With its spacious, neatly manicured grounds and farmhouse-style architecture, Magnolia Home Care in Orcutt doesn’t look like your typical assisted-living center.
Co-owners Chuck and Margie Halsell, with their respective backgrounds in construction and home care, decided to turn their country barn into a residence for seniors with memory loss and Alzheimer’s disease after seeing a need in the community. Magnolia will celebrate its four-year anniversary in January.
“It seems like yesterday since she opened,” Margie said. “It’s been so fast. We have a dedicated, loyal staff who are just phenomenal in their care and the lengths they’re willing to go to manage challenging behavior.”
Magnolia currently has 14 residents in its eight suites and recently expanded, adding a second home called Primrose next door, which will soon double the center’s overall capacity. The residents live in shared rooms, allowing for some much-needed companionship, but spend most of their time in the Great Room, where they exercise twice daily and engage in social activities. Residents also take daily walks together to naturally enhance their moods.
Margie said it’s all tied to belief in a model of specialized care addressing the needs of the whole person struggling with memory problems.
“Our philosophy is care through which they can learn, and also that they need strong, active relationships,” Margie explained. “They need variety and stimulation, just like you or I.”
Among the many activities offered to residents are trivia nights, book readings, sessions for studying famous people and concepts, “armchair travels,” and seasonal arts and crafts projects.
“We often involve children, animals, and plants in our home,” Margie said. “Those things allow the residents to feel needed instead of just receiving care; it allows them to give care.”
Magnolia and Primrose will hold their family and resident Christmas party on Dec. 18 and will be host to weekly themed chef talks and tastings on topics like eggnog and milk for Louis Pasteur Day, as well as studying Ebenezer Scrooge and other holiday-themed subjects.
Magnolia Home Care is at 4620 and 4630 Song Lane in Orcutt. For more information, call 310-6996 or visit magnolia care.net.
Highlights
• JDX Pharmacy, a longtime donor to the Foodbank of Santa Barbara County, is asking its customers to consider making monetary contributions to the Foodbank during its donation drive.
Until Dec. 22, JDX will match each donation, dollar-for-dollar, up to the amount of $2,011.
JDX is at 1504 S. Broadway in Santa Maria.
For more information, call 922-1747.
• Home comfort and energy savings will be the topics of a free community barbecue presented by emPowerSBC and Energy Upgrade California on Dec. 8 at 5:30 p.m.
The event is offered to provide homeowners with an opportunity to learn how to access $4,000 in utility rebates, low-cost loans, and qualified contractors to upgrade the energy efficiency of their homes.
The barbecue takes place at the Halsell Barn, 4630 Song Lane in Orcutt. Organizers will also be giving away a flat-screen television courtesy of CoastHills Federal Credit Union. The food is courtesy of Halsell Builders.
For more information, visit EnergyUpgradeCA.org.
Biz Spotlight/Highlights are written and compiled by Staff Writer Jeremy Thomas. Information should be sent to the Sun via fax, e-mail, or mail.
This article appears in Dec 8-15, 2011.