Hilty Home, a retirement community and child care center in Pandora, officially became an affiliate member of Mennonite Home Communities of Ohio (MHCO) in Bluffton today, Oct. 15. 

Previously owned by the Missionary Church East Central District, Hilty Home has provided excellent nursing care services to older adults since 1979.

Hilty Home, begun by the Missionary Church in 1979, offers 61 long-term, skilled nursing beds, 26 assisted living units and four duplex units. Hilty Home recently added a “Transition to Home” program which provides short-term, rehabilitation services with private rooms. In addition, Hilty Home offers child care services to children of staff and the greater community. 

“When we learned that the Missionary Church East Central District was looking for another organization to assume ownership of Hilty Home, we were excited to be invited to make an offer,” said Laura Voth, CEO of MHCO.  

“Hilty Home and Mennonite Home have been sister organizations for years, and the idea of working together in a formal fashion just makes sense.  We are both non-profit and faith- based providers of services to the older adults in our communities, with similar missions, organizational cultures, and high standards for quality care and service,” Voth added. 

MHCO was started in 1955 as a “home for the aged.” Since then it has grown to serve over 250 residents on its two campuses. Mennonite Memorial Home, located at 410 W. Elm St., has 35 assisted living apartments, 18 duplex units and 92 long-term skilled nursing beds. 

Maple Crest Senior Living Village, located at 700 Maple Crest Court, has 35 independent living apartments, 20 assisted living apartments and 26 duplex units. Mennonite Home Health and Senior Services offers clinical as well as non-clinical services to elders in their own homes, averaging 50 clients per month. 

In December of this year MHCO will open a third campus named Willow Ridge which will provide two Green House homes. Each home will provide licensed nursing care for 10 elders in private rooms surrounding a comfortable hearth room, open kitchen and plenty of outdoor space. 

“Welcoming Hilty Home to the MHCO family will make both organizations stronger and better able to carry out our missions. We are convinced that the two organizations will form a solid partnership that will greatly benefit the Pandora-Bluffton community and will provide uninterrupted service to the residents of Hilty Home,” Voth said.

Joy Reichenbach, Administrator of Hilty Home since 2002 said, “Nearly 40 years ago, Margaret Hilty had a vision for a Christian home for those who could not care for themselves anymore. In response to that vision she left her entire estate to the Missionary Church East Central District (Missionary Church) for the establishment of a nursing home. 

"The Missionary Church fulfilled Margaret’s vision and the farm she donated has become the land upon which Hilty Home is built. For over 30 years the Missionary Church provided good leadership as Hilty Home continued to grow and add services like the Child Care Center. 

"Margaret was a teacher and I believe she would be pleased that children are being loved, prepared for school and being taught about Jesus right on her farm.” Reichenbach said, “This new relationship is a continuation of what has been established and a way to be able to provide the Christian loving care that Hilty has provided in the past. It helps to ensure that Hilty Home and Child Care will be able to meet the expectations of the future.”

When asked how the new relationship will affect residents and staff, Voth said, “Hilty Home has a great reputation of providing excellent care to its elders and children because of its committed and professional staff. 

"I am pleased that Joy Reichenbach will continue as Administrator and guide the ministry of Hilty Home. There are no immediate plans to alter staffing structures or benefits. The transition from a staffing perspective should be seamless and transparent,” she noted.  “The staff, residents and children will see little change,” she added.

Together, MHCO is able to serve over 400 individuals through its communities at Hilty Home, Maple Crest, Willow Ridge and Mennonite Memorial Home.

Hilty Home, Inc. will continue to operate as its own corporation with a local board of directors with some reserved powers retained by the MHCO board of directors.

The community is invited to celebrate this new relationship on Sunday, Oct. 28, at 2 p.m. at Hilty Home. A ceremony with the theme “Serving Together” will be followed by an open house and desserts.