About Us

At Otterbein Retirement Living Communities, our rich heritage and solid reputation have made us a trusted and valuable resource in the community.

Founded in 1912, Otterbein Retirement Living Communities is a health and human service ministry, serving close to 1,700 people, and is related to the East Ohio and West Ohio Conferences of the United Methodist Church. Otterbein's five full-service retirement communities in western and northern Ohio are located in Lebanon, St. Marys, Cridersville, Pemberville and North Shore. Otterbein is leading the nation in changing the face of nursing care by taking the bold step of moving elders to homes in the community at large. Avalon by Otterbein small house neighborhoods, known for exceptional nursing care and rehabilitation, are located in Perrysburg and Monclova in northern Ohio and Middletown and Springboro in southern Ohio. Avalon in Hamilton Township, the third Avalon by Otterbein small house neighborhood in Warren County, is under construction.

In 2009, Otterbein introduced a new area of service – home health care. Otterbein purchased Pioneer Home Health and renamed it Home Health by Otterbein. This will allow Otterbein to provide healthcare services to independent living residents and eventually to others in the area. Most elders want to remain in their own homes and this new ministry will help them do just that.

Otterbein Then

Providing quality services is a keystone of Otterbein's rich heritage. The original Otterbein community was built for children and adults in 1912 on land purchased from the Shakers near Lebanon, Ohio, called Union Village. Union Village was the largest and most important Shaker settlement in Ohio as its leaders stood in spiritual authority over all Shaker settlements outside of New England. Otterbein's childcare program ended in 1963, and since then, Otterbein has grown to five retirement communities and four small house neighbourhoods in Ohio.

Otterbein has been privileged to have dedicated volunteers for the archives and museum who have preserved both Shaker history, as well as Otterbein's unique communal ministry to children and older adults on the Lebanon site. The Otterbein Museum Collection is comprised of film, archives, artifacts and displays - some distinctively Shaker and others that capture the United Brethren (later the Evangelical and United Brethren and currently the United Methodist) Church history. This collection is currently maintained in Marble Hall on the Otterbein Lebanon campus. Approximately 100 additional Shaker items are on loan to the Warren County Historical Society Museum in Lebanon. To schedule personal tours and receive archival information, please leave a message at (513) 696-8543.

Otterbein Today

With more than 96 years of experience, Otterbein continues to enhance the quality of life of residents in our communities and neighborhoods.

At Otterbein, many options are available to meet your needs. All Otterbein communities offer an unrivaled lifestyle in a variety of neighborhoods. In addition, all levels of healthcare services, including assisted living, rehabilitation services, nursing care and home health care are available if a need arises.

The Avalon by Otterbein small house is a new model for nursing care that takes people "back home" to their communities. These houses provide unmatched quality care in a neighborhood setting.

In keeping with our United Methodist tradition, we seek to enhance the quality of life and holistic growth of older persons.

This mission is enhanced and sustained through years of charitable giving. Generous donors have provided for a benevolent care fund to assist Otterbein community members who no longer have the financial resources to provide for their home and health care costs.

Employment opportunities to grow and advance in a variety of disciplines are available. An employee-driven program, Partners in Caring (PIC), is dedicated to establishing a unique workplace that welcomes employees, our circle of family, friends and community to an exceptional, caring environment.