Anna's Home opens in Sisters

Absolute Serenity Senior Care, LLC, opened its second licensed adult foster-care facility with a ribbon-cutting ceremony and open house on Saturday, June 27. The newly built and beautifully landscaped home is part of the first phase of Adams Avenue Commons at the northwest corner of Fir Street and Adams Avenue.

Before cutting the ribbon, owners Leah and David Tolle talked to the dozens of guests who attended about their path to opening this facility and introduced the local builders and contractors who made it all possible.

The Tolles dedicated each home to honor a much-loved former resident. The original home on Rope Street will be renamed Helen's House after their very first resident, and the new one will be called Anna's Home.

After opening their first home and being the live-in caregivers, they quickly learned they wouldn't just be taking care of people - they would be inheriting family members. Their own growing family of three boys, who all attend Sisters schools, have had many grandparents growing up, and have learned a lot about sharing and caring for elders.

When David first approached developer Sam Blackwell to inquire about the building housing the pre-school as a possible second location, Blackwell told him he owned the whole lot and was looking to develop it. He brought the idea to architect Chris Mayes and contractor Doug Hull, and Adams Avenue Commons was the result of their collaboration. Eventually there will be another adult foster-care home, several apartments and some commercial space, which David thinks would be perfect for therapists or a medical facility.

David and Leah met in high school, married after graduation and later merged their career paths. She became a CNA, and her first caregiver job was for David's great-grandma. She was able to help him get into his first position in the assisted-living facility as maintenance director. From there, he worked his way up through the ranks to become regional director of operations.

They both became dissatisfied with management decisions about cost-cutting measures that, for example, left one caregiver handling 15 patients.

"They were all about the bottom line and lost sight of the people they were serving," David said. "It was unfair all around."

Leah struggled with not being able to spend quality time with her patients. They realized what they both loved about their work was the hands-on part.

Leah's grandmother had Alzheimer's Disease, which led her to research care and discovered a passion for helping people with dementia.

"I'm a people-oriented person and like to have a balance between caregiving and the administrative work," she said.

David had been a caregiver for his grandma and great-grandma since he was a kid, and felt comfortable in that role.

"I always seemed to be helping people get their needs met," he said.

And so they quit their jobs and opened Absolute Serenity Adult Foster Care in 2009. They had fallen in love with Sisters and decided this was where they wanted to live, work, and raise their family. They started out living at the first home, but as their boys got older, they realized they needed more space and in 2013 bought another home for themselves.

"Having a small home environment allows for one-on-one time and allows us to provide more companionship," Leah said. "We strive to enrich lives while providing quality care."

Residents may be seniors who are no longer able to live on their own due to age, illness or disability, but are still somewhat independent or they may be on hospice with a six-month prognosis. Memory care is provided to the point that a more secure environment becomes necessary due to violence, wandering, or other inappropriate behavior that interferes with other residents' quality of life.

To maintain licensing for this type of facility, DHS does yearly inspections for compliance with a follow-up after 6 months to make sure policies are being adhered to and any violations corrected. In their six years of operation, the Tolles have never had a written violation.

Each of the five bedrooms has a private bathroom with a sink and toilet. The entire home is wheelchair accessible; all rooms have two-way monitors. There is a common shower room with a call button for assistance. The Tolles will work to find a fit between the person and the level of care needed.

The common rooms include a living room with a large flat-screen TV, a game setting, dining area and kitchen. They plan to keep residents active, engaged, moving and stimulated, but those who prefer quiet time alone can stay in their rooms. All residents wear a call button around their neck in case of fall or other

emergency.

Ashley Raymond will provide substitute care and work her way into being the resident manager at Anna's Home. Her responsibilities include providing care, dispensing meds, cooking meals (although residents may help), and daily chores around the home. Until she is fully trained, the Tolles will take turns fulfilling those duties. They also have Tammy Haynes and Errin Tague to provide relief care as needed.

The Tolles have been in contact with Sisters Park & Recreation District and Sisters Folk Festival, and hope to connect with other local organizations and encourage their residents to participate in local activities. She also hopes to acquire a van to be able to take residents to local events.

Applications are being accepted and new residents will start moving in July 5. For more information, call 541-848-3194.