C R O S S R O A D S

Spring 2017

Nursing home vision resurrectedAt its May meeting, our Board of Directors voted to take the next step toward a vision for long-term care on our Vernon campus – one that we have nurtured for years now.

Our readers may remember that in prior years we reported on plans to transform Vernon Green – our nursing home on the Vermont campus – from the traditional model of care that has characterized nursing homes since their inception.

Instead, we pursued what’s been called the Greenhouse Model for nursing home care. Part of a larger national movement, the model provides 24-hour nursing in individual home-like buildings housing 10 residents each, rather than in the institutional, hospital-like facilities mentioned above. Other Greenhouses around the country have demonstrated measurably positive effects of the model for the senior residents who dwell in them.

After much planning and dialogue, we had previously suspended our ambitions in 2012 due to barriers in obtaining the necessary permissions from state authorities. But now, through affiliation with The Greenhouse Project there are new planning and consulting resources available to us.

Earlier this year Vernon’s leadership and staff conducted a Home Study exercise designed by The Greenhouse Project to determine our readiness for the transformations involved. The exercise focused on Vernon’s internal clinical and workplace culture.

The results were positive, indicating a green light to move to the next stage in the process, which involves leadership team development, financial feasibility and culture transformation training. The study’s results encouraged our board to commit to the next – and major – step toward fulfilling our long-sought vision.

Fitting with our history of innovation, if the Vernon Green transformation is fulfilled, it will find us once again spearheading long-term care practices in our region. The undertaking will be intensive in its demands, involving state approvals, gift support and construction. But the effects will be equally powerful for those we’ve been called to serve.

We’ll keep readers updated as our planning proceeds!

Dinnertime at a Greenhouse home (© Greenhouse Project)

2

Gifts to the Annual Fund(January 1 to May 10, 2017)

Advent Christian ChurchAshland, ME

Advent Christian Church (Hope Community) Dover, NH

Advent Christian Church Haverhill, MA

Advent Christian ChurchIsland Pond, VT

Advent Christian Church (Hope)Lenox, MAIn memory of Eleanor Bowden

Advent Christian Church (Oak Hill) Oxford, MA

Advent Christian Church Vernon, VT

Advent Christian General ConferenceCharlotte, NC

Advent Christian Women’s Fellowship Aurora, IL

Alan & Carol BeamsShelburne, VTIn memory of Arlene Rec

Mr. Robert BowdenChatham, MA In memory of Eleanor Bowden

Eleanor BrowningKittery, ME In memory of Eleanor Bowden

Mr. Raymond BurnettMorganville, NJIn honor of Muriel Burnett

Mrs. Edwin CarterVernon, VTIn memory of Ed Carter

Mrs. Joyce CollinsLenox, MAIn memory of Eleanor Bowden

Sages and SeekersResidents of our Meetinghouse Village campus in Kittery, Maine, recently completed an intriguing intergenerational program called Sages and Seekers with sophomores from the local high school.

Part of a national initiative, Sages and Seekers pairs residents of senior communities with a high school student who has volunteered for a weekly session of sharing life experiences through conversation. The stated purpose of the program is “to combat social isolation and age-related segregation within communities, while meeting the universal and compelling need of young adults and elders to share and understand their lives.”

Four of our residents conducted the 8-week program, which concluded with a commencement ceremony of sorts on the Meetinghouse campus in May. At that event, students, educators and other residents listened to Seekers as they read a tribute they wrote to their Sage. The exercise provides students with the opportunity for public speaking, and provides the Sage with the opportunity to be honored.

The program was a great success according to our residents. Typically, the opportunity to explore in depth the lives and generational sub-cultures of widely separated age groups is not available in the course of daily life. Neither would bonds of friendship typically form between such age groups. Both of these benefits blossomed during the 8-week session, as testified by Sages and Seekers alike during the commencement. We look forward to the same next year!

Indicates member of The Barnabas Circle

Indicates member of The Founders Partnership

For more information on joining these groups of friends, please contact us at:

207-439-7280

Sage Meetinghouse Village residents with their Seekers.

Meetinghouse resident Emily Doble receives a tribute from

her high school Seeker.

3

C O R R E C T I O N S 2 0 1 6 A C K N O W L E D G E M E N T S ( C O R N E R S T O N E S ) :

Mr. and Mrs. Duane Crabtree Melrose, MAIn honor of Floyd and Musa Powers

Laurence & Jerilynn ComstockGroton, CTIn memory of Eleanor Bowden

Ms. Dorothy CrawfordBrattleboro, VTIn memory of Arlene Rec

Rev. & Mrs. Dwight Dean Windsor Locks, CTIn memory of Charlotte Hall

Rev. & Mrs. Dwight Dean Windsor Locks, CTIn memory of David & Dorothy Dean

Rev. & Mrs. Dwight Dean Windsor Locks, CTIn memory of Eleanor Bowden

Mrs. Phyllis DuBoisFriendship, ME

First Christian ChurchKittery Point, ME

Gaylen and Joanne RobertsDubuque, ILIn memory of Lilian Roberts

Ms. Mary GodfreyVernon, VTIn memory of Charlotte Hall

Mr. Alfred Goodwin Northfield, MA

Mrs. Pearl GrantWindham, MEIn memory of Stanley Grant

Rev. & Mrs. Frank JewettHaverhill, MA

Mr. & Mrs. Norb Johnston Shelburne Falls, MA

Mrs. Sharon Jones Palm Harbor, FL

Julie KauffmanYork, MEIn memory of Eleanor Bowden

James & Barbara KautzYork, MEIn memory of Eleanor Bowden

Rev. & Mrs. Duane KelloggBridgeport, CT

Mr. & Mrs. Lawrence Knowles, Sr. East Hampton, NY

Helen KoeppStephentown, NY

Mr. and Mrs. John Ladd North Adams, MA

Ann LilleyJericho, VTIn memory of Arden & Rose Domina

Cheryl LombardBoca Raton, FLIn memory of Eleanor Bowden

Mr. Leon Lombard Arlington, MA

Judith MillerBrattleboro, VTIn memory of Arlene Rec

Rev. Robert Miller Bristol, CT

Rev. William Monroe East Waterboro, MEIn memory of Margaret Monroe

Linda MorrisseySimsbury, CTIn memory of Arlene Rec

Rev. Philip NelsonVernon, VT

New Life Conference Richmond, MA

Mr. and Mrs. David NewtonVernon, VTIn memory of Hector Greve

Annie PanterSouth Berwick, MEIn memory of Eleanor Bowden

Neil PelsueNewfane, VTIn memory of Arlene Rec

Rev. and Mrs. Floyd Powers Vernon, VTIn memory of Charlotte Hall

Rev. and Mrs. Floyd Powers Vernon, VTIn memory of Eleanor Bowden

Mr. Tim PuckoBluffton, SCIn memory of Linda Pucko

Doug & Candie RemickKittery, ME

Mrs. June RybickiWorcester, MAIn memory of Julian Rybicki

Mr. & Mrs. Charles SaurmanKittery, MEIn memory of Eleanor Bowden

Christian & Doreen SchararOcala, FLIn memory of John & Arlene Rec

James & Kimberly SheltraNewport, VTIn memory of Elaine Cole

Ms. Marjorie SmithKittery, MEIn memory of Eleanor Bowden

Mrs. Barbara St. JohnBrattleboro, VT

Edgar & Lynda StarorypinskiVernon, VTIn memory of Elaine Cole

Mr. & Mrs. Gil StebbinsKittery, MEIn memory of Eleanor Bowden

Mr. Scott TowleRochester, NH

Mr. and Mrs. Larry Underwood Gill, MA

Rev. and Mrs. Irvin Verrill Live Oak, FLIn memory of Eleanor Bowden

W.H. & F.M.S. Clovis, NM

Janet WashingtonKittery, MEIn memory of Eleanor Bowden

Charles & Diane WheelerLee, MAIn memory of Eleanor Bowden

Mr. & Mrs. Louis YoungHinesburg, VTIn memory of John & Arlene Rec

Mr. & Mrs. Tom ZikanRichmond, MAIn memory of Eleanor Bowden

A Gift Annuity is a popular way for you to leave a lasting legacy for future residents of ACRC while also providing you or a loved one with fixed income for life and potential tax benefits.

Gift Annuities can also be tailored and funded according to various options. What remains constant, however, are the guaranteed lifetime payments – as well as the impact your gift will have on the lives of those we serve.

The table illustrates sample rates of return according to your age.

For a personalized illustration including rates and tax benefits, call us at

207-747-9264

Give and receive at the same time...

This ad is purely informational. Neither ACRC nor any of its representatives engage in tax or legal advice, which should be sought from a professional. Rates for new contracts may change during the year, so call or write to confirm the most current rates.

Your Age Annual Return60 4.4%65 4.7%70 5.1%75 5.8%80 6.8%85 7.8%90 9.0%

Source: American Council on Gift Annuities.

61 Greenway Drive, Vernon, VT 05354

ELECTRONIC SERVICE REQUESTED

NON-PROFITU.S. POSTAGE

PAIDVERNON, VT 05354

PERMIT NO. 1