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 After an early preaching ministry,
Gahr was hired in 1966 as the second administrator of the year-old
Christian Nursing Home in Lincoln, which had been established by a
group of visionary leaders from Christian churches in Logan and
Sangamon counties.
"George was a humble man committed to the success of the
Christian Nursing Home," recalled Charlotte Bennett, who worked
closely with Gahr as a later administrator at the nursing home and
in a variety of roles at the corporate office of Christian Homes.
"He was not shy in seeking advice from experts in the field to
continually improve how the home operated."
One challenge Gahr tackled head-on was the need to recruit more
residents, Bennett said. He tirelessly took to the road to visit
hospitals and churches within a 50-mile radius of Lincoln to spread
the word about the care provided by the Christian Nursing Home.
Slowly the census increased, allowing the ministry to become
successful.
Gahr also recognized that the care given at the home in Lincoln
was greatly needed in other parts of the state, Bennett noted. When
Christian leaders in those locations desired similar homes in their
communities, he picked up the ball and ran with it. He was excited
about helping to bring Christian care to older adults in other
locales, she said.
Always open to new and innovative ideas, Gahr embraced the idea
of building senior living apartments on the Christian Nursing Home
campus in the early 1970s, and this was a forerunner of what many
other senior living communities later added, Bennett said.
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"George's faithfulness and passion in caring for older adults is
an inspiration to those of us who follow in his footsteps and serve
in this ministry," noted Tim Phillippe, current CEO of Christian
Homes.
The memory care center at the Christian Village provides a safe,
comfortable home for residents who have Alzheimer's or other forms
of dementia. They're treated with compassion and respect in a
structured environment that meets their needs.
Christian Village also offers short-term rehabilitation, respite
care and hospice care. Garden homes and apartments also are
available for independent older adults.
The Christian Village is one of the 14 senior living communities
of Christian Homes, the second-largest not-for-profit long-term
health care provider in the U.S., with campuses in Indiana,
Illinois, Iowa and Missouri.
[Text from file received from
Christian Village]
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