04/04/2025
Greetings! I am Chris Radcliffe and I wanted to take a moment to share my appreciation for the opportunity to be the new Executive Director at The Ridge at Beavercreek. My wife Julie and I have been married for 31 years and we have two daughters and two grandchildren.
Having spent most of my career as a pastor and youth pastor in Ohio and Michigan, after battling T-Cell Non-Hodgkins Lymphoma in 2017, I felt drawn to serve people in a different way. I began a new chapter of my life serving as a Spiritual Care Counselor for patients on hospice and their families. This is where I began to form a passion to serve those experiencing all the challenges that come during the last season of their lives. I began to experience the honor of caring - especially for those who struggle with memory and cognition.
Very quickly I became drawn to an area of hospice I hoped would have a greater impact. As a Business Development Manager, I experienced a broader reach where I had greater opportunities to meet with families and patients who were struggling to find the level of care that they both needed and deserved.
Having grandchildren brought my wife and I back to the great state of Ohio a year ago where I continued working in hospice with a local company.
Then I met Mike Johnson. I won’t easily forget our first conversation about elder care and creating safe spaces for those struggling cognitively with dementia. He shared a bit of his vast knowledge about caring for those with this devastating disease and I shared some of my experiences providing education about dementia and Alzheimer’s at multiple Skilled Nursing and Assisted Living facilities in Michigan and Ohio, as well as coming alongside patient’s and families at end of life.
Mike then asked a question that was ‘the question’ for me. “Have you ever thought about being an executive director at a memory care Assisted Living facility?” As we continued to have conversations, I grew more and more excited about serving residents and families at The Ridge. As Mike shared the vision, philosophy of care, the amazing staff, residents and families that make The Ridge at Beavercreek what we are, I felt like this role was drawing me.
Indeed, this is a calling for me - and for any who have the privilege to serve those suffering with dementia or any physical disability. It is an honor to continue to build on the foundation already laid over the last year or so. We will maintain the value of care that Mike introduced in his letter to you on Feb. 16, 2024, “Those of us in the healthcare profession should base every decision, every action, every interaction on a very simple nine-word question. ‘What would I do if this were my mother?’”
I’m still pretty amazed that I get to work in this amazing senior living community, serving alongside our competent and compassionate staff and leadership group.
In conclusion, please know how much I appreciate your confidence in The Ridge at Beavercreek and that we will continue to work hard to earn and maintain your trust.
Warm Regards,
Chris Radcliffe
