these communities to offersupport and education regarding this disease that affectsso many.”

Grant a DreamUnited Church Homes and Services’new program, “Grant a Dream”, islikely to bring forth pricelessexpressions and grins like a Cheshirecat! “Grant a Dream” has but onegoal – to renew and celebrate apassion while creating delight withinthe hearts of our seniors. The coreof the program is to grant basicdreams and or experiences for thosewe serve within the UCHScommunity. Whether a senior wishesto ride in a fire truck, sit at a potter’swheel, or taste Grandma’s ‘good tothe last bite’ rhubarb pie, our hopeis to bring them a joyful experiencefilled with lasting memories.

Guidelines for Eligibility• A resident/participant/tenant

within the UCHS communities• Finding it difficult or is unable to

fulfill dream on their own• Capable of experiencing the dream

For a Grant a Dream brochure,contact Joy Cline ([email protected])or Shaylyn Ladd ([email protected]).

Thanks to the legacy of Rena Bray Smith thismusical playground at Piedmont Crossingwill be enjoyed by many family and friends.

United Church Homes and Services Foundationis the pivot of coordination for a $3.6 millioncapital campaign to build a two-story healthcarecenter at Abernethy Laurels. The campaigntheme, “Defining our Future, Honoring ourHeritage”, was chosen to depict enhanced qualityof life for those served and to recognize those thatfounded the healthcare center that is well-knowntoday for its hands-on leadership and quality ofcare.

The original healthcare center was built in theearly 1970s when an institutional medical modelguided the development of long-term carefacilities. Today’s approach in providing care isperson-centered with an environment that isdesigned to evoke a feeling of home, also knownas the Household Model. The project is morethan the construction of a building. It is a “gift ofdignity’ to the residents of Abernethy Laurels andthe wider community.

The multi-million dollar project will consist of96 new resident rooms organized into threehouseholds of 16 private beds each. Each

household is to include living and dining spaces,designed within a residential setting and theability for management to offer specializedservices, such as memory care and rehabilitationcare, based on consumer demands. “It’simportant that we prepare to serve the aging babyboomer population, which is expected to increase68 percent over the next two decades in Catawbaand Lincoln counties,” said Amber McIntosh,Executive Director Abernethy Laurels.

To learn more about the UCHS Foundation andthe Abernethy Laurels Capital Campaign or tomake a donation, contact Nancy Beard, President,UCHS Foundation, 828.465.8008.

$3.6 Million Capital Campaign Launched

Non Profit Org.US Postage PAIDNewton, NCPermit No. 5

100 Leonard AveNewton, NC 28658

www.uchas.org

“You are never too old to set another goal or to dream

a new dream.” – C.S. Lewis

United Church Homes and Services (UCHS) began as a dream in the early 1950s. It’s hard to imagine that our founding mothers and fathers were dreaming and visioning about how to provide services for older

adults over sixty (60) years ago. I wonder about the first goal that was planned for this ministry, and how that aspiration led to another dream and then another dream.

Over sixty years later, UCHS proudly serves more than 2000 individuals each year across a variety ofsettings including our retirement communities, affordable housing communities and Program for AllInclusive Care of the Elderly (PACE). Although each of our programs began as a dream with a goal to becreated, we continue to work towards dreaming new dreams and setting new goals to enrich our currentcommunities and programs, as well as to expand our services to better fulfill our mission and vision.

Throughout this newsletter, you will read stories about dreams for the future which are leading toimprovements at our communities. I am also very excited that UCHS is introducing a new program(Grant a Dream) to benefit people across our organization, because as C.S. Lewis states, “you are nevertoo old to set another goal or to dream a new dream”. Our goal with this program is to be able to helpfulfill the dreams of those we serve. We look forward to showcasing the dreams that have come true infuture newsletters.

Just as individuals never grow too old to dream new dreams, UCHS as an organization will never be tooold to dream new dreams. We must continue to dream in order to provide vibrant senior livingopportunities, diverse programs of outreach and compassionate healthcare services.

Lee SyriaF R O M T H E C E O