From church outreach to an incorporated 501(c)(3)…

God was faithful to bring along just the right people at just the right time. Before the pandemic, you could find us at the nursing home every Sunday afternoon, offering Sunday school, singing hymns, praying with residents, visiting with residents, and helping residents and staff any way we could. It wasn’t long before we thought, “why aren’t more churches doing this?” And then we started to get questions like, “Do you go to other nursing homes too? My dad’s nursing home really needs this.” 

We used the time of the covid lockdowns to start the process of incorporating and becoming a 501(c)(3) with the goal of expanding our outreach and helping other churches or groups get involved. We also got creative with how we could still help nursing homes without going inside their facilities. This is how we started many of our printable resources for activities directors.

We Value:

The dignity and worth of all residents of long-term care, not based on their age, actions, or abilities but based on their worth as an image-bearer of God.

Life from the womb until natural death and understand that “quality of life” can be a relative term unless grounded in the truth that God has created and numbered all our days.

Person-centered care as opposed to facility-centered care; care communities that feel like home where residents have autonomy, community, purpose, hope, and fun!

The wisdom and experience that comes with age, and we seek to honor and respect the aging residents of long-term care and throughout society.

Relationships that treat the elderly and disabled as co-equals, not as weaker, lesser, or child-like.

The faith traditions that have shaped residents as well as the rights of all residents to choose their own religious beliefs but encourage them to find hope and peace in the One true friend, Jesus Christ.

The demanding work that goes into caring for residents of long-term care and the individuals who provide it, recognizing that these care providers are often over-worked, under-paid, and under-appreciated.

Meet the founders

A surprising new journey

Todd and Marla Carter got married in 1998. Both are life-long Kentuckians and graduated from Western Kentucky University. Todd has a degree in Healthcare Administration, though he’s always been a business owner, developer and entrepreneur. Marla has a degree in Elementary Education and stayed home to care for and home school their two children. Todd enjoys playing and watching sports, spending time outdoors, and dabbling in the latest hobby project he’s working on. Marla enjoys being outdoors, reading, writing, and just about any creative hobby, from cooking to web design. (Check out Marla’s blog here.)

Though Todd has always had a natural affection for older people, Marla thought she’d always work with children and Todd would always be a businessman. The surprising journey they now find themselves on has been a wild adventure and a blessing from God. It’s led to relationships with the most precious elderly friends in multiple nursing homes, as well as relationships with like-minded people all across the country as part of Marla’s personal advocacy efforts. The most treasured part of their lives now is the joy they get when they’re inside a nursing home listening to stories and making new friends.

“Do what you believe. The rest is just conversation.”

Sen. John Kennedy
Man Assisting Person with Walker