July 2017

essentials Life

Helping People & Transforming Lives

Annual ReportFiscal year 2016

IMPACT That’s a word often associated with nonprofit organizations. “What’s their impact? How do they make an impact on the lives of those they serve? What are the results of their impact?” All perfectly good and reasonable questions that donors should ask.

Mission StatementThe mission of Life Essentials is to be the community leader in providing professional,

person-centered services to enhance the well-being of vulnerable adults.

See how your support impacts the lives of vulnerable adults and seniors struggling with mental illness in this fiscal year 2016 annual report to the community.

Katheryn was alone.

After her husband died she had no one. As her dementia progressed, so did her fear and mistrust of people. She also began to neglect herself in many ways, and as a result, landed in a local emergency room.

Your gifts changed Katheryn’s life.

Volunteer Guardian AngelsThese generous volunteers have become a court appointed guardian-of-person to Life Essentials clients in need. They oversee the health and welfare of some of the most vulnerable within our community.

Melissa BennetKathie BurnsNora BurroughsKaren HoppeBetsy KeyesRichard MathersonDee RobertsTony Zdybek

A letter from the Board Chairman and Executive DirectorThank you! Your gifts and support improve the quality of life of vulnerable adults throughout our community. Because of you, adults with significant mental impairments are protected through the guardianship process and seniors struggling with mental illness remain independent and free from institutionalization.

For twenty-five years, focusing solely on our community’s most vulnerable adults, Life Essentials and you have provided a voice to the voiceless, hope to the hopeless, and care to those who don’t have anyone to care about them.

Every day an adult at risk of abuse, neglect or exploitation is kept safer because you care. We hope we’ll be able to illustrate in this report how your dollars work and provide at-risk adults with a reasonable quality of life.

Thank you! None of this would be possible without your support and commitment to protecting those who have so few people in their lives willing to help them.

Sincerely,

Board of Trustees StaffTed Gudorf, JD, LLM, President, Gudorf Law Group, LLCMarion Jackson, Vice President, Community VolunteerJulia Belden, MBA, CPA, CGMA, Treasurer, Community VolunteerLauren Williams, Secretary, Dayton Children’sRussell Holtz, LNHA, Tatum Healthcare ManagementAmita Patel, M.D., Geriatric PsychiatristEli Sperry, JD, Pickrel, Schaeffer and Ebeling, LPARoss E. Szlag, United States Air ForceJoe Szoke, Community Volunteer

Linda Roepken, Executive DirectorKatelyn Cripps, BSW, LSW, Guardianship CoordinatorJulie Crusenberry, Development DirectorChristenna Day, BSW, LSW, Guardianship CoordinatorAndrea Green, Office ManagerMarisa Lovely, Guardianship CoordinatorRosalie Makridis, MA, LSW, National Certified Guardian Programs DirectorCathy Shoup, BookkeeperJohnique Springer, Guardianship CoordinatorJasmyne Williams, Chums Program Coordinator

Ted GudorfPresident, Board of Directors

Linda RoepkenExecutive Director

Thank You to Our Generous DonorsDave & Pam DouglasDaryl & Holly DoupleTom & Salli DuncanRobyn EssmanJohn EverettTom FarnbacherTom FerrattPatrick FoleyVictoria FoxJim & Mimi FullenkampBecky Gavin-GibsonLeroy & Marilyn GoodJames GrahamGreater Dayton Area Hospital AssociationGreene County Community FoundationNeil & Charlotte GreenJoe & Susan GruenbergGudorf Law Group, LLCVanessa GuentherTed GuestMaura HamiltonLarry HerrmannZoe & Bob HittnerDick & Marilyn HobackRuss HoltzAnn HousShirley HuffmanJoan HuntImmaculate Heart Co-OpIREM Chapter 9Marion JacksonJames JacobsonJacqui’s SalonKathy & John Jahoda

Access for Independent LivingADAMHSDouglas & Anne AlmoneyShirley ArkAlan & Lois Ann BakerBBS HosierySharon & Lawrence BeckerSally BehmJulia BeldenThe Benevity Community Impact FundMaryann BernsteinBerry Family FoundationAlan BiegelBiltmore TowersRobert BlueBradyWareStephen & Teresa BrittonCassano’sMark CenkyPeter Certo, JrDelores ClarkDee Clark, Family & FriendsClark, Schaeffer & HackettCode Credit UnionBrooks ComptonCurtis & Christine CorbaCrossroads HospiceChristopher & Tara CrowlStaci Daniels-SommersDavid’s United Church of ChristGeorge DavisDayton Bar Association FoundationLance & Joanne DetrickPat & Dave Diven

Your ongoing support creates real impact for so many in our community.

This annual report covers gifts made between 7/1/15 – 6/30/16. We have done our best to identify all our donors. Please let us know if your name is missing and accept our apologies.

Individuals & OrganizationsKettering Family PhilantropiesKettering Massage Wellness CenterLouise Kramer FoundationKroger Community RewardDavid & Laurie LeachMartin LeBoeufStephen LevittFrederick LutherCarl MaasJames MackWilliam MacMillanConstance MahleDebra MannMartha MappMathile Family FoundationChristopher MaticeJoseph MatteraRichard MetcalfMontgomery County Human Service Levy, Frail Elderly FundingTimothy O’ConnellRobert PeachMary Ann Poirier-ReckerKaren PurdumMichael RakeEugene & Gerry ReiffRobert ReynoldsLynn ReynoldsPatricia RileyRoberson LawDeborah RoepkenFrank & Jean RoepkenJames & Linda RoepkenRogers & Greenberg, LLP

Samaritan Crisis CareSam’s ClubCathy SayerMiles SchimidtKent SchollR. Anne ShaleRalph SkilkenRichard SnellSoroptimist ClubWilliam & Cindy SpearsEli & Sara SperryDaria Dillard-StoneRoss SzlagJoe SzokeDave & Carole TaylorTaylor CommunicationsThomas ThompsonDora ThrockmortonLouis TracyUnion Savings BankUnited Way of the Greater Dayton AreaUniversity of DaytonDarlene VanattaJeanne WatersWesbancoMary WhitingLauren WilliamsSuzanne Wittneben, Clark Schaefer HackettDavid & Ann WoolfYeck Brothers

One donor wishes to remain anonymous

Chalk About ItCareSourceClear My HeadCrossroads HospiceCODE Credit UnionDayton Racquet ClubDecoy Art StudioDynamic Pension ServicesKettering HealthcareLife Essentials Board of DirectorsOptumPickrel Schaeffer and Ebeling

Pinnacle Pointe Nursing & Rehab CenterPristine Senior Living and Post-Acute CareUBS Christie and VanSimaeys Wealth Management GroupUnion Savings BankVitas HospiceWidows Home Of DaytonWood Glen Alzheimer’s Community

Alley Cat DesignBlinkingeye Imaging and Craig HoudeshellBrio Tuscan GrilleCheryl’s CookiesDigital FringeHome DepotLivingston Care CenterMurphys’ Irish PubPotbelly Sandwich ShoppeThe GreeneThe PubWinans Chocolates

Sponsors In-Kind Donors

Did you know that you can support Life Essentials by making a gift online?www.LifeEssentials.org

IMPACTAs often is the case with dementia, Katheryn showed signs of paranoia and distrust of people. She was very suspicious of her Life Essentials guardian and it took a lot of care and time to build a relationship. The first critical and immediate need was food - Katheryn didn’t have any. Her guardian took her to the food pantry and also secured home delivered meals for her to prevent this situation from repeating itself. While securing meals for Katheryn, the guardian realized that her beloved dog was also in need. Knowing how much Katheryn loved her pet, her guardian brought them dog food from her own home.

The Life Essentials guardian then realized a for-profit payee service had been hired to help assist with Katheryn’s finances. This company charged $40 a month, limiting her income even further. The payee service was transferred to a nonprofit community provider allowing Katheryn to have the full benefit of her Social Security.

The next hurdle was to find affordable and safe senior housing. The guardian knew neighbors were taking advantage of Katheryn by borrowing money and not paying it back, but Katheryn insisted on wanting to stay. The guardian was finally able to convince Katheryn to visit a nonprofit senior housing apartment building, and we’re excited that Katheryn will be moving at the first of next month.

Katheryn’s story is not unique. Your financial support makes a difference in the lives of individuals as vulnerable as Katheryn. When you contribute, you give the gift of hope and the gift of a better life to all the Katheryns we serve.

Katheryn’s New Life

Guardianship Program

Your support helped make 2017 a productive and busy year for the participants in the Chums Program:

35 participants 840 hours of classes and group meetings

1 summer picnic with 30 participants, 10 volunteers, great food and games 1 holiday party with 32 participants, 12 volunteers, gifts for all, a visit from Santa and so much fun!

Chums Program

Check out just a few highlights of the services your donations made possible, including the expansion of services into Greene County:

263 individuals received guardianship services 102 referrals

161 active guardianship cases 106 case closures:

Referral Source and Percent from:

n 20 referrals were referred to alternative providers after assessment supported lesser restrictive interventions exist.

n 14 families/next of kin were identified following a referral and the family ultimately became the guardian.

n 11 Life Essentials assessments did not support filing an affidavit of incompetency.

n 13 referrals did not fit within the Life Essentials criteria for indigent guardians as they had assets.

n 1 case was dismissed by the court.

n 32 individuals passed away while under guardianship.

n 15 for miscellaneous reasons.

Hospitals 29%

LTC 41%

Mental Health 17%

Court 2%

Other APS 11%

Total Revenue & Contributions: $504,872

CHART TITLE

Human Services

Levy$43,720

Investment Income$1,686

Other Income$5,181

Support & Revenue

Assets

CHART TITLEAccounts Receivable

$25,841

Total Assets: $220,132

Total Net Assets: $180,649

Statement of ActivitiesJuly 1, 2015 - June 30, 2016

Total Revenue & Contributions: $504,872

Statement of Financial PositionJuly 1, 2015 - June 30, 2016

CHART TITLE

Gifts & Donations$74,615

Grants$200,000

United Way Grant$8,742

Human Services

Levy$43,720

ADAMHS$105,015

SpecialEvents

$16,173

In-Kind Donations

$49,740

Investment Income$1,686

Other Income$5,181

Support & Revenue Expenses

Total Expenses: $560,820 Net Loss from Activities: $55,948

CHART TITLE

Guardianship Program$363,620

ChumsProgram$82,777

Peer AcademyProgram$33,148

Fundraising$27,091

Administration$54,184

Total Program Services: $479,545Total Supporting Services: $81,275

Assets

CHART TITLE

Cash & Cash Equivalents$173,616

Accounts Receivable

$25,841

Prepaid Expenses

$6,078

Equipment & Furniture(net of accumulated depreciation)

$ 13,961

Deposits$636

Total Liabilities: $39,483

Total Liabilities & Net Assets: $220,132

CHART TITLE

Accrued Salaries$22,027

AccruedExpenses$12,705

AccountsPayable$4,751

Liabilities

Total Assets: $220,132

Total Net Assets: $180,649

Non Profit Org.U.S. Postage

PAIDDayton, OH

Permit No. 1513

essentials Life

Helping People & Transforming Lives

40 South Perry Street, Suite 130Dayton, OH 45402

Life Essentials’ Guardianship program is a unique hybrid of professional staff guardians and trained community volunteers, who serve vulnerable individuals in our communities as court-appointed guardians-of-person. Providing a voice to the voiceless, hope to the hopeless, and kindness to the forgotten, guardians protect and preserve the rights of some of our community’s most vulnerable adults. Individuals living under guardianship often have significant mental incapacities and cannot make informed health care or residential decisions due to their inability to understand. Examples may include: late-stage dementia, traumatic brain-injury, treatment-resistant mental illness, and significant development disability.

Guardianship Program Chums ProgramParticipants in the Chums program benefit from bi-weekly meetings. Chums must be at least 50 years old and have a chronic mental illness. At the program meetings participants learn new strategies to cope with some of life’s stressors and have an opportunity to socialize with others who may have shared experiences and concerns. Speakers often attend the group meetings and help our seniors protect themselves. Presentations have included Advance Directives, Diabetes Awareness, Medications, Identify Theft and more.

How We Impact the Miami Valley

When Beth was diagnosed with breast cancer, she was

surrounded by her friends from the Chums program.

Not only did they send cards and notes of encouragement,

but they called her and supported her in her fight.

She has now completed her treatments, and is

participating in the Chums program again.

Beth is thankful for all the good wishes and support

she received from her “chums” and told them all she

wouldn’t have gotten through it without them!

Get Well Soon