BHHM Articles - Baptist Homes Healthcare Ministries

December Neighbor Spotlight: Betty Abington

Betty Abbington: A Life of Faith, Family, and Perseverance

Betty Abbington was born at her home in Vandalia, Missouri, where she began a life rooted in faith, family, and perseverance. At just 15 years old, Betty accepted Jesus into her life, a moment that has guided her throughout the years.
On June 25, 1950, she married Raymond Abbington, and together they built a life filled with love and memories. The couple shared nearly 65 years of marriage, a milestone they were just shy of celebrating before Raymond’s passing. Betty and Raymond were blessed with three children, five grandchildren, and seven great-grandchildren, each bringing joy and pride to their lives.
Betty’s career as a waitress was a testament to her hardworking spirit, with her final role being at the Dairy Queen in Vandalia. Her life has also been marked by a sense of adventure. One of her most memorable experiences was the year and a half she spent in California with her husband while he served in the Army—a cherished chapter in her story.
Betty has always had a deep love for horses, fishing, and her beloved kitty cats. Even at the age of 93, she continues to amaze those around her, still driving and managing her daily life with independence. “I always took care of myself and believed in the Lord,” Betty shares, crediting her strength and self-reliance to her faith.
Her vibrant spirit and enduring faith inspire those who know her, making Betty Abbington a treasured part of the Baptist Homes community.

November Neighbor Spotlight: Virgie Dodd

Virgie Dodd: Guided By God’s Grace

Virgie was born on September 23, 1929, in a country home to Arthur and Violet Dildine. She was the seventh child born into a family of eight children. Her mother, Violet, lost her first two children at birth. They all lived down in a holler, and the house was up on stilts. The family was poor and didn’t have a lot, but God was good to them. At that time, they did not know the Lord, but Virgie looks back and gives Him the glory for taking care of them. At one point, there was a fire in the woods nearby, but it did not take their home, and no one was hurt. This was another of God’s blessings.

Virgie completed school through the eighth grade at Charles School in St. Louis on Gravois. At the age of 19, Virgie came to know the Lord at a church service at the Tabernacle Baptist Church. It was around Easter, and she said the Romans Road scripture touched her and led her to the Lord.

At the age of 21, Virgie met Charles Dodd at church. They became acquainted and married on March 28^th, 1952. The wedding was at the Tabernacle Baptist Church, and Rev. Dr. Ralph Couch did the service. Virgie was 22 years old when they married.

All through her life, Virgie has tried to do God’s work by sharing His Word. After marrying, she stayed at home as Charles wanted, while he worked at National Venders in Bridgeton, MO. She helped with many things at church throughout her younger years. Charles and Virgie made poppies for the veterans and did janitor work at the church when no one was available to do it. Virgie and Charles never had children of their own, but they took in Charles’ nephew at the age of eleven and got him through high school. Virgie still has many children she calls hers everywhere she goes. She feels God has put them all in her life to fill the void of not having her own.

Virgie came to live at The Baptist Home in 2013, with her husband, who has since gone on to be with the Lord. She misses him greatly but knows she will see him in heaven. She and Charles knew people here at Baptist Homes of Arcadia Valley, and felt this was the place for them. Virgie feels content living here and believes this is where the Lord wants her “until the Lord calls her home”. The Baptist Home is a real home, not just a nursing home. Virgie calls it a “family home”. She says, “All our needs are met, and we have so many blessings daily of wonderful food, care and fellowship.” Virgie touches so many lives with her love and faithfulness. She still is very active and enjoys helping in any way needed daily. She prays with others and always encourages them. Baptist Homes is grateful to have her as a resident in our care.

Covering the Cost of Healthcare

Covering the Cost of Healthcare, Part 1

Since President Lyndon B. Johnson signed Medicare into law in 1965, Americans over 65 have enjoyed additional healthcare security through this income-based tax. In 2023, 56 million seniors over 65 participated in Medicare. In 2021, Baptist Homes opened our first Medicare-approved facility. Since that time, we have added Medicare to three campuses, with more on the horizon.

The Baptist Home can help churches prepare their members for their healthcare planning. Preparation for retirement and beyond means avoiding surprises. Many Baby Boomers expect Medicare to cover every healthcare need upon retirement. Here are some key take-homes when it comes to Medicare.

Medicare doesn’t cover long-term care. The only exception is that Medicare may cover from 20-100 days of skilled nursing after a qualifying hospital stay.

Medicare is not free. Medicare is currently split into four parts:

Part A (Hospital Insurance) covers inpatient hospital stays, short-term rehab care in skilled nursing facilities, hospice care, and parts of home health care.
Part B (Medical Insurance) covers certain doctors’ services, outpatient care, medical supplies, and preventive care.
Part C (Medicare Advantage) allows one to choose Medicare Advantage over traditional Medicare through a private insurance company.
Part D is prescription drug coverage that also covers recommended vaccines.

While there is no standard premium for Part A, Part B costs $174.70 per month or more depending on the income of the previous year. Part C ranges from 0-$300 per month, whereas the premium of Part D depends on the individual plan.

Baptist Homes has team members who can speak to senior ministries and Sunday School classes about healthcare during the retirement years. To arrange a free consultation or seminar, contact Dr. Ron Mackey at rdmackey@bhhm.org.

Next month I will provide a short overview of where Medicaid fits into the healthcare equation. Until then, thank you for your prayers for this ministry.

End of Year Tax Strategy

End-of-Year Tax Strategy: 70 Percent NAP Credits Support BHHM and You!

How would you like to support Baptist Homes & Healthcare Ministries (BHHM) and get big tax benefits? BHHM has 70 percent Neighborhood Assistance Program (NAP) tax credits available. These tax credits are worth 70 percent of your gift, in addition to standard state and federal deductions. How does it work?

BHHM has been approved by the Missouri Department of Economic Development (MODED) to issue $350,000 worth of Neighborhood Assistance Program tax credits to assist in the funding of renovations at the Baptist Homes of Arcadia Valley campus in Ironton, MO.

NAP tax credits offset an eligible donor’s state income tax liability. The credit may be used against taxes owed for the year of the donation plus five additional tax periods. As a simple illustration, a $5,000 donation will earn a $3,500 state tax credit.

The Missouri Neighborhood Assistance Act makes this credit available to any person, firm, or corporation with business income in the State of Missouri. Any qualified person, firm, or corporation in business in Missouri is eligible to receive credits, including individuals who operate a sole proprietorship, operate a farm, have rental property, or have royalty income, as well as those who are a shareholder in an S-corporation, a partner in a Partnership, or a member of a Limited Liability Corporation.

As you make end-of-the-year tax strategies, this may be an opportunity for you to bless the work of our ministry and receive some tax relief. Tax credits are limited, so please contact Nick Davis (ndavis@bhhm.org) or Ron Mackey (rdmackey@bhhm.org) today!

Baptist Homes Benevolence History: A Complicated Story Part 3

Baptist Homes Benevolence History – A Complicated Story: Part 3

In this third article exploring the benevolent history of Baptist Homes, we will explore the issues that made a change in our use and understanding of benevolence necessary for ministry viability and sustainability.

By way of reminder, costs per benevolent resident in 1995 were 23% of the total cost of care. By 2022, that cost had ballooned to 77% of the total cost of care, with no end of that increase in sight. What were the issues that led to such a ballooning of benevolent costs? Why weren’t efforts to reign in the skyrocketing cost of benevolence successful? The efforts to control the total cost of benevolent care per resident and benevolence in total were unsuccessful for many reasons.

First, rising medical care costs in the American healthcare system impacted all long-term care organizations. The fact that Baptist Homes was not participating in Medicare/Medicaid meant those rising costs were shouldered by the ministry alone.

Second, the average age of seniors entering long-term care was increasing significantly. Today, the average age of a resident upon admission to Baptist Homes is 87. By this age, many residents have already liquidated much of their asset base. Today, very few residents enjoy the security of a retirement pension with built-in annual increases. Most only have Social Security or a small 401k or IRA, which is still invested and vulnerable to the vagaries of the investment markets.

Third, the legal issues for The Baptist Home in the lawsuit with the Missouri Baptist Convention used up significant reserve assets for legal fees and separated the Home from the vast majority of MBC-affiliated Baptist Churches. Over the years I have heard from a vast number of churches and church leaders, “we will once again support Baptist Homes when the lawsuit is settled.” The settlement of the lawsuit took an astonishing 17 years.

Fourth, the Great Recession of 2007 – 2011 led to a reduction in the market value of the Baptist Homes reserves of nearly 35%. This, at a time when our aging buildings were incurring more and more deferred maintenance issues, churches were likewise impacted and unable to support our ministry, and potential residents’ retirement incomes were decreasing as well.

Fifth, there was a planned reduction in the number of licensed beds (read: lowered census) at the Arcadia Valley campus to reduce expenses, coupled with the fact that our waiting list at every campus was populated by a significant number of new residents who would need financial assistance for their care from day one.

Every effort to control and reduce growing benevolent costs was unsuccessful. Benevolent costs in the first decade of the 21^st century represented a new record high each year while we were providing care for fewer residents. In addition, potential residents were waiting longer to move from their homes with fewer assets, and more and more seniors were by planning or default becoming increasingly dependent upon Medicare and Medicaid as the payor source for their long-term care.

Today 84% of seniors utilize Medicare and Medicaid to cover the cost of their long-term care. Wait! Go back and read that sentence again and ask yourself, what are YOUR plans to pay for the cost of you and your family’s potential long-term care costs?

In 2019, the 17-year lawsuit between The Baptist Home and the Missouri Baptist Convention was settled, with the MBC prevailing. As a result, the MBC began appointing trustees for the Home. That same year, Steve Jones, sixth President of The Baptist Home, announced his retirement. The MBC then appointed Dr. Rodney Harrison as the Transitional President of The Baptist Home. As a part of his transitional duties, he was tasked with exploring the future viability of the ministry. It was his conclusion that without major shifts in how The Baptist Home was funded and how the ministry sought out new residents, the ministry of The Home was no longer viable. In fact, his conclusion was that without significant change, The Home would likely cease to exist within a decade.

Next, an exploration of solutions in the midst of the greatest health pandemic in the modern age…

November Employee Spotlight: Melanie Carr

Melanie Carr: Serving with Kindness & Team Spirit

Melanie Carr has been a valued member of the Baptist Homes & Healthcare Ministries family for just over a year, serving as a dedicated charge nurse on the day shift. In her role, Melanie is known for her genuine care and compassion for the residents—a part of her job she finds deeply fulfilling. For Melanie, caring for others is not just a responsibility but a passion, and her commitment shines in every interaction.

Melanie’s love of family is just as strong as her love for her work. Married and proud of her close-knit family, she has three children, five grandchildren, and one great-grandchild who fill her life with joy. When she’s not at work, Melanie can often be found cheering on her favorite sports teams, including the St. Louis Cardinals, Mizzou football, and the Kansas City Chiefs.

Baptist Homes is truly grateful to have Melanie as part of our team. She brings compassion, kindness, and a steady presence to our community every day.

October Neighbor Spotlight: Bessie Hume

Bessie Hume: With Faith, The Sky’s the Limit

Bessie Hume was born on August 30, 1929, in Phelps County, Missouri, and recently celebrated her 95th birthday. She shares a special bond with her older twin sister, Betty, who lives in North Carolina. For their milestone birthday, Betty visited Bessie, and together they reminisced about the childhood days they spent squirrel hunting and fishing with their father. Raised in a Christian home, Bessie’s faith has been a guiding presence throughout her life.

During her time at Rolla High School, Bessie met Harold, the love of her life. They married right after graduation, and shortly after, Harold served in the Navy before attending Southern Missouri State University. The couple had one son, Kevin, who now lives in Milwaukee.

Bessie’s love for the outdoors continued throughout her life, as she enjoyed hiking and hunting—hobbies she never gave up. Bessie worked as the secretary to the president of the University of Missouri, while Harold was the budget director at the same institution.

In her retirement, Bessie pursued a unique passion—earning her pilot’s license to take short trips. Although Harold wasn’t a fan of flying, he encouraged Bessie’s adventurous spirit, knowing it was something she truly wanted to do.

These days, Bessie enjoys simpler pleasures, like searching for the daily newspaper. She often reflects on how her father loved his radio and Saturday paper, and with a smile, she says, “I must take after him.” Bessie’s vibrant spirit, love of learning, and dedication to family continually bring joy to the Baptist Homes community.

A Life of Change, A Legacy of Light

There is a word that seems to be consistent with me throughout my entire life – change. With each phase of life, there is a new or different way to live. From being single to being married. No children to having children. And recently, I have entered an area of life that is different than all the others. I am now a grandparent to two boys. It is exciting, fun, and a little scary.

I have been thinking and praying about this new change in my life. My conversations with God have led me to trust Him with the future. As a result of this trust in God and a desire to be a committed follower of Jesus, I want to be a LAMP for my grandsons to follow.

Love – If there is something my grandsons can learn best from me (and others), it is how to love. We live in a world that doesn’t always choose this action. I hope they will see me accepting and living my life as a reflection of the love of God that is given through his son, Jesus. In John 14:23, Jesus said, “Those who love me will keep my word, and my Father will love them, and we will come to them and make our home with them.”

Ask for and offer forgiveness. As Romans 3:23 reminds me, there will no doubt be times that I fail living as the Lord would want me to live. The Lord’s Prayer reminds me every time I say it that forgiveness is a gift and a responsibility. When I confess my sins to God, He is faithful and just to forgive me. It is also a spiritual discipline that I give forgiveness to others who sin against me, just as Jesus has given forgiveness to me.

Money – it can consume and bless. Ecclesiastes 5:10 reminds us, “The lover of money will not be satisfied with money, nor the lover of wealth with gain. This is also vanity.” Develop a relationship with God that is genuine and consistent. In Luke 12:34, Jesus reminds his disciples (then and now), “For where your treasure is, there your heart will be also.” Using the wealth that God gives you can be a difference-maker for you and for others. Being a good steward of God’s blessings is a blessing and a way to reflect that which is most important.

Pray – for my grandsons, their parents, and their grandparents. One of the best ways I can teach them about having an intimate personal relationship with the Lord is to show them the importance of prayer in my life. Maybe there will be bedtime conversations that lead us to prayer. Or maybe, in the scary moments of life, we will pray together. Prayer changes things.

In Matthew 5:15-16, Jesus encourages us in our lamp-bearing opportunities. “People do not light a lamp and put it under the bushel basket; rather, they put it on the lampstand, and it gives light to all in the house. In the same way, let your light shine before others, so that they may see your good works and give glory to your Father in heaven.”

Nick Davis, Director of Advancement

October Employee Spotlight: Patty Risher

Patty Risher: A Pillar of Support, Faith & Friendship

Patty Risher has been a dedicated part of Baptist Homes & Healthcare Ministries since August 1999. She began her journey in the transportation department and then served as a receptionist before transitioning to her current role as human resources director. Over the past 25 years, Patty has truly made BHHM her home, not just her workplace. In her role as human resources director, she finds joy in helping team members with orientation and navigating insurance and benefits. Her passion for supporting her coworkers shines through as she considers them more than colleagues—they’re family. Together, they’ve built a strong community, encouraging each other and sharing life’s moments both in and out of work.

Patty’s dedication is also reflected in the encouragement she receives from the neighbors. Their love and support, especially on tough days, remind her daily of God’s grace and the importance of lifting one another up.

Through the many changes she has experienced at BHHM, Patty has emerged stronger and more committed, always adapting and growing with the organization. Outside of work, Patty loves to travel with family and friends, and she takes pride in planning detailed itineraries for their trips.

Patty is also deeply involved in her church, First Baptist Church of Pilot Knob. She enjoys leading Wednesday evening Bible studies and participating in various church events like Vacation Bible School. Patty is a valued team member and a dear friend to many, but most importantly, she is a faithful child of God.

The Domino Effect of Innovation

At a recent long-term care provider meeting sponsored by the Department of Health & Senior Services, Baptist Homes & Healthcare Ministries was commended for innovation through the Senior Deer Hunt initiative. A week later, I had the privilege of leading a presentation at the LeadingAge annual meeting on “Outside the Box Activities for Seniors”, highlighting the ripple effect of positive change these hunts have provided that exceeded our original ambitions.

This season marks the third year for the senior hunts at Arcadia Valley, Ozark, and Ashland. 2024 is the second year of the hunts at the Tri-County campus in Vandalia. New this year will be the addition of team member hunts. A single deer provides an average of 40 pounds of ground meat (used like hamburger), 10 pounds of prime cuts (the filet mignon of venison), and 15 pounds of roasts. The goal of the new team member hunts is to provide a memorable experience in God’s creation with a seasoned colleague and the hoped-for blessing of locally sourced protein for their family. Having team member hunts aligns with Baptist Homes Strategic Initiative #2, Supporting Employee Retention.

One unexpected benefit of the senior hunts has been the support of churches and individuals. Generally, 10-20 volunteers support each hunt. Their involvement includes planting wildlife plots that benefit all critters, mentoring residents and team members who are new to hunting, leading the required training in conservation, hunting ethics, deer biology, and safety, along with assisting with the setup and takedown of ADA-accessible hunting blinds. When animals are harvested, volunteers provide the needed support in getting the meat from the field to the freezer.

Many of these volunteers continue to communicate with residents long after the hunts. Baptist Homes is truly blessed to enjoy the support of churches and individuals who share their time and talents to enrich the lives of our team members and neighbors. Some domino effects of the hunts have been fishing tournaments, the stocking of a pond for fishing at Ashland, and expanded gardening opportunities at several campuses.

Volunteer opportunities at Baptist Homes are nearly unlimited. Whether it is taking a walk with a resident or reading the Bible to a new neighbor, the common feedback from volunteers echoes the words of Luke 6:38, “Give, and it will be given to you; a good measure—pressed down, shaken together, and running over—will be poured into your lap.”

It is likely that every reader has a gift, talent, interest or ability that could be leveraged to make a senior’s day brighter. I pray that you will consider how you might steward your talents to bring about a domino effect of blessings for the aging.

Together in His service,
Dr. Rodney Harrison

President/CEO

Baptist Homes Benevolence History: Part Two

By Dr. Ron Mackey

In this second article exploring the benevolent history of Baptist Homes, we will explore the growth of our benevolent ministry and how that growth became overwhelming.

As The Home moved forward from bankruptcy, two major initiatives were given priority. First, repay all creditors to protect the reputation of the ministry. Second, secure the future of the ministry by reserving all undesignated gifts for the benevolent needs of the ministry. As the years progressed, significant effort was given to develop and grow these benevolent reserves.

Like the proverbial snowball rolling down the mountain, benevolence became the overwhelming focus of The Home. More than planning for maintaining aging buildings, addressing changing societal modes of care for the aging, or participating in the public safety net to protect the poor and the aging, The Home was singularly focused on raising necessary funds for the care of both current and future residents.

Several plans were devised to fund the benevolent needs of The Home. There were many different fundraising programs, most with modest success. A major emphasis initiated in the 1960’s was the Life Care Contract. The Life Care Contract centered around a trust written by The Home in which a resident’s assets and income were turned over to The Home. The promise of the Life Care Contract was that The Home would provide care for the remainder of a resident’s life. The major drawback was that there was no financial entry point, and the residents’ funds often ran out long before their homegoing. Thus, the Life Care Contract plan was ended in 1985.

Another plan was the Partial Return of Capital, which was developed during the early days of the construction of the campus in Ozark. The Partial Return of Capital was intended to help build independent living duplexes. For an investment of $150,000, a resident could live in the duplex without any further charges other than a small monthly maintenance fee. When the resident was no longer able or willing to live in the duplex, 70% of their initial investment would be returned. This plan had a couple of problems: the initial monies were used to build the unit, so reserve funds would have to be used to repay the 70%, and there was no limit to the tenure of residency. Therefore, a resident could live in the unit for any length of time and still be returned 70% of their initial investment.

Another issue impacting the cost of benevolent care was increasing regulations which led to increased costs. Even though The Home was not a participant in the state and federal safety net programs of Medicaid and Medicare, we were still regulated and inspected by the state and federal agencies as any other long-term care provider.

By the mid-1980’s, The Home began to see a problem with funding benevolence and began to consider ways to address the issue. In 1988, The Home established a Long-Range Planning Task Force which identified benevolence as one of five major issues that ‘must’ be addressed. In June 1994, Ed Goodwin, then-president of The Home, reported benevolent expenditure had “grown significantly” despite this initial effort to control the cost (The Story of The Baptist Home, p.210).

This process began a lengthy effort to address benevolent costs with limits being placed on the total expenditures for benevolence. Beginning with the Larry Johnson administration (1997-2005), benevolence expenditures were set at no more than 50% of the annual budget. During the Steve Jones administration (2006 – 2019), benevolence was set at 30% of the annual budget. During the initial stages of Dr. Rodney Harrison’s administration (2020 – present), benevolence was set at 20% and then 10% of the annual budget.

These efforts to control benevolent spending were met with the strong headwinds of rising costs, decreased assets and income of residents, and increased life expectancy of our residents. In 1995, the average benevolent cost per benevolent resident was $13,800. By 2022, that figure had ballooned to $59,136. In 1995, the average benevolent resident was able to pay for 77% of the cost of their care. By 2022, the average benevolent resident was able to pay only 23% of the cost of their care. This trend line was proving unsustainable, and serious and significant measures needed to be addressed. By 2022, we had expended more monies than ever before on fewer residents than ever before.

Next time … a time for hard analysis and seeking a path forward.

Baptist Homes Benevolence History — A Complicated Story

Baptist Homes Benevolence History – A Complicated Story

By Dr. Ron Mackey, Vice President of Community Engagement

Recent and long overdue decisions by our board of trustees have dealt with the issue of how Baptist Homes funds the cost of care for our residents. For the next several editions of the My Home Digital Newsletter, I will be addressing the background of these decisions, the necessity of these decisions, and the hope for the stabilizing impact of these decisions upon Baptist Homes’ future as we seek to become the Christlike standard of care for the aging.

A Brief History…

A young pastor and his family, Dr. Milford & Mary Riggs, came to the Arcadia Valley in 1912 to become the pastor of First Baptist Church of Ironton, MO. It was during this tenure that an earlier dream would become reality as the Riggs began what was then known as the Missouri Home for Aged Baptists. This vision was driven by a need Dr. Riggs became aware of as he traveled around the state of Missouri.

“After ministering, preaching and serving the Baptist denomination all of their lives, many elderly preachers were reduced to the meagerest lives and impoverished circumstances. If they were lucky, they have living children to take them in; many had no family left and were dependent upon the churches” … “or worse, they were wards of the local County Farm or “poor farm”. (The Story of The Baptist Home, pp. 14-15)

There was no social safety net to care for the aging, especially those without family or resources, so the only way for The Home to properly care for these aging seniors was to raise the money and pay for the cost of their care through what came to be known as benevolence. Balancing the need for care and the cost of that care has always been a challenge for Baptist Homes. Dr. Riggs went to great lengths explaining the mission of the ministry, even to the extent of admonishing the very Baptists who supported the work.

“The Home for Aged Baptists has a mission … when we say the Home is for dependent old members of Missouri Baptist churches, we mean old people who are dependent upon their churches … not … upon their children… Old people who have children to support them are no more dependent upon the charity of the denomination then they would be if they were possessors of a million dollars … We appeal to the churches to protect us against all such applicants, and help us to hold the Home true to the purpose for which it was founded and is being maintained … There is no charity in giving a home to those who have kin to care for them.” (The Baptist Home, Oct. 1923, p. 27 “The Story”)

The challenge of benevolence became an unsustainable matter as The Home filed for bankruptcy in 1935. The purchase of land and the building of the first buildings for The Home created a tenuous financial burden. This burden became overwhelming with the advent of The Great Depression that devastated the world in the 1930’s. As a result, The Home was foreclosed upon and sold on the Iron County courthouse steps in 1935. By God’s providence, a local businessman who was a member of the Episcopal church, purchased The Home and gave the deed to the then President, Dr. D.J. Scott, with the admonition to continue the work.

Under Dr. D.J. Scott, The Home began the task of rebuilding the ministry financially. One cornerstone element of this task was the commitment that every undesignated gift would go towards the benevolent fund of The Home. This step brought greater stability for many decades for The Home.

Next Month…

Rising benevolent costs, the introduction of outside regulations and attempts to control benevolent costs.