By Deborah Reed
WKTV Managing Editor
Beacon Hill at Eastgate is more than a retirement community – it is a mission to deliver a new standard in senior living.
“We’ve made a great change here in the way that senior care is delivered in Grand Rapids,” said Jeff Huegli, President and CEO of Beacon Hill at Eastgate.
That standard has garnered notice by more than just Beacon Hill residents.
Recently recognized as one of America’s Best Continuing Care Retirement Communities (CCRCs) by Newsweek and Statista, Beacon Hill at Eastgate is ranked at #45 out 250 CCRCs in the United States, and #2 within the state of Michigan.
“It’s been a head-turning moment for the organization,” said Huegli.
A humble beginning
Located in the heart of the Eastgate neighborhood in Grand Rapids, Beacon Hill is a distinctive, not-for-profit retirement community dedicated to providing a vibrant life for Grand Rapids’ seniors.
The vision for Beacon Hill began in 1951 by five area Baptist churches. That vision came to fruition on a 10-acre site named Michigan Christian Home.
“It’s a historic building that initially served independent living residents, with some assisted living, and skilled nursing,” said Huegli.
Huegli came to Beacon Hill in 2003 to help expand the campus in a different part of the county.
“After recognizing that our market and our call to service for the community is here on the southeast side, we reinvested and bought the hospital that was here, Metro Hospital, and gained the 12-acre site to begin constructing independent living – which is now known as Beacon Hill at Eastgate,” said Huegli.
Huegli and the Beacon Hill staff are dedicated to continuing the original vision and core values of the founders: Christ-inspired compassion, service, collaboration, generosity and integrity.
“Even though we’re now known for hospitality, wonderful lifestyle, community connection, all of our heart and service model is rooted in the original values that were established by that board,” said Huegli.
Skilled nursing is the core of that original service model.
“We have done a tremendous job in building out our healthcare system,” said Huegli. “We’ve attracted great service partners. Trinity Health comes out of that organization, and they have really committed to forming a high-quality health system.”
A thriving community
The heart of Beacon Hill’s mission is community.
“We are a faith-based community,” said Huegli. “We hold onto what Jesus Christ taught us for hospitality and personal care in the gospel, transferring that into a modern healthcare system.
“Attending to all people, irrespective of where they come from. That has given us a really rich tapestry of a wonderful, thriving community.”
Beacon Hill works to provide a warm, high-quality environment for its residents and the community. Part of that environment includes walking paths and a community garden.
“What’s different about Beacon Hill from other communities is that we’re located in the [Eastgate] neighborhood. We love that it’s urban, and we intentionally invest in connecting to the people, and to the geography, of this area.”
Beacon Hill’s commitment to each individual and where they are in their life journey is shown in the care of every resident, family member and guest.
“Each person is known,” said Huegli.
Experiencing life…again!
Beacon Hill serves over 400 residents, many who are learning to experience life for a second time.
“My favorite people [are] the residents who reluctantly come here,” admitted Huegli. “These are folks who have had a highly independent professional career where they have made their own decisions, they have had great influence over process or an organization, and are fiercely independent.”
However, Beacon Hill becomes their home, Huegli continued. “This place just seeps in over time, and we see engagement over and over again.”
The Beacon Hill community provides residents with opportunities for activity, exercise and optimism.
“And optimism,” Hugeli said, “is a significant portion of physical health. That’s what Beacon Hill can do for people.”
The highest standard of care
Huegli said satisfaction rates with Beacon Hills’ extended care services of rehab memory care, assisted living and other personal services, are high.
“We work minute-by-minute to ensure that we’re meeting the standards, and that we’re exceeding expectations in every form,” said Huegli. “We know the effort our 250 employees give will be reflected immediately on quality of life for each resident and their family member.”
Continuous investment is also a Beacon Hill priority.
“We put over $150 million of capital into this campus over the years that I’ve been here, and what has resulted is something that’s way deeper than a dollar bill,” said Huegli. “It’s connection.
“City connection, connection to our immediate neighbors, and bonds between residents and the staff who work here every day.”
The recent national recognition of Beacon Hill’s efforts is meaningful because they did not seek it out.
“I don’t even remember hearing about this before it was announced,” Huegli said. “So the fact that it’s an independent study is all the more meaningful.”
Intentional care creates increasing demand
The demand for Continuing Care Retirement Communities (CCRCs) is steadily increasing, a fact that is not surprising to Huegli.
“Communities like us, we are intentional in creating a friendly, warm and optimistic place that’s just packed full of resources,” said Huegli. “The value that we can add as a provider for any resident here – independently or otherwise – is astounding.”
Out of the 2000+ CCRCs throughout the United States, Huegli said: “Beacon Hill is a gold standard, and it’s been my career’s work to see it through.”
Generations of service
To Huegli, serving the senior community is not just a job – it is his passion.
“I’ve got a long history in my family, generations of people who have dedicated their lives to community service, community development, social change,” said Huegli. “That inspired me to find a career path that would make a difference but also make use of my interests.”
Those interests include planning, finance, design and marketing. But Huegli finds his purpose in caring for others.
“Taking care of seniors has been an amazing find for me personally,” said Huegli. “Impacting individual seniors as their needs have changed and interacting with a care team who is equally committed – I can’t think of anything more noble.
“Touching these lives in a positive way…there’s nothing better.”
What’s next?
Committed to being state-of-the-art and progressive in their programs and designs, Beacon Hill is poised for even more growth.
“Our next work will be to construct the finest assisted living and memory care program around, just as we have with other components of our service model,” said Huegli. “You’ll be seeing more from us very soon.”
To learn more about the Beacon Hill at Eastgate services and community, click here.
