We make a lifetime commitment to residents who have been wise stewards of their money, but have outlived their resources. The benevolent care ministry allows us to offer these residents financial support, so they can continue to lead lives of purpose and joy at a Living Branches community.
Hear from the daughter of a resident at The Willows of Living Branches about how the security of benevolent care has made a difference in the quality of life for her mother and their family.
At Living Branches, our roots run deep – nurtured by core values that put people before profit, quality of life over efficiency, and personal and community growth above all else.
The not-for-profit status reveals much about the core of the organization. The first question asked when planning for the organization is not, “What’s the financial outlook?” but rather, “Is this the right thing to do?” Our focus is not financial. We do not answer to investors or shareholders. Instead, we hold ourselves accountable to our mission and core values.
We are not under pressure from outside investors to have a positive bottom line. And yet we still operate like other businesses. We review financial information at every board meeting and strive to make wise business decisions. After all, over 1,200 individuals reside in our communities, and over 600 team members rely on us for their salaries.
Additionally, not-for-profit does not mean we fail to meet our budget or make a profit each year. We are disciplined and fiscally responsible so we can have a positive bottom line. But the profit is not dispersed among investors. It is reinvested in the organization through infrastructure updates, employee development, and the benevolent care ministry. The benevolent care ministry enables us to care for all residents, regardless of their ability to pay the full cost of their care.
As you would expect, the financial health of the organization requires the majority of residents be able to fully fund the cost of their care while at a Living Branches community. As part of the admission process to any of our campuses, prospective residents submit an application with detailed financial information that is reviewed by our admission committee. Not everyone meets the financial requirements for admission. But those that do have the security of knowing they will not be asked to leave the community if they outlive their financial resources through no fault of their own.