Senior housing operator Ohio Living has forged a partnership with Cincinnati-based Village Home Health & Hospice to provide hospice, home health and palliative care to their residents. The companies define the relationship as a Special Membership Interest Agreement, meaning they are partnering to operate the business, dubbed Ohio Living Village Home Health & Hospice, within a defined service area.
Village Home Health and Hospice was founded more than two decades ago as a joint venture between Maple Knoll Communities., Inc. and Jewish Home of Cincinnati. The partnership with Ohio Living extends their service area to six new Ohio counties.
“Village Home Health & Hospice will benefit from Ohio Living’s systems and expertise in health care technology, regulatory compliance, business development, finance and investment, employee relations, fundraising and more. They also have the ability to expand further into Butler, Clermont, Clinton, Hamilton, Preble and Warren Counties,” Melissa Dardinger, corporate manager for public relations at Ohio Living, told Hospice News. “Through the partnership, Ohio Living will be able to offer hospice services within its four area life plan communities.”
This new partnership is one of several that Ohio Living maintains with hospices in its region. The nonprofit’s hospice division serves 320 to 350 patients per day in 48 Ohio counties.
In Ohio, seniors older than 65 represent more than 17% of the population of 11.6 million people, according to the U.S. Census Bureau. In 2017, the state ranked sixth in the nation in terms of hospice utilization, with 56.4% of Ohio’s Medicare decedents electing hospice, according to the National Hospice & Palliative Care Organization. Utah led the nation in utilization that year at 59.4%.
“The most important quality in any partner is a set of shared values,” said Timothy McGowan, board member of Village Home Health & Hospice. “We chose to become part of Ohio Living because they are also committed to providing the highest quality care and promoting patient welfare with compassion, skill, respect and financial stewardship. Ohio Living’s values align well with our organizational culture, and we are confident that this partnership will allow us to further our mission in the greater Cincinnati area.”
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