When Christie Peters first saw the view from her home’s wraparound deck, she knew her grandfather would have loved it.
That view, she said, was part of the reason she and her family’husband Michael and daughters Elizabeth and Abigail’decided the home was perfect for the assisted living facility she wanted to open in Springfield Township.
Peters, who designed Catera Assisted Living to serve as a comfortable, affordable alternative to a nursing home or large assisted living facility, said smaller, more intimate options are growing in popularity for senior citizens.
‘More and more we’re seeing a quiet trend moving toward smaller group homes,? she said. ‘A lot of seniors can’t afford the larger, more upscale homes, but they don’t want to become a ward of the state, either.?
Catera, which is licensed by the Michigan Department of Human Services, is now open and ready to welcome seniors who need extra help in their day-to-day living.
‘We’re only going to have six residents,? said Peters, who has a bachelor of psychology and social work from Western Michigan University, ‘so it’ll be an intimate and close environment. People will feel like they’re part of the family, so they don’t end up hiding out in their room all the time.?
The home will serve men and women who still have some degree of independence, she said, but may also have difficulties that prevent them from cooking, driving, remembering to take medications or performing other necessary tasks.
Often, families don’t like the idea of leaving elderly parents or grandparents home alone, but feel confused and overwhelmed by the cost, selection and suitability of alternative housing.
It’s important, she said, for families to research available options when a parent, grandparent or other loved one needs help with day-to-day living.
‘You want to really search out all the options and ask a lot of questions,? Peters said, noting that potential Catera clients undergo an assessment to ensure the facility and the seniors are a good match for one another. ‘If you’re not comfortable, keep looking. There are lots of options out there, you’ll find the one that’s right for you.?
After she graduated from college, Peters worked with Friends and Family Inc., a MORC home, for about 5 years, and spent the previous two years working as an in-home caretaker with Home Instead.
When her own grandfather became ill, she dedicated two years to caring for him, as well.
‘He would have loved this,? she said, looking out over mature trees, a pond and a field of wildflowers that beckon visitors to enjoy the view from a newly refinished wrap-around deck. ‘My grandpa used to sit outside every day, even in the winter.?
Inside, the home gives residents about 2,300 square feet of living space.
Four bedrooms’two private and two shared’offer a warm, airy feel, complete with large windows, fresh paint and refinished hardwood flooring.
Television and cable access is provided, and rooms are fully furnished’although residents are free to bring their own furnishings, as well.
The bedrooms share two large, modern bathrooms, one with handicap accessibility.
The previous owner also operated an assisted living facility, said Peters, but the house got a complete overhaul when the new owners moved in and got to work cleaning, painting, installing windows and putting in all new appliances last April.
The home also has a second living area, complete with bedrooms, full kitchen and walk-out great room, in the lower level where Peters and her family will reside.
Living on-site, she said, will allow the type of rapport Peters wants to kindle with clients and their families.
‘We’re not a big corporation, so people aren’t going to be dealing with managers and assistants and leasing consultants,? she said. ‘It’s just me, and I want to have a good relationship with the family so they know we’re there for them.?
Family members, she said, are welcome to visit as much as they like. With two young daughters, Elizabeth, 8 and Abigail, 5, living in the home, she said, Catera will be more ‘kid-friendly? than a lot of other facilities.
‘I really encourage people to come and spend time here,? she said. ‘Bring the kids, go on outings, have dinner with us.?
Peters said she will post menus for all meals, provide alternatives to accommodate likes, dislikes and special dietary needs, while still allowing for flexibility if everyone suddenly gets a hankering for pizza.
Residents can also go along on shopping trips, if they like, and help out in the kitchen.
Catera’s competitive rates, said Peters, will include all meals, and no extra fees will be assessed for laundry, medication reminders, assistance with incontinence, special socks, or other common senior needs.
Arrangements for a monthly delivery service from Clarkston Pharmacy have also been arranged, and, if residents are interested, a beautician will come out once a month for an extra cost.
The home is located at 11354 Andersonville Road in Davisburg, in a quiet, semi-rural area still close enough to shopping, medical care, churches and restaurants. For more information, contact Christie Peters, Owner/Administrator of Catera Assisted Living at 248-625-4125.