Judson Palmer Home plans party for 75th anniversary

FINDLAY — Judson and Katharine Palmer saw a need in the community to establish a home for elderly women of Hancock County in financial need to live out their lives. But it was another 30 years before their idea led to the creation of the Judson Palmer Home in 1950. The assisted care facility at 2911 North Main Street is celebrating its 75th anniversary with an open house from 1-3 p.m. Sept. 20. "It will be a nice afternoon I'm hoping just celebrating Judson Palmer's history and trying to get the word out there of who we are and what we do," said Administrator Anja Rademacher. Strangely enough, there are many people who don't know about the Judson Palmer Home, she said. "We've been in town for 75 years," said Rademacher. "It's always like it's the best kept secret in Findlay, and that's kind of not what you want to be." There will be tours of the building along with appetizers made by the dietary staff, hot and cold drinks, Dietsch's ice cream and entertainment by The Night Jazz Big Band. Judson Palmer was a local businessman. Ventures included the grocery business and operating a flouring mill. He also once served as president of the old Farmers' Bank. He and his wife, Katharine, lived at 913 South Main Street which is still standing. The couple had no children. "So this idea goes all the way back to World War I with women whose husbands or fathers had been killed in the war," Rademacher said. "That was before Social Security and a time when women weren't a big part of the workforce. That could have been a devastating outcome for the breadwinner to be gone." The Palmers used money from their own estate to establish a trust for the purpose of building a home for elderly women of Hancock County. "They were just very forward thinking, very generous people," said Rademacher. Judson died in 1919, and Katharine passed away in 1939. At that time, the project still wasn't off the ground and World War II had begun, she said. The nonprofit organization didn't open until 1950. "I think it has a very interesting history," said Rademacher. The women who live there have to meet certain criteria. "When they do move in, we don't hand them a bill every month and they have to make that payment to us," she said. "They hand over their assets and usually in most cases, their asset is their Social Security. So that goes to the trust fund, and that's usually their only payment that they make to us." In return, they are given lifelong care which includes their private room accommodations, food, laundry and housekeeping services as well as medications, doctor's visits and hospital stays. "It could even be nursing home care if they need to have nursing home care. We also provide funeral services for the residents," she said. "So all of that is falling under that umbrella of us meeting their needs for the rest of their life." Residents also have to be age 55 or older, have been a resident of Hancock County for at least a year and be in reasonably good health for age and of sound mind, as determined by a doctor. "You can tell how old this idea is with '55 or older' because anymore you really don't have such a young person coming to an assisted living facility," Rademacher said. "If they're 65, we're thinking they're young to be in assisted living." There's no upper age limit, she noted. "We could have a 90, 95, 100 year old deciding, hey, I'm ready for assisted living. It just depends on the resident," she said. The annual HUD numbers are used when considering financial need, she said. These tell what's being considered as low income for the county. There are currently 11 residents and the home can house up to 16. Before a 20,000-square-foot addition was added in 2020, the women shared bathrooms. Now they each have their own. "When they put on the addition, they didn't increase the capacity because we wanted to still be able to give that level of care that we were used to and what we felt our residents deserve," Rademacher explained. Instead, the addition provided for larger private rooms and bathrooms with everyone together on one floor. Renovations on the original building took another six to eight months. "We wanted the extra room, a different layout and the original building really did need to be updated because the original building was reaching 70 years at that point," Rademacher said. A grand reopening was never celebrated because of COVID. The nurses' station divides the residents' rooms with eight to the east and eight to the west. There is also a lounge, activity room and patio. A black and white Maine Coon cat named Jack also lives at the home. The beauty shop and laundry room were both moved out of the basement of the older section to the first floor. The living room with its baby grand piano is used for the Christmas program and musical events, and the converted older residents' rooms became offices for the different departments. There is also a sunroom for family visits, birthday parties and Bible study. Activities are offered every day and include bingo, movies, visiting the library, shopping and singing. A bazaar is held every November. Residents work on projects throughout the year. Crafty family members also donate items. The staff even gets involved. Rademacher crochets items and the dietary department and staff bake goodies. The woman always make buckeyes, she said. "And those always sell out. Within a couple of hours, they're gone. Everybody loves buckeyes," Rademacher said." Proceeds go into the residents' fun fund and the money is used for something that will benefit everyone. Last year the women decided they'd like to have more painting sessions with Awakening Minds Art. Rademacher said they have been able to do these classes every month instead of every other month. "I really have great admiration for Judson and Katharine Palmer for their forward thinking," she added. "I wish there were more places like this. It's not a need that has gone away by any means. But at least we're here."