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My journey began on a day that forever changed our family’s lives. My mom, at just 70 years old, was diagnosed with Frontotemporal dementia (FTD). She was vibrant, social, and fiercely independent. But the disease was relentless, progressing rapidly, and we knew she needed more care, urgently.
We were overwhelmed, unprepared, and desperate for answers. The internet was a maze of information, but we lacked a trusted guide. Could we hire a caregiver to keep her at home? Should she move in with me? Did we need a nurse on standby? Was assisted living or memory care the right choice? Which community was best equipped to care for someone with her specific type of dementia? How much would it cost? How important was the location? What amenities mattered? What did our future hold with Mom? We had so many questions with so few answers.
My mom’s journey with FTD was profoundly transformative for me. Watching someone so full of life and independence gradually lose their abilities was heart-wrenching. It forced me to confront the fragility of life and the importance of cherishing every moment. Emotionally, it was a rollercoaster. There were days filled with frustration and helplessness, but also moments of deep connection and love. It taught me patience, resilience, and the value of a strong support system. Practically, it was a crash course in caregiving and navigating the complex world of healthcare. I had to balance my own responsibilities, learn to advocate for her needs, and make tough decisions quickly. Ultimately, it inspired me to create a company dedicated to helping others in similar situations, ensuring they have the guidance and support we struggled to find.
I created this company because through my own experience I saw a need for a compassionate, knowledgeable resource to guide families through the overwhelming journey of caring for a loved one. Our mission is to provide personalized support and expert advice, helping families make informed decisions with confidence and peace of mind. We want to ensure that no family feels alone or unprepared while navigating the complexities of senior care, so you can focus on what matters most—spending quality time with your loved one.
Whether I knew it or not, my journey with senior living started in elementary school. When I came into this world my parents were pushing 40, and my grandparents were already in their 70’s, so a bit older than the norm. I have fantastic memories of all of them. My Mom’s parents lived on the North Shore of Chicago, but we spent most of our time with them at their summer home outside of Marquette. My Dad’s father passed when I was two, but his mother, living outside of Milwaukee, was active and surrounded by friends, and we would visit multiple times a year.
When I was 8 or 9, Grandma Elsie, my Dad’s Mom, could not live on her own anymore, and as my dad was her only child, it made sense that she came to live with us in Bloomfield Hills, Mi. Through my eyes, it was great. We had plenty of room, she had privacy when she wanted it, she made lots of friends through church and other social groups, and I had a grandma around!
As one grows older and wiser, you realize that there is much you do not “see” at a young age. My parents were the definition of the “Sandwich Generation”, i.e. caring for children and parents at the same time. Although, even in my mother’s dying days she stated that she would have done it all over again, it was clear that the years that Grandma Elsie lived with us took their toll. Eventually my grandma moved to an Assisted Living community nearby, and while we were good about visiting her multiple times per week, my mom got a bit of a break and my grandma could get the support that she required.
Within the same time frame, my Grandpa Clarence passed and my Grandma Ruth moved to a lovely community in Evanston, where she could live independently, but get additional care as needed. She enjoyed being in her hometown with some of her children nearby, living well into her 90s.
Fast forward about 15 years plus or minus, when my parents, at a pretty young age, announced that they were moving to Holland, Michigan to a Retirement Resort. This was a brand new community that connections from Hope College, where my sister and I both attended, had built and were managing. They moved in a month or two later and never looked back. It was amazing to say the least. It had a full continuum of care that took my parents from the active early 70’s couple that they were, through all their care needs at the end of life. They still summered in Marquette, but at their new home, my mom was able to swim all year round and my dad, an excellent bridge player, was much more socially involved than he would have been staying in their house. People dressed for dinner, the programming matched their educational and life experiences, the food was fabulous with tons of options, and they had a large, lovely apartment that enabled them to entertain.
As their children, my brother, sister and I realized that their decision was not only for themselves, but truly a gift that they had given to us. We knew they would always be safe, cared for, and living their life on their own terms.
Unfortunately, my dad passed away four years in, but because they had made this decision on their own beforehand, there were far fewer “new normal’s” for my mom, who lived surrounded by contemporaries and friends for 22 years. She stayed in her independent living apartment for 21 of those years, but assisted living, and in the last days skilled nursing, where under the same roof and walking distance for those she had become close to.
Both of my parents said that it was one of the best decisions they had ever made.
I share my family’s story, as a testimony to Senior Living Communities and the many options they have to offer. How living among people your own age, that have shared similar experiences and life events, can enhance your quality of life both physically and emotionally.
For the last 15 years, I have charted my career path through a few different roles, but all in the industry of Geriatric Care, both clinical and residential. Combining my professional and personal experience to help others navigate current Senior Living options, is a hopefully a gift back in honor of my parents, who realized that they wanted to be the decision makers in their life choices as they aged.