Shepherd Premier Senior Living runs small, home-like assisted living and memory care places for people aged 55 and over, with a focus on dignity and respect, and they've been family owned and operated since 2014, with locations in Illinois and Wisconsin, including homes in Crystal Lake, Harvard, Oregon, Dixon, Sterling, Cherry Valley, and a few others, set up in converted Victorian houses that look and feel more like real homes than big facilities ever do. Each house has 16 beds, mostly private rooms but with a few shared, along with semi-private and single room options, and the apartments have things like their own washer and dryer, full kitchen, bedroom, and bathroom, all wheelchair friendly and decorated however the resident likes, which makes settling in a bit easier. Some pets can come too, even though there aren't pets already living there, and people who use walkers and wheelchairs get around all right since the place is fully handicap accessible.
The staff offers care around the clock, with industry-leading caretaker-to-resident ratios, which makes it easier to handle things like medication reminders, help with bathing and dressing, memory care, diabetic and incontinence care, and help for people who can't walk or stand. They handle higher medical needs, too, for those who need it, and every place is kept secure with state-of-the-art keypad locks, security cameras in common areas and outdoors, and full sprinkler systems, with 7,300 square feet to spread out on and ADA bathrooms so nobody's left behind. Meals are home-style and made by a professional chef, with three hot meals and snacks every day, plus guest meals and even room service if someone's not up to coming out to eat with others. There are two family-style dining rooms, and people can pick if they want to dine in their rooms or with the group.
Shepherd Premier offers a full activity program with art classes, reading rooms, live entertainment, field trips, and outings around the rural areas, and there's always something going on, whether it's devotional services onsite or gardening in the landscaping, or just sitting in the yard for some peace. The facilities have strong Wi-Fi, basic cable TV in rooms, and public spaces for folks to visit together or read quietly, and there's a beautician onsite for hair or grooming needs. Owners help arrange appointments and transportation to outside doctors, and provide laundry, cleaning, and medication management, so daily hassles are a bit less. Memory care is specialized, with careful support for residents with dementia and Alzheimer's, secure rooms to keep people safe, and programs meant to help stimulate the mind, reduce confusion, and prevent wandering.
Each house has a warm, rustic feel, since they've renovated old Victorian homes out on rural properties, sitting on about a quarter-acre, and the whole approach is meant to make people feel safe and comfortable without the big, institutional feeling some places have, letting seniors keep some independence while still offering full-time help where it's needed. The cost is above $4,000 per month and the homes are licensed by the state, with waitlists for those interested. The staff has won awards, and the focus is always on honoring and supporting seniors while respecting their choices and preferences about how they want their later years to go.
