100 Things You Didn't Know about Presbyterian Homes

Corporate Facts

1. In 2004 Presbyterian Homes celebrated 100 years of providing services to older adults in the Chicago area.

2. Presbyterian Homes has been recognized as one of the top 10 in the United States by Kiplinger’s Personal Finance Magazine.

3. You don’t have to be Presbyterian to live here! Our residents are members of many faith traditions.

4. Presbyterian Homes serves over 1700 older adults in independent living, assisted living and health care settings.

5. Presbyterian Homes has approximately 1,150 employees, many of whom have more than 15 years of service.

6. In 2007, more than 200 volunteers, ranging in age from 15 to 95, donated more than 33,000 hours to a variety of programs at Presbyterian Homes.

7. Presbyterian Homes is a not-for-profit organization, governed by a 45-member volunteer Board of Directors.

8. Presbyterian Homes communities in Evanston, Lake Forest and Arlington Heights are accredited by the Continuing Care Accreditation Commission, CARF/CCAC,  which ensures that Presbyterian Homes is committed to continually enhancing the quality of its services and programs, and focuses on the satisfaction of the residents who choose to live in our communities.

9. Since 2002, Presbyterian Homes and Northwestern University’s Buehler Center on Aging (part of the Feinberg School of Medicine) have partnered to create a focus on research activities. One component of this is the Center's Aging Research Registry, a database of older individuals who are willing to participate in research. Many Presbyterian Homes' residents are members.

10. Presbyterian Homes has provided tuition-free CNA (certified nursing assistant) training for more than 100 individuals across each of its three main campuses since the program began in 2004 in response to the demand for qualified healthcare workers.

11. Presbyterian Homes and its benevolent programs were cited as one of 12 Model Programs for Social Accountability by AAHSA (American Association of Homes and Services), a national professional association representing 5,600 non-profit organizations that provide health care, housing and services for older adults.

12. Presbyterian Homes reaches out to those in need with more than $6 million a year in benevolent programs. Presbyterian Homes started as a program to meet the needs of Presbyterians with limited financial resources and later expanded to serve older adults of all faiths and economic means.

13. The benevolent mission of Presbyterian Homes provides care for approximately 300 older adults each year.

14. In the fiscal year 2006, generous donors gave more than $3.3 million for the support of our programs and services. The balance of the cost of our benevolent work is distributed from endowment income.

15. Presbyterian Homes’ Neighborhood Homes program, launched in 1994, offers rent-subsidized apartments for older adults with limited financial means.

16. Neighborhood Homes currently serves more than 80 older adults who live in two safe, well-maintained apartment buildings known as Crowder Place and Lake View Place. These buildings are in the Lakeview neighborhood on the north side of Chicago, where gentrification and higher rents are forcing older adults to leave their neighborhoods.

17. Presbyterian Homes previously raised $3 million for the purchase and renovation of a new Neighborhood Homes building. Presbyterian Homes is currently in the process of locating a third apartment building to provide additional housing for lower-income older adults. The success of the centennial campaign has made it possible for the Geneva Foundation to increase its outreach.

Yesterday…

18. In the early 1900s, rural family life had diminished as people flocked to the cities and a number of older people were left without resources. The Rev. Norman Barr of Olivet Church in Chicago made a motion to the Chicago Presbytery to establish a home for older Presbyterians with limited means. The Presbyterian Homes charter was registered in 1904.

19. It was not until 1913 that a full-scale effort was launched to fund the Presbyterian Homes project. With just $444.76, an aging white clapboard structure was established to house six older people on Chicago’s South Side near what is now McCormick Place.

20. In 1915, due to increased demand for housing, temporary space was leased for a dollar a year to house 26 residents in an old military building in Highland Park

21. In 1915, the board of directors purchased a partially wooded 20-acre site, known as the Frank Wilson farm in a section of Niles Township that was later annexed to Evanston. Additional land was purchased and six more acres were donated. Today this property is the 40-acre Westminster Place community in Evanston.

22. A stately Queen Anne brick structure, known as the Geneva building, still stands today on the campus of Westminster Place. It welcomed 16 older adults as its first residents in 1922.

23. Westminster Place began as an operating farm with chickens supplying eggs, Holstein cows, goats, and farm horses Nick and Bill. Fruit was grown in the orchard, and residents maintained both flower and vegetable gardens.

24. Many well-known Chicago families recognized the mission of Presbyterian Homes and made generous donations. The families included the Carnegies, Mellons, Weyerhaeusers, McCormicks, Pattens, Shedds, Fields, and Kate Buckingham.

25. Many of the board members had extensive business and financial backgrounds. Frank R. Elliott, a board member for 43 years and board president for 11 of those years, was president of Harris Trust and Savings Bank in Chicago. The board wisely established an endowment fund to ensure the new organization’s long-term stability.

26. Women formed the Board of Managers and handled admissions of residents, oversaw furnishings, food preparation and housekeeping. They also planned social and spiritual activities for the residents.

Today…

27. Today, Presbyterian Homes is made up of seven communities located in Evanston, Lake Forest, Arlington Heights and Chicago.

28. Resident services include dining options, housekeeping, parking and garage spaces, transportation services, on- and off-site programs and activities, hair salons, libraries, gift shops, health and nursing services, and emergency response systems.

29. Independent residents travel a great deal and may only reside at a Presbyterian Homes’ community periodically throughout the year. Maintenance-free living allows them to lock the door, pick up and go!

30. Family and friends can stay overnight in one of several guest rooms at each Presbyterian Homes’ community.

31. At most of our communities, there are independent residences where your cat or small dog is welcome.

32. Presbyterian Homes’ health care communities are currently home to two dogs, four cats, three rabbits, and approximately 40 birds in our health care centers to help keep residents engaged and connected. As well, a greater number of geese than is necessary have made their home on the grounds of The Moorings of Arlington Heights and Lake Forest Place.

33. Residents at each Presbyterian Homes’ community can take advantage of computer centers featuring high-speed Internet access and easy-to-use email. Innovative classes designed for older adults focus on the task rather than on the technology.

Westminster Place (north Evanston)

34. Westminster Place has approximately 560 residents.

35. The 40-acre campus is comprised of the following communities:

• Westminster Place: Independent living in 57 townhomes, 52 cottages, and 155 apartments.
• The Highlands of Evanston: 106 assisted living apartments for older adults who require limited assistance with activities such as dressing, walking, or bathing.
• McGaw Care Center: 24-hour skilled and intermediate nursing care in the 210-bed community. The Frank B. Foster Pavilion offers a special environment for those who need memory care.

36. The Westminster Place campus generates one-third of its own electricity at a co-generation facility.

37. Residents have established a Centennial Garden with both ground-level plots and raised gardening beds. The garden is an opportunity for all residents to enjoy planting flowers or vegetables.

38. Residents produce a monthly newsletter called “The Chimes,” which has won several times the National Mature Media Award for newsletters.

39. The Kimble Fitness Center provides a full complement of exercise equipment, a lap pool and separate warm-water therapy pool, all being renovated in 2008.

40. When the Kimble Fitness Center was built in 1994, visitors from several countries in professions that included medical doctors, retirement services professionals, architects and interior designers came to view this state-of-the-art facility—the first of its kind in the area.

41. More than half the eligible residents of the McGaw Health Care Center participate in the strength-training program at the Fitness Center.

Downtown Evanston Communities…

The King Home

42. The King Home has approximately 60 residents. 

43. Philanthropist James C. King originally endowed The King Home to serve as a residence for men only. The King Home opened in 1911.

44. The King Home offers 55 one-bedroom suites with all utilities, dining and emergency response systems included.

45. The King Home Health Center has 18 beds and provides 24-hour nursing care. 

46. Residents at The King Home come from all walks of life. Many still work and volunteer.

47. A traveling choir group of King Home and Ten Twenty Grove residents,"The Oak and Grovers," performs at community churches and events several times a year.

48. The King Home hosts many speakers who lecture on a wide variety of subjects. This includes ongoing pre-performance educational lectures by the Lyric Opera of Chicago. 

49. Quarterly parties are held to celebrate residents’ birthdays occurring in those months. Residents can invite unlimited guests. Dining services showcase special menus. Musical entertainment is provided, and impersonators of historical figures have attended as well. Can you imagine having President Franklin Roosevelt at your birthday party? It happened here.

50. The King Home features the Huss Fine Arts Gallery, home to Eighteenth Century paintings and furniture. Chinese lacquer screens and Imperial Court attire are also on display.

Ten Twenty Grove

51. Ten Twenty Grove is home to 60 residents.

52. Ten Twenty Grove is an independent living community for older adults in downtown Evanston with 45 apartments featuring full kitchens, weekly housekeeping and parking.

53. Part of the Presbyterian Homes’ continuum of care, assisted living and long-term nursing care is available at the Westminster campus or the King Home Health Center for Ten Twenty Grove residents if needed.

54. Ten Twenty Grove is a small, close-knit community with a great sense of camaraderie among its 60 residents.

55. Urban living puts residents within walking distance of the many shops and restaurants of downtown Evanston. Residents appreciate Ten Twenty Grove’s proximity to the “El,” which provides easy access to activities in downtown Chicago -- from the symphony to the Art Institute to a Cubs’ game at Wrigley Field.

56. Residents have the option of attending twice-weekly community gatherings where refreshments are served and friendships are forged and strengthened.

57. Residents hold quarterly potluck dinners, and everyone enjoys contributing to the menu and the party-like atmosphere.

58. Lectures, a book discussion group, and exercise classes are all held in the community room.

The Moorings of Arlington Heights

59. The Moorings of Arlington Heights is home to approximately 460 residents.

60. Presbyterian Homes purchased The Moorings of Arlington Heights in 2000 from Advocate Health Care System.

61. The 45-acre campus is offers:

• The Moorings of Arlington Heights: 235 independent living apartments, plus 81 villas with patios, vaulted ceilings and garages.
• Assisted Living at The Moorings: 45 studio and one-bedroom apartments for adults who require limited assistance within a supportive environment.
• The Moorings Health Center: 120 licensed nursing care beds for short- and long-term care, plus specialized memory care. 

62. The first residents moved to The Moorings of Arlington Heights in December 1988, following extensive renovation of the former Magnus Farm.

63. The picturesque round barn at The Moorings still remains from the original Magnus farm. It was named to the National Register of Historic Places on August 18, 1992. It is one of only 17 registered round barns still standing in Illinois.

64. Every spring more than 10,000 tulips and daffodils explode in color on this 45-acre campus. The landscaping staff also plants some 500 flats of annuals throughout the spring and summer.

65. The Moorings has two ponds surrounded by 2.5 miles of walking paths with shaded seating areas.

66. Residents can garden in one of 114 planting beds, nurturing everything from asparagus and tomatoes to zinnias. Some beds are set at table height to accommodate those with limited mobility.

67. Edward McCullough fabricated the steel alloy sculpture on the front lawn of The Moorings across from the gatehouse. Augustana Hospital in Chicago gave “Bridge One” to The Moorings in October 1991.

68. Residents produce a monthly newsletter called “The Anchor.”

Lake Forest Place, Lake Forest

69. Lake Forest Place is home to approximately 415 residents.

70. Lake Forest Place provides a supportive environment on 49 acres while focusing on independent living.

• Lake Forest Place: 82 cottages and 168 apartments in a home-like setting for active, independent adults.
• The Highlands at Lake Forest Place: 30 assisted living apartments for older adults who require limited assistance in a gracious setting.
• Balmoral Care Center: 48 skilled nursing care suites; 13 private suites for those who need memory care.

71. Lake Forest Place opened August 17, 1998.

72. Lake Forest Place has a 90,000-sq.ft. town center, providing such amenities as banking, a travel service, a gift shop, fitness center with lap pool, casual dining grille, and computer resource center.

73. Each dwelling is wired with four to six phone lines to accommodate a home and business phone, fax, computer and wireless emergency call system.

74. The campus features numerous ponds and a wetlands area near the community garden.

75. There are more than 1,200 trees on the 49-acre Lake Forest Place campus.

76. Independent residents can garden in the 100 plots available for their enjoyment. Some residents choose to grow flowers, while others tend vegetables and tomatoes.

77. Residents produce a monthly newsletter called “The Oak Leaf.”

78. On-site services include spiritual life services, social services, physical and occupational therapy, and restorative nursing.

79. Seven water exercise classes per week allow independent residents to pick the level of intensity and most convenient time for their aquatic exercise.

80. Some residential cottages include finished basements for a total of more than 4,000 square feet of living space.

81. Residents can choose to belong to any of 20+ special interest groups, ranging from genealogy and investments to bridge.

82. If you are a member of the “future resident list” to live at Lake Forest Place, you can participate in activities with residents, take classes at the fitness center, or enjoy meals in the dining room.

Rehabilitation Services

83. Each of the main campuses has a well-equipped therapy department with licensed physical therapists, occupational therapists and speech pathologists who are employees of Presbyterian Homes. Managers in each discipline are responsible for daily supervision. The director of rehabilitation services oversees operations for all the rehabilitation programs at each campus.

84. You don't have to live on one of our campuses to receive therapy through Presbyterian Homes. Our rehabilitation services are provided to both residents and older adults in the community who may be recovering from hip or joint replacement, or cardiac surgery or illness. We offer therapy on an outpatient or home health basis, which is typically covered by Medicare.

85. Presbyterian Homes is a preferred provider of post-surgical rehabilitation for many area orthopedic surgeons.

86. Each of our therapy departments offers aquatic therapy—one-to-one physical therapy in our fitness center pools, led by a therapist with special training in working in the water.

87. All of our rehabilitation departments have kitchens and bathtubs to aid in practicing activities of daily living.

88. Westminster Place and Lake Forest Place rehabilitation departments also have full-size automobiles, bedrooms and varying types of walking surfaces to help clients gain confidence in many environments.

Adult Day Services

89. Presbyterian Homes offers adult day services at Great Opportunities in Skokie.

90. Adult Day Services is a resource for older adults and their families. Adult Day Services offers a safe, structured day in a home-like setting for older adults. Members may or may not have chronic medical conditions. Some members may simply enjoy activities and socialization with others during the day.

91. Adult Day Services offers transportation to and from the center, morning snack, hot lunch, health monitoring, therapeutic and recreational activities, exercise, individual care plans and family support groups.

92. The goal of an individual care plan is to keep a member’s strengths intact as long as possible.

93. A major benefit of adult day services is to enable participants to live at home while providing a safe and stimulating environment for them during the day. This allows their caregivers to work at a full-time job.

Lifeline

94. Lifeline is a 24-hour personal emergency response system, which costs $35 a month. Presbyterian Homes has offered Lifeline since 1983.

95. Presbyterian Homes provides the Lifeline system to all of its assisted living residents and any independent or community residents who request it.

96. In an emergency, five minutes can seem like two hours. One of the main benefits of Lifeline is being able to reach someone who can determine the nature of your emergency and provide you emotional and moral support until appropriate help arrives.

Of Interest

97. Our oldest resident is 108 and has lived here since 1983.

98. Our youngest resident is 62.

100. Our longest residing resident has lived here since 1974.