Page 5 – UMRCPH Foundation

Independent Living FAQs

At Brio Living Services, we know that learning about retirement living can feel almost like learning a new language. We’re here to “translate” for you to help take the guesswork out of retirement living.

Here are some commonly asked questions and answers about Independent Living communities:

What is an Independent Living Community?
Independent Living provides you the freedom to pursue your own interests without having to worry about home maintenance. With maintenance-free living, you’ll have more time to engage in activities, family connections, and friendships that make your life meaningful. Additional services and amenities, such as social events, dining, and housekeeping, are also provided!

What is the difference between an Independent Living Community and a Continuing Care Retirement Community (CCRC)?
While an Independent Living Community provides plenty of social opportunities and activities for older adults, it does not provide health care or assistance with activities of daily living. A CCRC, also known as a Life Plan Community in some cases, offers multiple levels of care in addition to Independent Living to provide the level of care you need, when you need it.

Learn more about our Brio Living Services Independent Living Community options here!

Learn more about CCRC options: Chelsea Retirement Community and Porter Hills Village.

What health care services are offered at Brio Living Services communities?
Brio Living Services offers a variety of options for independent living on both the east and west sides of the state. Should your lifestyle change or evolve during your retirement, our continuum of care, including assisted living, memory care, and skilled nursing, ensures that you’ll always get the support and services you need.

What are the benefits of living at a Brio Living Services community?

A wide range of on-site amenities and activities that contribute to a rich, fulfilling lifestyle; see some of the amenities at our Brio Living Services communities below:
Clubs and groups with a variety of interests such as reading, gardening, art, social committees, resident council, and more.
On-site, state-of-the-art Wellness Centers with pool, sauna, hot tub, fitness equipment, walking paths, and much more. Our wellness options feature specially trained instructors and spaces designed specifically for older adults, for individual workouts and group class opportunities.
Transportation for scheduled, off-campus group activities.
Salon staffed by professionals available for men and women by appointment for hair and nails.
Media center, library, movie theater, and more!
Security and peace of mind from quality healthcare available whenever you need it
- At Brio Living Services, independent living residences are designed for those who want to pursue their lives free from the drudgery of home maintenance. Assisted living apartments cater to those who need help with daily tasks. Memory support households serve those living with Alzheimer’s and/or related dementia. Skilled nursing provides person-centered, 24/7 medical support.

A variety of maintenance-free residences to fit your lifestyle and needs
- Brio Living Services offers townhomes, garden apartments, enhanced independent living apartments, catered assisted living apartments and even households for those living with Alzheimer’s and/or related dementia.

Contact Brio Living Services to learn more about starting your retirement journey at one of our Independent Living Communities.

Vote for Chef Spencer in MOW Chef’s Specialty Contest

We are proud to share that our very own Chef Spencer Grab from Porter Hills Village is participating in the 10^th Annual Chef’s Specialty recipe contest with Meals on Wheels Western Michigan (MOWWM)! The contest and event will support Meals on Wheels’ meaningful efforts to provide meals to vulnerable older adults throughout the Grand Rapids area. The contest will end with an event on October 16, featuring the top three chefs competing with their own featured recipes.

Chef Spencer joined the culinary team in 2005 and has grown into an impressive leader, gaining many new skills along the way. Chef Spencer now heads up the dining operation at the Fairway Grille, Porter Hills Village’s brand-new dining room at the campus, which has been renovated, expanded, and transformed over the last two years. Porter Hills Village is currently continuing its campus-wide investment with the addition of The Ravines, a 26-unit independent living apartment building.

The first round of the contest consists of electronic voting. Chef Spencer is currently in 2^nd place! We hope that you will join us in supporting Chef Spencer and casting your vote DAILY. Voting ends September 15. Please help spread the word and CAST YOUR VOTE NOW by clicking MOWWM Chef’s Specialty Voting 2024 (office.com) or by scanning the QR code.

Chef Spencer has some tough, local competition, featuring chefs from popular Grand Rapids restaurants such as Linear, Thai Table, and Noodle Pig. Aside from restaurants, there are also local culinary establishments such as Gordon Food Services and Louise Earl Butcher Shop in the running. No matter who comes out on top, there is certainly no shortage of talent and uniqueness in these recipes – and all for a worthy cause! You can read more on all the chefs and their featured recipes here.

Chef Spencer’s featured recipe is Cabbage and Noodles with Kielbasa, also known as Haluski in Eastern Europe, where it originated. Chef Spencer says, “This dish holds a special place in my heart and family history. My dad often made Haluski for us, recounting how his mother would prepare this dish as a quick and satisfying weekday meal. It was their go-to recipe in place of cabbage pierogi because it was faster and easier to make, yet offered a similar, comforting flavor. The combination of buttery noodles, tender cabbage, and hearty kielbasa became a cherished part of our family’s culinary repertoire. To this day, Haluski remains one of my favorite dishes. Its rich flavors and comforting nature evoke fond memories of family, tradition, and the warmth of home.” You can try out Chef Spencer’s recipe at your own home; click here for the full recipe!

Chef Spencer is a prime example of the level of excellence our dining programs provide to our residents every day in our residential communities. Brio Living Services is proud to support these efforts to set our culinary services apart from others. We are looking forward to the results and hope to support Chef Spencer at the event on October 16! Help Chef Spencer stay in the top three amongst these talented local chefs!

To learn more about Brio Living Services and our diverse living and employment options, visit our website.

Back to School with the UMRC-Porter Hills Foundation Scholarship Program

It’s that time of year—everyone is going back to school. That includes some of our Brio Living Services team members, thanks to the UMRC-Porter Hills Foundation Team Member Scholarship program! We are pleased to highlight some of our recent Scholarship recipients!

Angela Edward: Thanks to her Foundation Scholarship, Angela, a social worker at Thome PACE, has completed and earned her certificate as an End-of-Life Doula.

Angela explains, “An end-of-life doula prepares a terminally ill person for end of life by assuring they feel as prepared and at peace as possible for their transition to death. This can include creating a legacy project, working on wills or advance directives, and completing any final wishes, as well as personal care like hand massages or listening to music that helps the person feel comforted. I am honored to work with our participants until end of life, knowing they are spending some of these precious moments with me. The Foundation’s support of my training means I have the tools to offer dignity at end of life to our elder community and provide the delicacy and grace that our elders deserve.”

Shelly Teesdale: An occupational therapist and Therapy Clinical Manager for Brio Home Health, Shelly oversees a team of 16 occupational and physical therapists and speech pathologists. “I really enjoy helping my team succeed,” says Shelly.

Shelly’s Scholarship is helping her complete a certificate program for coding the OASIS assessment, a standardized, interdisciplinary tool used by the Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services for determining care and billing. “Every time we enroll a new patient, they must complete this more than 100-question assessment,” Shelly says. “This training will better equip myself and my team and ensure that Home Health patients are getting the proper care they need.”

Shelly is thankful the Scholarship program is offered. “Continuing education is important for all of us, especially anyone who works with older adults. I encourage my team members to apply for scholarships to pursue programs and courses they’re interested in. It’s important to grow our knowledge and better serve our customers.”

JoDee Kelly: Formerly a dental assistant in the U.S. Army, JoDee began her career at Porter Hills Village 28 years ago—first as a CNA in the Health Center, then as a Shabaz when Brio’s Green House® Homes opened in 2009. Today, she continues to care for older adults there as an LPN, thanks to a Foundation Scholarship. A second Scholarship is helping her become a registered nurse.

“I always wanted to be a nurse, but didn’t have the opportunity,” JoDee shares. “The Scholarships have helped me not have to take out another loan. It’s one less worry.”

JoDee encourages others to continue their education. “If you’re going back to school, apply for a Foundation Scholarship. It’s easy to do, and there are lots of opportunities you can pursue. I really enjoy working with the elders and knowing I’ve made an impact in someone’s life.”

You can help make our team members’ career goals come true with a donation to the UMRC-Porter Hills Foundation’s Team Member Support Services Fund. Or learn more about career opportunities at Brio Living Services for a career you’ll love.

Huron Valley PACE Hosts MDHHS Community Listening Session

Huron Valley PACE (Program of All-inclusive Care for the Elderly) will host the Michigan Department of Health and Human Services (MDHHS) for a community listening session on Thursday, August 29 from 10:00 a.m. to 11:30 a.m. at its day health center, located at 2490 Ellsworth Road, Ypsilanti, MI 48197. This session will provide an opportunity for older adults to offer feedback on options for person-centered, long-term care.

MDHHS is currently engaged in a project to enhance the State’s long-term care system by implementing person-centered independent options counseling (IOC) services. The goal of this project is to ensure that Michiganders have access to the options counseling services that can help them decide whether long-term care services are necessary and, if so, which pathway and service options best suit their needs and preferences.

“Most people who need long-term care aren’t aware of the available options and feel like their choices are limited,” said Tammy Lemmer, State Assistant Administrator for MDHHS’ Bureau of Aging, Community Living, and Supports. “This means they don’t get the support they need, making it hard for them to remain home and independent. Many long-term care decisions are made at a point of crisis, often leading to even fewer options and less than optimal outcomes.”

“We are delighted to host this event which will offer older adults in our local community the opportunity to learn more about their care options, including PACE,” said Sonja Love Felton, LMSW, MPA, Executive Director of Huron Valley PACE. “We appreciate MDHHS coming to Huron Valley PACE to let older adults know they have choices and options for person-centered care.”

MDHHS and Huron Valley PACE welcome the community to attend this listening session and share their feedback which will help guide the direction of this project. Those wishing to attend should contact Huron Valley PACE Marketing Director Lindsay Mann-Shanahan at 734.879.0323.

Meet Our Donors

Reezie DeVet: Having a Ripple Effect Through Her Giving

Catherine “Reezie” DeVet had worked in healthcare for much of her career when she joined the Porter Hills corporate board in the 1990s. Still, the concept of a continuing care retirement community, or CCRC, where older adults could receive the level of care they need—all on one campus—was new to her. “I remember being awed by what a CCRC was, and I was honored to be part of that,” says Reezie. “The more I learned, the more I was hooked.”

While serving at that time, the Porter Hills corporate board worked to launch Cook Valley Estates and to construct the Martindill Wellness Center at Porter Hills Village. “I was supportive and thrilled to know people who had the foresight to want to make life better for older adults. As a faith-based organization which welcomed everyone, I was impressed that we were really living out our Christian values.”

Reezie left the Porter Hills Board in 2000, but continued to give for the next 20 years to the organization that had so impressed her. In 2022, when she was asked to join the UMRC-Porter Hills Foundation board, she agreed.

As a nurse, Reezie says she touched many lives, but as a donor, she has the ability to reach even more. “In 1970, people cared enough to create Porter Hills Village to serve older adults then and into the future. They left a legacy of giving. Now 54 years later, it’s our turn to renovate and create a new, more modern campus for Porter Hills Village. The people who will benefit won’t know our names, and we won’t know theirs, but they will know someone cared and will hopefully be inspired to give in turn.”

Reezie, who now serves as the Foundation board chair, compares this to “dropping a pebble in a pond. Your giving expands to others, and those ripples expand even more. It is a powerful way of touching people’s lives. The UMRC-Porter Hills Foundation gives us a meaningful way to do that.”

To make a gift or to learn more about how you can make a powerful difference in the lives of older adults, visit the UMRC-Porter Hills Foundation.

Brio Living Services Named a Best and Brightest Company to Work For® in the Nation for 2^nd Year

Senior living organization Brio Living Services, formerly United Methodist Retirement Communities (UMRC) & Porter Hills, is proud to announce that it has been named to the 2024 list of Best and Brightest Companies to Work For® in the Nation by the National Association for Business Resources (NABR). This is in addition to its recognition earlier this spring as a Best and Brightest Company to Work For® in West Michigan, an honor Brio Living Services has earned for twenty-two consecutive years.

This national program honors organizations that distinguish themselves as having the most innovative business acuteness and human resources practices, according to Jennifer Kluge, President and CEO of NABR and the Best & Brightest Programs. “These winning companies are truly innovative in their employee engagement execution and have prioritized making a significant impact on their culture. With a focus on their employees as the top priority, this powerful community of the nation’s elite leaders have gained a competitive edge.”

Winning organizations were assessed by an independent research firm that reviews a number of key measures such as compensation and benefits, employee education and development, recruitment and retention, employee achievement and recognition, creative wellness and wellbeing solutions, and work-life blend to name a few. NABR identifies best human resource practices and provides benchmarking for companies, like Brio Living Services, that continue to be leaders in employment standards.

“We are thrilled to receive recognition, as not only a Best and Brightest organization in West Michigan for the twenty-second year in a row, but also a Best and Brightest organization in the nation for two years running,” said Brio Living Services Chief Human Resources Officer Michelle Henderson. “This honor is a direct reflection of our team members at Brio Living Services who help deliver on our mission each day: Welcoming all, partnering together, enriching lives. We could not be more proud of this designation and of our dedicated team members who work tirelessly to improve the lives of older adults.”

Brio Living Services President & CEO Steve Fetyko added, “This award is incredibly meaningful because it is based directly on the feedback of our team members on their experience at Brio. This is a wonderful way to recognize the thousands of incredible ways our team members bring our mission to life each and every day and the positive difference they make in the lives of the people we serve.”

This year’s Best and Brightest Companies to Work For® will be featured in the Wall Street Journal as well as in Corp! Magazine’s December 2024 All Best and Brightest Winners’ issue.

To learn more about the Best and Brightest Companies to Work For® program, visit thebestandbrightest.com. For more information about Brio Living Services, go to MyBrio.org or visit MyBrioCareers.org to join our team in a job you’ll love.

Contact Foundation TodayEast: 734.433.1000 ext. 7502 West: 616.577.2297