HISTORY OF THE ORGANIZATION
1893-2005
1893
The organization was founded when representatives of Lutheran
Churches in Detroit and surrounding cities proposed establishing a
Lutheran Home for the Aged and received a favorable response from 43
congregations throughout Michigan. The name of the organization was
"Society of the Evangel Lutheran Old Folks Home of the State of Michigan."
1894
The original facility, consisting of 20 rooms, and located on 12
½ acres of land on S. Monroe Street, Monroe, Michigan, was
dedicated in 1894, and was named the "Altenheim." The
estimated cost was $7,000 but the completed cost was $9,400.
1910
A west wing was added to provide 33 additional sleeping quarters.
1914
A north wing was added to provide 16 additional sleeping quarters.
1924
Incorporated under the laws of the State of Michigan. Original
Articles of Incorporation were filed November 21, 1924.
1950
Members present at the Annual Meeting of the Corporation voted to
build a new facility to replace the Altenheim.
1952
The new facility, consisting of 102 Home for Aged Beds and located at
1236 S. Monroe Street, Monroe, Michigan, was dedicated on September
27, 1952.
1962
The Board of Directors voted to establish a second Lutheran Home in
Frankenmuth, Michigan.
1969
The Frankenmuth Lutheran Home, consisting
of 80 nursing beds and 26 Home for Aged beds and located at 725 W.
Genesee, Frankenmuth, Michigan, was opened on October 20, 1969.
1974
A west wing was added to the Frankenmuth facility, increasing the
nursing beds from 80 to 112. The Home for Aged area remained at 26
beds for a total of 138 beds in the facility.
1975
The front wing (30 beds) of the Monroe facility was renovated and the
certification changed from Home for Aged to Nursing Care.
Certification of the other two wings (72 beds) was changed from Home
for Aged to Nursing Care in previous years.
1976
The name of the Corporation was changed to "Lutheran Homes of
Michigan, Inc."
1977
The Board of Directors voted to establish a Life Care Retirement
Facility (later named "Independence Village") in
Frankenmuth, Michigan.
1980
Independence Village was incorporated as a separate, not-for-profit
corporation in order to facilitate the financing (EDC bond issue),
construction and operation of the retirement facility. The EDC bond
issue, in the amount of $14,000,000 was guaranteed by Lutheran Homes
of Michigan, Inc.
1982
Independence Village, a continuing care retirement community
consisting of 252 apartments and located at 255 Mayer Road,
Frankenmuth, Michigan, opened on July 1, 1982.
1985
As a result of low occupancy, Independence Village was unable to meet
its debt service obligations and filed for protection under Chapter
11 of the Bankruptcy Code on February 1, 1985.
During February, 1985, the Trustee for the Independence Village bondholders filed suit against Lutheran Homes of Michigan, Inc. to enforce the guarantee agreement. Lutheran Homes filed under Chapter 11 on April 1, 1985 to protect itself against the lawsuit.
1987
Lutheran Homes emerged from Chapter 11 on April 20, 1987 when its
Plan of Reorganization was confirmed by the U.S. Bankruptcy Court.
The Plan of Reorganization provided that the bondholders would
receive the proceeds from the sale of Independence Village plus a
settlement on the guarantee in the amount of $2,300,000.
Lutheran Homes received an offer, dated September 2, 1987, from Mr. E. M. Knabusch, to contribute the sum of $3,400,000 for the purpose of renovating the present Monroe facility. The Board of Directors voted to accept the offer of Mr. Knabusch at its meeting on September 20, 1987.
1989
In a letter dated December 11, 1989, the State of Michigan,
Department of Public Health approved Lutheran Home's revised project
proposal submitted in a request for reconsideration under Certificate
of Need application No. 88-0317.
1992
The substantial renovation of the Monroe
Lutheran Home was completed and re-dedicated in September 1992.
Included in the project was the addition of 20 Home-for-the-Aged
private rooms, creating a total population of 122 on the Monroe campus.
1993
The Lutheran Home Care Agency began providing
services to its first clients on January 4, 1993. Medicare
Certification was received in March 1993.
1996
The Board of Directors of Lutheran Homes of Michigan voted to pursue
the purchase of the property and business formerly operated as the
Livonia Nursing Center on Plymouth Road, Livonia, MI. Plans call for
the demolition of the existing facility and the construction of a
new, state-of-the-art facility on the 4.25 acres available.
1997
The property on Plymouth Road was purchased, the building was
designed and construction began for a nursing home with 88 Licensed
Skilled Nursing Beds and a 20 bed Alzheimer's Unit. The capital
campaign, Christ Cares, We Share, was launched.
1998
The Lutheran Home Livonia was dedicated on
September 27, 1998. The first resident was admitted October 21, 1998.
1999
The Lutheran Home Care Agency began offering hospice services in
January 1999 through its Hospice of Hope program.
2001
Groundbreaking June 7, 2001 for Our Saviour's Manor
a 50 apartment senior housing project in Westland. Sponsored jointly
by The Lutheran Church of Our Saviour, Lutheran Homes of Michigan and
Presbyterian Villages of Michigan.
2002
January 14, 2002 Savior's Grace Home Care was established as a joint
venture between Lutheran Homes of Michigan, Presbyterian Villages of
Michigan and Community Hospice & Palliative Care. The home care
agency located in Westland is certified for Medicare, Medicaid, and
Blue Cross & Blue Shield clients. In July 2002, Savior's Grace
Private Duty Services, Inc. was added to serve those in need of
non-skilled care and assistance in their homes.
2004
May 1, 2004 Lutheran Homes of Michigan purchased The
Manors in Saginaw, MI. The aquisition included McBrite
Manor, a facility for independent seniors with 103 private
apartments and numerous amenities for a carefree lifestyle; Shattuck
Manor, with 140 private apartments and some services for seniors
who need assistance with daily activities; and Meadow
View Manor, a home-like community for 40 seniors who suffer from
memory loss.
In 2004 Lutheran Homes of Michigan’s Endowment Fund, created in 2001, received over $100,000 in gifts designated for the perpetual care of seniors in Michigan.
2005
Creekside Village, a 77 affordable apartment unit located next door to our Lutheran Home-Monroe is completed. This campus is the first senior housing program for Monroe, MI in over 25 years.
An additional affordable housing complex was initiated this year – The Village of Gibraltar Manor. This 53 one and two bedroom apartments facility (scheduled to open the spring of 2006) is a unique partnership between LHM, Presbyterian Villages of Michigan, the City of Gibraltar, the Michigan State Housing Development Authority, and Wayne County.
Operation Enduring Thanks was a four-day journey, sponsored by Lutheran Homes of Michigan (LHM), to the World War II Memorial in Washington, DC to honor the heroes of the war. The 4 day trip on June 4 - 8, 2005, included 30 U.S. Veterans associated with LHM and another 70 volunteers, family and staff who traveled to Washington, DC. For those who were frail or chronically ill, LHM provided the necessary medical support to make it possible for them to take this trip. The trip was documented through a partnership with Delta Community College (Bay County, Michigan) and their PBS station (QTV-channel 19). A premier début was held at their facility on November 11, 2005 (Veterans Day). Many of the veterans who had made the trip and their families gathered to watch the documentary. Delta College was so impressed by the response that the show (Vanishing Voices of World War II) generated during their pledge weeks, that they are scheduled to air the documentary again during the month of March, 2006. Operation Enduring Thanks Honorary Committee Members include Governor Jennifer Granholm, Attorney General Mike Cox, and many of Michigan’s Congressmen, Representatives, and Senators.
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