Seniors struggling with the decision of continuing to live on their own or moving to an assisted living facility now have another option in the Pipestone area.
Last week, Lisa and Allison Hubers opened a Comfort Keepers franchise in the back office at Kelly’s Koffee. Comfort Keepers is a franchise that began nearly a decade ago to help senior citizens with the simple, daily activities involved in living on their own.
“In home, non-medical care is what we do,” Lisa said.
That care can include anything from bathing and grooming to running errands and grocery shopping to simple conversation and companionship.
“We want to do things with the client, not for the client,” Lisa said.
The mother/daughter entrepreneurs decided to open the franchise to fill the need for senior care in the Pipestone area.
“There’s wonderful care provided in the community and this is a supplement to all that,” Lisa said. “That’s what we’re hoping to provide.”
Comfort Keepers recommends to prospective franchisees that at least seven percent of an area’s population be 65 or older in order to support a franchise. According to the United States Census Bureau, 21.6 percent of Pipestone County residents are 65 or older.
“Overall, we saw a need in this area,” Lisa said.
Together they bring a wealth of experience to the table. Lisa worked for a rehabilitation center at Sanford Medical Center in Sioux Falls for 15 years, the Good Samaritan Center in Pipestone for a year and a half doing case management, and at a long term care facility in Tyler as a registered nurse.
Allison has been a certified nursing assistant since 2002, worked at the Good Samaritan Center in Pipestone for four and a half years in their special care unit and worked for Comfort Keepers in Sioux Falls. In May she graduated from Augustana with a degree in business administration and gerontology.
Both mother and daughter are certified senior advisors and have Class A healthcare licenses from the state of Minnesota.
While their focus is senior citizens, Comfort Keepers will provide care to anyone over the age of 18 who can use a helping hand while being laid up for some reason or recovering from a surgery.
At the moment they have three employees, including themselves, and are looking for more.
“We will hire care givers, certified nursing assistants and those who are not certified, we will train,” Lisa said.
Any potential employees must go through a rigorous screening process including a background check by the state, a private background check, two interviews (one with Lisa and one with Allison) and a personality test. The two will also check in regularly with clients to find out if they have any concerns.
Lisa and Allison are available around the clock. Office hours are from 8 a.m. to 4:30 p.m. Monday through Thursday and 8:30 a.m. to 4:30 p.m. Fridays. After hours calls to their office, at 507-562-HOME (4663), will be automatically rolled over to their cell phones. They can also be reached by email at ck797@comfortkeepers.com.
“I’ve always had a passion for seniors and senior care,” Allison said. “After working at the one in Sioux Falls I decided this is what I needed to do.”
More information on Comfort Keepers can be found at interactivecaregiving.com.
