Summer is often the time of family vacations and fun "getting away".  Have you ever taken a trip and enjoyed yourself immensely, but then commented upon your return "I'm sure glad to be home?"

Recently, one of our residents who resides in an apartment decided to leave our Community and move 1,000 miles away to be near her son.  We understand why a person would want to be close to their family and have this happen occasionally, and we support their move.

But after three months being gone from Franklin, the resident called and said, "I want to come home!  I miss everyone and should not have left."

Last night, after a long flight and with the help of her loving son, she arrived back on our campus.  After greeting her at my office doorway with a hug, she said, "When I walked through the front door I wanted to get down and kiss the ground...I was so thrilled to be back!"

Wow!  It nearly left me speechless.  That's why we do what we do in this place.  We want our Community to be a neighborhood of friends who love and care for each other.  And when they are away, they are missed and can't wait to return.

Many times in the lives of seniors, you hear about all the challenges and frustrations of "growing old".  Recently, a couple moved to our Community and wrote us the following note that shares their feeling of moving over a hundred miles away to join this retirement neighborhood of new friends.

In November, 2011, Ron and I moved from northern Indiana to the Community.  It was a difficult decision to move out of our comfort zone-the community where we had lived all of our married lives, our friends, our church, the home where we reared our children.  What to take, what to discard.  it was the best decision we could have made.  We love our home on a quiet, peaceful street in Brookside Addition.  You can hear the birds sing.  We were accepted and welcomed by friendly neighbors and staff.  One lovely lady offered to share Iris rhizomes in the fall.  It is comforting to know that a nurse is only moments away and we will be cared for when our health declines.  It is reassuring to know that there is a security on duty. . .  We stay in touch with our old friends and embrace our new ones.  We enjoy the variety of programs and facilities available to us.  Our adult children are 100% behind our decision.
                                                                                                Ron and Donna Kuehl

At the May 5th Open House for our Independent Cottage Homes, Mary Lou McCullough was the winner of the door prize and received a new "Kindle".

The Open House provided tours of four of the homes now available for residency on the campus which includes 196 single and duplex homes, often called "cottages" by the retirees.  During the Open House, visitors took tours, enjoyed refreshments, and chatted with staff and current residents about the many living options available to them at the Franklin United Methodist Community.

The continuing care retirement community sits on 120 beautiful acres and includes amenities for active retirees including a Clubhouse with Indoor Swimming Pool, tennis court, Wellness Center, Art Studio, Greenhouse, Woodshop, Computer Lab, and outstanding sidewalks for walking and biking.

For information about the next Open House opportunity, contact Diane Amari, Sales Director, at 317-736-1156 or 1-87-RETIRING (toll free).

More than 300 executives from various not-for-profit retirement and nursing facilities from throughout the country visited Capitol Hill on April 24th to lobby for senior benefits related to Medicare and Medicaid.  Pictured above is the LeadingAge Indiana delegation who visited the Indiana Senators' Offices and five Indiana Congressional Representatives Offices.

The delegation visited with Sam Blevins, Legislative Correspondence for Senator Dan Coats, who was well-versed on health care issues.

  FUMC'sAssociate Exeuctive Director, Keith B. Van Deman, is on the far right in the group picture above and second from the right by the fireplace around the conference table.  

For Immediate Release
Contact: Diane Amari, Sales Director at (317) 736-1156

The Franklin United Methodist Community invites persons interested in independent, maintenance-free living, to visit several homes open to the public for tours. The Open House for independent cottage homes will be on Saturday, May 5, 2012, from 9:00am to 1:00pm.

The campus has nearly 200 homes in their campus neighborhood. Free guided bus tours of “ready to occupy” cottage homes will be available. Staff from the Community will answer questions and refreshments will be provided.

To help retirees age 62 or over who are looking for this independent retirement lifestyle,Franklin United has held their entrance fee on their cottage homes to the original 2004 price, as established by their Board of Directors.

Franklin United Methodist Community is an accredited, continuing care retirement community open to persons of all faiths and church denominations, on a 120-acre campus located on Highway 44 (Jefferson Street) across from Johnson Memorial Hospital in Franklin.

In a recent interview conversation with a prospective professional staff member, I said that I was grateful they could visit so they could see "Who We Are, What We Do, and Why We Do It!"

You can always tell someone about the number of employees you have, the number of residents you serve, your quality scorecard, your annual budget, and more, but what they really want to know is why you do what you do.

A note I received this morning from the daughter of one of our former residents, answers that million dollar question.

Suzy writes, Mom spent 6 1/2 years there...made many friends she dearly loved. Her caregivers on the Health Center not only cared for her, they encouraged and loved her. They are a dedicated, hard-working group of angels on earth for the work they do each and every day for all their residents. Bless your hearts for your compassion and care.

These "thank you" notes (this one with a little lady bug on it) remind our employees why they come to work every day! It is an honor to love and care for your families.

Rod Jackson (below left), new Administrator for FUMC, is shown with retiring Executive Director, Dr. Joseph L. Trueblood during a recent welcome reception with residents and staff. Rod is a licensed health facility administrator and will oversee Activities, Hospice, Medical Records, Nursing, Privacy, and Quality Assurance. Mr. Jackson did his initial administrator in training program under the preceptorship of Dr. Trueblood, who is completing 22 years with FUMC.

The Board of Directors announced that Mr. Keith B. Van Deman, current Associate Executive Director, will become the Chief Executive Officer and Executive Director of the Community on July 1, 2012.