National Church Residences 2023 Recap

Every year, National Church Residences is committed to serving the various and changing needs of seniors. 2023 was no different. 

In the past 12 months, we’ve made great strides toward growing National Church Residences and supporting more residents across the country. The changes we made in 2023 affected everyone from our top leadership down to the tens of thousands of seniors we serve. Let’s recap some of the top stories and successes that made 2023 another great year. 

Susan DiMickele Takes Over as President and CEO

A new era dawned for National Church Residences in 2023. After an extensive national search, Susan DiMickele was named president and CEO July 1, 2023, becoming just the fourth person to hold the role in National Church Residences’ illustrious 62-year history.

DiMickele first joined National Church Residences as a member of the board of directors. After two years in that role, she became the organization’s first general counsel in 2016 and launched the legal department. DiMickele’s wealth of experience and work as senior vice president proved to the board that she had not only the business acumen, but also the leadership qualities necessary to guide National Church Residences into the future. 

“National Church Residences is a strong and resilient organization with thousands of employees across the U.S. who are committed to serving older adults every day,” DiMickele said. “I’m excited to accept the incredible honor to lead this great organization and its long-standing commitment to serve and uplift our nation’s seniors.”

Mark Ricketts Retires After 23 Years

As one leader takes over, another takes their leave. Mark Ricketts, who first became president and CEO on December 31, 2014, retired at the end of June to make way for DiMickele. Ricketts left an indelible mark on the organization. Ever since he first joined National Church Residences in 2000, Ricketts helped modernize the business platform and grow the organization’s ability to serve seniors across the country. Just in the past five years alone, Ricketts oversaw:

• The addition of nearly 2,500 affordable housing apartments through acquisitions.
• The completion of 10 new affordable senior housing campuses and opening of four mid-market campuses.
• The renovation of nearly 5,000 apartment units.
• The addition of home care, home health, and hospice care services.
• New partnerships with Central Ohio Primary Care and SSIP Insurance Partners.

While the decision to retire was bittersweet, Ricketts is excited to devote more time to his family and community. He also has the reassurance that the team he helped put together and mentor will be continuing his work going into 2024 and beyond.

“We have an incredibly great leadership team in place, a strong and diverse board and workforce,” Ricketts said. “We are fully committed to a culture where everyone feels loved, valued and respected. I can’t wait to see the impact the next generation of missional leaders will bring to National Church Residences.”

Strategic Growth Through New Service Partnerships

Every year, National Church Residences is dedicated to expanding our ability to provide customized solutions to more seniors than before. We are proud to have forged a pair of significant partnerships in 2023 that will help us in our quest to serve 100,000 seniors by 2030.

• SSIP – National Church finalized a partnership and acquired a minority equity interest in the senior advisory firm early in 2023. SSIP serves more than 60,000 clients in 14 states and allows us to offer more comprehensive benefits options for residents in affordable housing, supportive housing, and senior living communities. 
• At Your Door Visiting Healthcare Services – National Church Residences acquired the home-based primary care company to complement the home health and hospice services we already offered. This addition is a major step forward in our goal to offer a full continuum of care for our senior clients.

Improving Digital Connection for Seniors

The digital age is here, and it’s essential to make sure that everyone is able to stay connected with the world around them. Unfortunately, there are many people who still can’t connect to the internet, including many older adults.

National Church Residences took steps toward addressing these issues by hosting “Engage as We Age – Improving Digital Connectivity for Older Adults” in April. The event focused on the importance of equitable access to the internet and shared ideas on how to help bridge the digital divide for seniors. 

In addition to the event, National Church Residences received a Digital Inclusion Pilot Project Grant from BroadbandOhio. The grant funded 10 events that helped bridge the gap between digital access and affordable senior housing communities. At these events, seniors were educated about the importance of digital connection and given one-on-one assistance to enroll in the Affordable Connectivity Program (ACP).

Want to learn more about digital awareness efforts or resources on internet access? Please visit our Engage As We Age page for more information.

Community Anniversaries and Development Updates

2023 was a big year for many National Church Residences communities around the country, starting with the 60th anniversary for First Community Village (FCV). Since 1963, FCV has served seniors in the Upper Arlington suburb of Columbus with dedication and grace. The community has continuously updated facilities and expanded services over the decades.

National Church Residences also celebrated the grand opening of The Hartford at Stafford Village in Worthington, Ohio. The origins of this state-of-the-art community can be traced back five decades when National Church Residences partnered with Worthington Presbyterian Church to provide affordable housing on their campus. National Church Residences eventually bought the property from the church, starting a community-wide effort to create diverse living options for seniors while preserving the affordable housing apartments within The Hartford.

The organization was also proud to expand its affordable housing options in the past year, including a $50 million renovation of the scenic Christian City campus in Atlanta, GA. The project provided the Atlanta community with four newly renovated income-based senior apartment buildings designed exclusively for adults aged 62 and over or disabled. Each building on the campus allows residents to enjoy on-site modern amenities, beautiful green spaces, and recreational options while living in a relaxed, faith-centered environment.

In total, National Church Residences opened, acquired, and preserved dozens of properties. The organization officially opened four new communities and acquired six others, with another three properties scheduled to open at some point in 2024. Meanwhile, 26 communities have been completed or are undergoing renovations, accounting for 2,397 newly updated or soon-to-be-updated apartments for our senior residents.  

Moving Onward and Upward in 2024

While 2023 was a great year, it’s time to keep moving forward. We’re excited to see how all the changes we’ve made in 2023 improve the lives of our seniors and the people in our organization going into the new year – and better yet, how we can continue to build on that foundation in 2024.

Want to read more about all the exciting National Church Residences news, events, and highlights from 2023 and years past? View our issues of Homefront Magazine today!