Washington County Woman's Home

Washington County Woman's Home, which has stood on the edge of Marietta, Ohio since 1885 until it closed in June 2018, spent more than 132 years supporting women who needed a safe and comfortable place to live, and really you could feel the history when you walked in with donations from the community making it possible for women without enough money or family support to move in, bringing their own furniture or enjoying the homemade quilts and old armchairs already there. The home wasn't a nursing home but a real home, run only by women on a steady Board of Managers and trustees, and it offered care for up to six residents in a small, friendly setting that allowed a lot of personal attention, where women aged 80 to 98 could live, socialize, and enjoy the sun porch to watch cars go by, or take in views of the fairgrounds and river valley back when it first opened. Women who lived there could get help with everyday needs like bathing, dressing, medicine, and moving from room to room or in and out of the shower, and if someone needed a special diet like for diabetes or high blood pressure, the staff-licensed by the Ohio Department of Aging-made sure all three home-cooked meals each day were safe for them, often with the kitchen always cooking something. There were regular programs and supportive activities like bingo, dominoes, music therapy, movie nights, walking paths, reading rooms, a barber or beauty shop, and times for socializing, faith activities, or just enjoying a hot tub and garden space, and visiting hours were flexible so friends and family could come in. For more medical care, licensed nurses were ready 24/7 for emergencies, and staff could manage medication help and work with the residents' doctors, all while keeping things clean and organized with laundry, dry cleaning, and housekeeping. Safeguards like emergency alert pull cords and a keypad entry made things safe, and transportation could be arranged for off-site appointments or errands, even during winter. The residents stayed involved in the community, too, with civic groups visiting and neighbors donating linens and furniture, preserving that "gracious home" feeling as described over many years, and even when the endowment started to run out, the place kept up full staff and care to the end, holding onto the mission of being a place where women who had worked hard all their lives could come for help, rest, and dignity, no matter their background, with everyone treated like a valuable part of the little community. It was never a big or fancy place, but it met medical, social, and living needs with a lot of heart, and when you talk to folks who lived there, they remember a lot of kindness, good food, and a homey space that felt welcoming and steady even as the years changed so much around it.