News & life at Christian Care

Quality & compassionate care

Christian Care Earns CMS High-Performing Nursing Home Recognition

Christian Care has received a gold trophy designation from the Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services (CMS), recognizing it as a high-performing nursing home. CMS's recognition highlights facilities that meet important standards for quality and safety, including staffing and performance on other measures of care. CMS estimates that about 12% of nursing homes nationwide will initially qualify.

The designation gives residents and families another way to understand how a nursing home performs. It reflects a range of measures rather than a single result, and it does not mean that every resident will have the same experience. CMS continues to survey nursing homes, and families can use Care Compare to review a facility's performance across multiple areas.

This recognition reflects the commitment of the people who care for residents each day. It takes a team that draws on faith to fulfill our mission: "Enriching senior living with Christian values and compassionate quality service."

Staffing strength and staff stability

CMS rates Christian Care's staffing as "Much above average." Its overall nursing staff coverage is above state and national averages, including registered nurse and nurse aide staffing, as well as nursing coverage on weekends. This means the facility reports more nursing staff time available per resident than the typical state and national comparison.

Christian Care also reports lower nursing staff turnover than the state and national averages. Registered nurse turnover is also lower than both comparison averages, and no administrators left during the reported period. When caregivers stay at a facility, they have more opportunity to become familiar with residents, their routines, and their needs.

Short-stay quality measures

For short-stay residents receiving skilled nursing services, Christian Care does well in medication review and follow-up when an issue is identified, preventing falls that cause major injury, and helping residents reach expected levels of self-care and mobility by discharge.

Long-stay quality measures

For residents who live at the facility for longer periods, Christian Care does well in limiting hospitalizations and emergency department visits. It also reports comparatively low antipsychotic medication use and fewer residents with pressure ulcers than the national averages.

These measures relate to avoiding unnecessary transfers, careful use of certain medications, and preventing skin injuries.

These measures cover different groups of residents and reporting periods, and no single measure tells the whole story of care. Together, they highlight Christian Care's strong staffing, staff stability, and performance in several important quality categories, while helping the team identify where continued focus can support residents' safety, recovery, and well-being.

— Austin Smith, Executive Director

Healthcare

As flu season approaches, small acts of prevention help protect our residents, families, and neighbors throughout long-term care, assisted living, and independent living.

• Keep your hands clean. Wash with soap and water for at least 20 seconds, especially before eating and after coughing, sneezing, or using the restroom. If soap and water are unavailable, use hand sanitizer containing at least 60% alcohol.
• Review your immunizations. Get your annual flu vaccine and talk with your healthcare provider or pharmacist about COVID-19, RSV, and pneumococcal vaccines appropriate for you.
• Cover coughs and sneezes with a tissue or your elbow, then clean your hands.
• Help prevent the spread. Postpone visits when you are ill. Residents should promptly report new symptoms to staff or their healthcare provider. Follow posted masking and infection prevention instructions.

Protecting one another is a shared act of compassion. Thank you for helping keep our community healthy this season!

“Carry each other’s burdens…” — Galatians 6:2

Remembering loved ones

Memorial Giving

A Thoughtful Tribute with a Living Legacy

A Living Legacy continues to live on because many of you, in the past few months, have contributed to Christian Care's Good Samaritan Charitable Program in memory of a loved one. We always want to remember our loved ones. Memorials have been received in Memory of:

• Blanche Blessing
• Marcia Brewster
• Ann Kuzmitz
• William "Bill" Ringger
• Kenneth Steffen
• Robert "Bob" Troxel

We thank all of our charitable contributors for their generosity and consideration of being a Good Samaritan and offering "A Thoughtful Tribute with a Living Legacy."

— Sincerely, Leon Gerber, Treasurer

Together through the seasons

Activities Department

Community Memories

What a wonderful time we had at the Street Fair parade! It was a joy to be part of the celebration and to see so many smiling faces. A special thank-you to Cyndee and Dean of Queens Apples for the delicious caramel apples. Your thoughtful treat made the day even sweeter!

Boo-in Bluffton was another highlight. So many children came out in their costumes, and our residents enjoyed seeing all the creativity and excitement. Moments like these bring generations together and give us memories to share long after the festivities are over.

A Magical Holiday Season

As November gives way to December, we're looking forward to celebrating the season together. Carols and Christmas light tours are among the things we're most excited about. There's something special about familiar songs, glowing lights, and time spent in good company.

We hope this season brings our residents and their families plenty of warmth, laughter, and moments to cherish.

Volunteer Corner

We are looking for volunteers to help residents get to and from the beauty shop. This role involves walking with residents and helping push their wheelchair when needed. If you're interested, please contact us to learn more.

Thank you to all our volunteers for sharing your time and talents with Christian Care. We would especially like to recognize Pat Maller, Jane Frauhiger, Imogene Isch, and Pat Bertsch. Since Christian Care opened, these four volunteers have played the piano for us on Thursdays or Sundays. Your music has brought so much joy to our residents, and we are grateful for your dedication.

Welcoming the New Year

January gives us a chance to look back on the memories we've made and look forward to those still to come.

Thank you to our residents, families, friends, and community partners for being part of these celebrations.

Wishing you a joyful holiday season and a happy, healthy start to 2027!

— Betty Lough, Activity Director

Nutritional Services

The holiday season has begun!! It is a time for us to give "Thanks" for the many blessings and freedoms we have. It is a time for family traditions to be celebrated, what are some of your family traditions? Looking forward to enjoying time and meals together with family and friends is always a big one. It is no different here at Christian Care, our Dining Services staff enjoy seeing the residents' faces light up when we have special meals and to see them enjoy time with their loved ones. This year's resident Thanksgiving meal will be on Tuesday November 24th at 11:30am. The traditional turkey with all the trimmings will be prepared to help our residents enjoy this annual event. A festive Christmas dinner will be served on Tuesday December 15th at 11:30am.

We will be serving our residents who reside in Duplexes a Holiday Meal on Thursday, December 3rd at 12:00pm.

Watching the beauty of the seasons changing reminds me of how God continues to create such beautiful masterpieces. Each one of us is a masterpiece, He creates beauty beyond our imagination. He has given us the opportunity to serve and bless others each day which in turn blesses us as well. Let us not forget the sacrifices made for us and the freedoms we have to celebrate together.

The Dining Services team would like to take this opportunity to extend our wishes to our residents, their families, and our staff for a bountiful and blessed holiday season.

— Deb Dove, Nutritional Services

Oh give thanks to the LORD, for He is good, for His steadfast love endures forever! — Psalm 107:1

In loving memory

Christian Care Says Farewell

Welcome!!!!!!

Admissions & Discharges

Christian Care Welcomed…

• Ava Gannon
• Marjorie Hite
• Rose Colvin
• James Foss
• Carl Forsberg
• Marcella Hardin
• Richard Hoy
• Rebecca Agler
• Karen Wing
• Jean Ilo
• Claranell Smith
• David Hill
• Mary Raugh
• Elaine Beck
• Hannah Farris
• Mary Riggs
• Catherine Tauss
• Carl Haler
• Luther Ash
• Lillian Yergler
• Jacques Thibeault
• Patricia Bertsch

Christian Care Discharged…

• Jean Ilo
• Karen Wing
• Mary Perry
• Barbara Irwin
• Marcella Hardin
• Rose Colvin
• Mary Riggs

Happy Birthday!!!!!!

2026 Annual Campaign

Building on a Strong Foundation

2026 Progress and 2027 Plans

In 2026, we completed two improvements at Willow Lane: new patio doors for the apartments and repairs to the carports.

We also purchased new healthcare furniture for Plum Tree, Cherry Tree, and The Golden Apple Memory Care. Made possible by generous donors, the new furniture replaced the original furnishings Christian Care provided when it opened. Our residents are grateful for the refreshed spaces, and we thank everyone who contributed.

In the fourth quarter of 2026, we plan to modernize one of our elevators. This begins a three-year effort to modernize three of our four elevators, with one project scheduled each year from 2026 through 2028. Each modernization costs just over $100,000.

Looking ahead to 2027, the next phase of the Orchard remodel will focus on the commons area and halls in Cherry Tree and Plum Tree. The project will include new ceilings, floors, wall treatments, handrails, a nurses' station, and furniture.

All this is in addition to helping fund residents who have exhausted their financial resources, which is always a continuing need.

We are grateful to everyone who has supported our past projects, and we invite you to join us in our 2026 Annual Campaign to fund these 2027 projects by completing the form and mailing your contribution to Christian Care using the enclosed return envelope.

Thank you for supporting Christian Care's mission to provide quality services to our residents.

— Austin Smith, Executive Director

— Leon R. Gerber, Good Samaritan Treasurer

Seasonal Reflections

In seed time learn, in harvest teach, in winter enjoy.— William Blake

Winter, a lingering season, is a time to gather golden moments, embark upon a sentimental journey, and enjoy every idle hour.— John Boswell

“It was you who set all the boundaries of the earth; you made both summer and winter.”— Psalm 74:17

“As the rain and the snow come down from heaven… so is my word that goes out from my mouth.”— Isaiah 55:10-11

Christian Care Retirement Community

Mission Statement
“Enriching senior living with Christian values and compassionate quality service.”