The comfort of home-style assisted living comes to Illinois for senior housing

Brandon Schwab believes seniors who need living assistance shouldn’t have to sacrifice the comforts of a real home when they move into an assisted living facility. That’s why he founded Shepherd Premier Senior Living, a senior-housing alternative to the apartment-style living most seniors can expect when they can no longer live on their own.

“If someone has lived in a single-family home for 80 years, why would they want to move into a cramped apartment?” he asked. “And, just because they can’t live entirely on their own doesn’t mean they should stop living. That, and providing the highest quality care, is what Shepherd is all about.”

Schwab created Shepherd based on the model for senior-housing that is most common in states such as Florida, California and Arizona. As he explained, 80 percent of the seniors in Florida who require an assisted-living setting, live in a renovated single-family home with, on average, five other seniors.
Along with the comforts of home, seniors at a Shepherd assisted-living home also benefit from an outstanding level of care.

“Our caregiver-to-resident ratio is never more than 1 to 5,” he said. “And that includes 24/7 CNA assistance. Most other assisted-living facilities don’t even come close to that.”

At a Shepherd home, seniors can choose between private and semi-private rooms with no more than 10 beds per home. Seniors in a Shepherd home receive three home-cooked meals daily, housekeeping, security and engaging activities, in addition to the care of Certified Nursing Assistants.

He said that family members often find themselves unprepared when they discover that loved ones can no longer entirely live on their own. They have to find out what level of care their loved ones need, where they can get that level of care and, along the way, they’re hoping their loved ones will be happy and safe in their new home.

“It’s a daunting task,” said Schwab. “Our hope is that we’ve offered an alternative that will make the process easier and more successful.”

To learn more about Shepherd Premier Senior Living, you can visit www.Shepherd360Tour.com or call 224-333-6247.

Music therapy for dementia by Brandon Schwab, Shepherd Premier Senior Living

Music entertains and relaxes us.

We use it as motivation and to ward off boredom at the gym. We also use it on our commute to and from work, hoping it has a calming effect during rush hour. It’s difficult to imagine life without music and now it’s being used as a powerful tool for those suffering from Alzheimer’s and other dementia.

According to the Alzheimer’s Foundation of America, “Music has power—especially for individuals with Alzheimer’s disease and related dementias. And it can spark compelling outcomes even in the very late stages of the disease. When used appropriately, music can shift mood, manage stress-induced agitation, stimulate positive interactions, facilitate cognitive function, and coordinate motor movements.”

Studies have shown that many of those stricken with Alzheimer’s disease still are capable of remembering songs from their past. In fact, many remember certain songs well enough that they can sing along to them even when they are at advanced stages of the disease. While they may not be able to remember their own family and friends, they often can remember certain music and songs.

Because of the success of music, many senior retirement communities that offer specialized Alzheimer’s care are using it as part of its caregiving and recreational programming.

There has even been some growing evidence in recent years that by listening to music, some seemingly lost memories come back, while some aspects of cognitive functioning are maintained.

The ability to share emotions is one of the things that those with Alzheimer’s lose as the disease progresses. By incorporating music into one’s life, it’s not uncommon for some emotions to still be able to be shared.

While it’s not a cure for the disease, there’s no doubt that music therapy is good medicine and a welcome addition in helping those suffering.

Call (224) 333-6247
www.shepherd360Tour.com

Brandon Schwab interviews Edwin Kelly from Speciailized IRA Services

Have you ever been confused about your 401K or IRA account?

Ringwood Rehab Video Update Week 7 by Brandon Schwab

Ringwood Home Press Release

PRESS RELEASE For immediate release: Ringwood approves McHenry County’s first Shared Housing Establishment Contact: Brandon Schwab Phone: 815.790.2330 e-mail: brandon@shepherdresidentialcare.com Who: Brandon Schwab, President of Shepherd Residential Care Additional Contacts: Rick Mack (Brd Pres) 815.321.1898; Kelly Kepes (Brd Mbr) 815.728.1994 What: Village Board Approval of Conditional Use Permit for Shared Housing Establishment Where: 6809 Barnard Mill Road, Ringwood, IL When: Thursday, April 16, 2015 Brief: By a 5-to-1 vote, Thursday, April 23, the Ringwood Village Board approved a conditional use permit for Shepherd Residential Care’s SHE – Shared Housing Establishment at 6809 Barnard Mill Road. The vote, which follows the 6-0 approval of the conditional use permit by the Ringwood Zoning Board April 16, makes the planned senior care residence the first Shared Housing Establishment in McHenry County. Brandon Schwab, the president of Shepherd Residential Care, said the facility is a non-traditional alternative to the warehousing style of a senior care home. Only eight seniors will live in the home where they’ll receive senior care, along with meals and other services. It will have seven bedrooms and seven baths, a full kitchen and approximately 900-square-feet of library, reading, activity and family visiting rooms. Though in a residential neighborhood, the back of the home looks out on a farmer’s field providing residents with a peaceful setting. Kelley Kepes, a member of the Village Board and a supporter of the concept, said that she’s had experience with family members and senior homes. “We have a population that is aging rapidly and we need alternatives for living,” said Kepes. “The traditional senior home setting is not for everybody.” For those who raised concerns about the senior home, Kepes said she doesn’t think there’s any reason to worry. She doesn’t think the home will adversely affect property values and she said Shepherd Residential Care should be a good neighbor. Kepes also said the Village and Zoning Boards both did thorough jobs of vetting the concept before it was approved. The Zoning Board had 14 points they insisted on, such as the number of residents, maintenance of all appropriate licensing and the presence of a senior care giver at all times. Board President Rick Mack, the only board member to vote no, had five more points he insisted Shepherd Residential agree to. One of these included extending the license for Village review of the permit from 10 years to 20 years. Schwab said the scrutiny the board applied to the process was, in the end, quite welcome. “They were very thorough – didn’t miss anything,” he said. “I think that helped us to refine our concept and will make our home better in the end.”

Ringwood Rehab Video Update Week 6 by Brandon Schwab

Brandon Schwab walks through Ringwood Rehab Project showing the improvements both inside & outside completed this week! Also reveals the interesting history background of this house. Watch video here to see what celebrity lived and partied here. For more information on this project 224 333 6246 or ShepherdResidentialCare.com To learn more about Brandon Schwab personally, click on his website www.BrandonSchwab.com

Ringwood Rehab Video Update Week 5 by Brandon Schwab

Despite 2-3 days of rain, the project is moving along nicely. The electrician got a lot of wiring done this week including cable boxes as well. Plumber coming in this weekend working day/night to get plumbing caught up to electrician work.
 

Rain Rain Go Away... But Thank You For The Computer Day!!!

With all the work lately, I've seriously neglected my computer posting time until last night. Finally got video's over the last 5 weeks of rehab progress on the Ringwood house. Few others things that have come up that we haven't posted on lately is our NEW sign referral program. We have printed some great looking yard signs with H frame stakes that we are seeking home owners permission for posting in their front yard. In exchange for permission, our receptionist that answers the phone at 224 333 7247 always asks how they heard about us. For someone that ends up leasing one of our available bedrooms, we will pay a $500 referral fee. Who do you know that would be interested in helping seniors discover NEW alternative options while making $500??? For more information about getting a sign in your front yard email brandon@shepherdresidentialcare.com or call 224 333 6247

Northwest Article Posted 6/2/15 about Shepherd Residential Care of Ringwood being First Shared Housing Establishment in McHenry County

RINGWOOD – A house in Ringwood soon will be converted into a small senior living facility as part of an elderly care concept new to McHenry County. Eyeing a July opening, McHenry-based Shepherd Residential Care will start renovations of about $180,000 to the house at 6809 Barnard Mill Road in Ringwood, said Shepherd president Brandon Schwab. The refurbished home will house eight seniors who will receive aroundthe-clock health care, meals and other services, Schwab said. Unlike larger elderly care institutions, Shepherd’s approach provides patients with personalized care and attention, he said. “It provides one-on-one care,” Schwab said. “It gives [caretakers] the ability to get personal with each person because they don’t have as many people to care for. The level of care ... is drastically a better quality of care.” The state defines assisted living facilities as a home that cares for more than 17 seniors, according to Shepherd Residential Care. An organization below that threshold is defined as a shared-housing establishment. The recently approved project in Ringwood gives the county its first shared-housing establishment, Schwab said. Other nearby cities with similar concepts include Elgin, Gurnee and St. Charles, he said. The group’s renovation budget will convert the Ringwood home into seven bedrooms and seven-and-a-half bathrooms. The refurbished home also will feature a full-service kitchen and 900 square feet devoted to a library, activity and family visitor rooms. Schwab said he expects to start the renovations soon, as the Ringwood Village Board approved the group’s conditional use permit on a 5-1 vote last week. The village’s zoning board earlier placed 14 conditions on the project, including a limit on the number of seniors and a requirement that puts a professional caregiver inside the facility at all times.

http://www.nwherald.com/2015/06/01/ringwood-home-to-be-converted-into-small-senior-care-facility/at350t4/

Week 4 Rehab Video Update of Shepherd Residential Care of Ringwood by Brandon Schwab Ringwood Illinois McHenry County

This week we have had a lot of progress on the property, however we also had some progress within the Northwest Herald article about the FIRST shared housing establishment in McHenry County. The Northwest Herald business editor did a nice article about Shepherd Residential Care of Ringwood (see below)

http://www.nwherald.com/2015/06/01/ringwood-home-to-be-converted-into-small-senior-care-facility/at350t4/

Week 3 Rehab Video Update for Shepherd Residential Care by Brandon Schwab

Lot of progress this week!