Desert Hills couple open care home to seniors

MARC BUCKHOUT ~ MANAGING EDITOR ~7/27/2011

Gary and Ronnie Knisely have been searching for the perfect location and setup to open their own business for the last three years.
The couple, which moved to Arizona from California in 2008, believe the Desert Hills Adult Care Home will provide that perfect setting for seniors, requiring care, as they enjoy their twilight years.
For Ronnie, who has been a care provider for approximately 20 years, the couple’s current facility is setup to provide the best possible experience.
“I’ve worked in big homes and we’ve toured plenty of facilities and I feel as though the smaller ones are able to offer better care,” she said. “I want to make sure people aren’t lonely.”
The new facility, which obtained its licensing and certification in June, is located at 38414 N. 12th St. Located on 1.25 acres, the 3,700 square foot home can accommodate up to 10 residents.
“I really believe if people come and see this home they’ll be sold,” Gary said. “It’s quiet, spacious, has nice views, and they’ll love the way they’re treated.”
Gary will be in charge of cooking and said clients will have plenty of options to choose from for their three daily meals.
From the size of bedrooms (a minimum of 12 feet by 13 feet), to a large dining area and living room complete with a computer, a big screen television, games, puzzles and other activities, the couple say they believe they can help seniors transition to what initially is often a troubling time in their lives.
Ronnie, who said she decided she was destined to care for seniors during a stint as a manager at a Denny’s, understands that seniors coming to live in a home or a facility often are resentful.
“You work your whole life to create a level of comfort, a level of independence and then you feel as though both are sliding away,” she said. “It’s really easy for people to want to be depressed or angry, but I’m confident with the setup we’ve created here and the kind of care we’ll provide that our clients will enjoy being here.”
Gary explained that potential clients go through a medical evaluation to determine what level of care they need. The range starts at the lowest end with a supervisory role.
“They’re in a bit of a limbo area,” Gary said. “They’ve still got cognitive levels to where they’re kind of independent. They can do a lot of things on there own, but maybe just need somebody to make sure they remember to take their medication on a daily basis, make sure they remember to get something to eat.”
The middle level includes those that require personal care. Residents at that level of need require assistance doing things such as getting out of bed in the morning, bathing and getting dressed.
Direct care patients count on someone else taking care of almost all of their daily needs.
The couple subscribe to MD24, which offers a doctor on call 24 hours a day for issues outside the day-to-day medical needs of clients.
The couple also said their clients will have opportunities outside the home, whether it’s gardening in a spacious backyard, taking a shuttle to the New River Senior Center to participate in a variety of activities, or going to church services on Sunday.
For information on Desert Hills Adult Care Home go to deserthillsadultcarehome.com email deserthillsadultcarehome@gmail.com or call 623-465-7203.