Adventist HealthCare Receives Rebuilding Together Montgomery County’s Innovation Partnership Award

Story by Betty Klinck

Adventist HealthCare was recently awarded with the Innovation Partnership Award by Rebuilding Together Montgomery County, a non-profit organization that provides free home repairs for low-income seniors, veterans and people with disabilities. Celebrating the two organizations’ growing collaboration, the award recognizes a corporate partner for innovation and forward-thinking to improve the health and safety of community residents.
 
A home that provides a positive, healing environment is just as essential to mental and physical wellness as receiving proper medical care. Unfortunately, many people cannot afford the renovations to make their homes safe and fitted to their medical condition. For example, installing wheelchair ramps can cost anywhere from $500 to $2,000.
 
With the belief that all people deserve a safe, healthful home, Adventist HealthCare and Rebuilding Together Montgomery County have worked over the last 10 years to provide free modifications and repairs in the homes of low-income seniors, families and veterans. This has included installing wheelchair ramps and handrails, overhauling entire bathrooms and repairing plumbing leaks and drywall.
 
Expanding their partnership, Rebuilding Together will now work with Adventist HealthCare Washington Adventist Hospital in Takoma Park, Md., to identify patients who are discharged from the hospital and require home modifications they cannot afford. Over the next year, Adventist HealthCare will provide $25,000 to support the modifications in approximately 12 patients’ homes through Rebuilding Together.
 
“Given their commitment to overall public health and wellness, a partnership with Adventist HealthCare is a natural fit for our organization,” says Christina Johnson, executive director of Rebuilding Together Montgomery County. “Their support of our work throughout the past 10 years has had an immeasurable impact on the lives of many of our most vulnerable neighbors here in Montgomery County and we are excited to see the wonderful results that will come from our new program with Washington Adventist Hospital.”
 
The hospital is currently working to identify the first patient who qualifies for the home renovations. Once identified, Rebuilding Together will step in to provide donated or discounted construction professionals and materials.
 
“We are honored to continue our work with an organization like Rebuilding Together to further expand whole-person health beyond our walls and into the community,” says Terry Forde, president and CEO of Adventist HealthCare. “Our partnership provides a unique opportunity to close gaps in healthcare and improve quality of life in the communities we serve.”