United Church Homes’ NaviGuide Service Coordination Gets Boost in Erie County 

United Church Homes (UCH), based in Marion, Ohio, is proud to announce the receipt of three significant grants totaling $20,000 to expand its NaviGuide Service Coordination program in the Sandusky, Ohio, area. The grants include $5,000 from The Erie County Community Foundation, $10,000 from The Dorn Foundation, and $5,000 from The Mylander Foundation. 

This funding supports UCH’s mission to transform aging through a culture of community, wholeness, and peace by providing a dedicated service coordinator to patients referred by Firelands Regional Medical Center, Family Health Services, UCH’s The Parkvue Community, and other local partners. Over the next 12 months, the program will engage approximately 100 patients transitioning between care settings, such as from hospital to home or hospital to The Parkvue Community and back home. 

The UCH NaviGuide Service Coordinator plays a vital role in improving health outcomes by:

• Conducting personalized assessments: Identifying patient needs and designing tailored interventions based on diagnoses, health status, social supports and care utilization.
• Fostering collaboration: Enhancing cooperation among Erie County health organizations to provide seamless care transitions.
• Providing supportive services: Addressing social determinants of health, offering wellness resources, and promoting engagement to combat isolation and depression.

In its third year, NaviGuide demonstrated remarkable success. Among 102 referrals, 70 patients received ongoing services, resulting in an 82 percent reduction in hospitalizations and ER visits at Firelands Regional Medical Center. This program not only improves individual patient outcomes but also reduces overall healthcare spending by preventing re-hospitalizations and promoting independence at home. 

“Our NaviGuide Service Coordination program exemplifies our commitment to supporting underserved older adults in Erie County,” said Kim Yoder, UCH engage program director. “These grants enable us to provide life-changing services that empower patients, reduce healthcare costs, and strengthen the continuum of care in our community.”