By CRISTINA JANNEY
Hays Post
Willow House, a seven-bed, long-term care facility, is celebrating 10 years in Hays.
The home-based facility also offers adult day care, Shayne Unsworth, RN and owner said.
Willow House provides a home atmosphere. It is in a home in a quiet neighborhood in north Hays. The care home is privately owned and accepts private pay clients.
Willow House is state-regulated instead of federally regulated.
"We have a lot more flexibility in being able to regulate personal choice for the residents and how they like to live this part of their lives," said Analiese Unsworth, Shayne's wife and Willow House co-owner.
Willow House encourages visits from family members and even pets.
The care home has fewer structured activities, but they encourage residents to participate in activities and hobbies they enjoy, such as games, watching sports on the big screen, music or gardening.
"In larger facilities, you feel like you're shuffled around and you have to do what's on their agenda," Analiese said. "In here, you get to do what you like... A lot of people want to stay in their own home, and this is the next best thing to be in a home environment with 24-hour care."
The home has a large yard planted with flowers and vegetables, which the residents can enjoy. The backyard is accessible by a wheelchair ramp or the residents can watch birds and admire the flowers through large windows that look out onto the garden.
The home has three dual-occupancy rooms and one single-occupancy room. The house is handicap accessible. When the couple bought the home, they enlarged the doorways to facilitate maneuvering wheelchairs and walkers.
Because the care home is small, it can more easily cater to the individual needs and desires of its clients, Analiese said.
Shayne said with the small number of residents, people aren't having long waits for call lights. Staff members are usually just in the next room.
If someone wants to sleep in and eat their breakfast later in the morning, that is possible. Most of the meals are home-cooked, which allows the staff to prepare some of the residents' favorites, he said.
Shayne has previous experience working in a nursing home and home health. He has also worked as a traveling nurse and at the Larned State Hospital.
Willow House is required to have medical staff on site 24 hours a day. Shayne said staffing levels depend on the needs of the home's clients.
Willow House is equipped to offer assisted living through the end of life.
"The goal is that once they are here, they can stay in their house until they pass," Shayne said. "They don't have to move into any other facilities."
Many of the Willow House clients have memory issues. Shayne said those clients tend to do better in the home setting than in a large facility.
"They can get a routine without many people interfering with their routine," he said.
Low turnover also means the clients see the same faces every day, Shayne said.
Willow House does not accept Medicare or Medicaid. It does accept private pay, long-term care insurance and some veterans' benefits.
Willow House has openings. You can learn more about the facility on its Facebook page. You can call 785-621-4959 or email [email protected].