Orchard House Assisted Living sits on Grace Road in Frankfort, right in Benzie County, next to Lake Michigan, and the country setting makes it quiet and peaceful with pretty gardens and a long covered porch where folks can sit outside, watch the birds, or chat with neighbors, which is nice if you like spending time outdoors or want to grow flowers or vegetables in the garden plots they offer residents. The building has six spacious one-bedroom apartments with full kitchens, walk-in showers, and private baths, and there are four studio apartments, each with its own private bath and all of them together near the community room where people gather, have meals, or join in activities, and if family comes by, there's a kitchen, dining, and living room space for visits or sharing a meal. The staff cares for people who need help with things like dressing, bathing, medication reminders, and there's a nurse with over 32 years of experience running the place, so medication management and health monitoring are handled carefully, and since the staff knows each resident well, they can spot those small changes that some places might miss, and caregivers are always around to help, day or night, plus there's a nurse on call.
Orchard House offers three meals a day cooked from scratch, using fresh local ingredients, and folks can ask for special diets or join in the cooking if that's something they miss doing, and there are vegetarian options too. They let residents bring pets like cats or dogs as long as it's manageable, and people find comfort in that. There are always things to do, whether it's outings to restaurants, art fairs, concerts, or the local library, and inside, sing-alongs, exercise, games, and even weekly massage therapy, plus they make sure there's room for spiritual needs, offering devotional and Buddhist services both on-site and off-site. Residents get transportation for shopping or medical appointments, and there's parking if someone still drives or has regular visits.
The facility is run as a Board and Care Home, which means it's smaller and more personal than a big facility, and it specializes in all kinds of care, including high acuity needs, memory care for people with Alzheimer's or dementia, and they're able to care for folks through end of life with support and dignity. Each care plan is based on what a person needs, whether that means help with housekeeping, preparing meals, or getting in and out of bed, and they've set the monthly rate at $3,000 for a private room. There are spiritual and activity programs you can join if you want, whether that means gardening, helping prepare meals, light housekeeping, or joining group activities meant to keep folks engaged and feeling at home, and the staff works to make the place feel safe and friendly. They have good safety features too, like wheelchair-accessible showers, emergency call systems, and well-lit grounds, plus a lot of indoor and outdoor common areas to move around. Healthcare staff supports diabetic care, incontinence, and help for those who can't get around easily, and there's respite care if someone needs a short stay. Everyone tries to make Orchard House feel like a real home, and the connection between residents and staff helps people feel secure and looked after, whether it's for one day or all the way through advanced care.
