Emma’s Place provides care in home-like setting

Jeanie and Brad King work from home, but their business is probably not what you might expect. The couple operate Emma’s Place, providing assisted living in their Pekin home.

They started as a medical foster home, working with VA patients, but grew beyond that and no longer offer foster care. Emma’s Place has provided care for six patients since opening in July 2017 and currently there are three residents. While most residents are elderly, the Kings said that’s not always the case. One patient is a younger man who suffered a traumatic brain injury.

In addition to providing residential care, the couple also offer care during the day. “They can bring their spouse or loved one during the day while they work and they can go home again with them in the evening,” said Jeanie.

Jeanie is a CNA with a background in the nursing home setting, which she said she didn’t like because of how rushed she felt with residents. She moved to assisted care and found her niche.

Brad became a LPN in 2013 and has worked in both hospitals and nursing home settings. He said he wanted to provide better care than what he’d witnessed “and what better way than to do it on your own?” While they impact a far smaller number of patients in the home-care setting, “those few people you get will get great care for the last part of their life,” he added.

Emma’s Place is strictly private pay; Medicare is not accepted. Jeanie noted veterans have the option of using their benefits.

With both Brad and Jeanie being certified personnel, a nurse is on site both day and night. The meals are home-cooked and Jeanie said she pays attention to sodium and sugar levels or other dietary needs and focuses on healthy foods and variety.

Emma’s Place caters services to individual needs, offering as little or as much assistance as each resident requires. “We supply basically everything,” said Brad. Rooms are furnished and linens and toiletries are provided.

They monitor the home with cameras and alerts to ensure residents’ safety and to make sure their needs are met whenever they arise, day or night.

“We’re not just a bed, we cater to the whole person,” said Jeanie. 

She said a nursing agency visits residents and they also have licensed therapist and doctors who provide services in the home, including some diagnostic procedures. “We work through agencies so they don’t have to leave for everything,” she explained. Residents’ family members provide transportation to specialists as needed.

Emma’s Place provides a quieter setting than some larger facilities. The couple said residents direct the activity level and they work to make sure each person is happy and fulfilled. While most of the residents aren’t interested in structured activities, they do enjoy getting outside and they like parties. Jeanie said they celebrate birthdays, holidays and other special occasions.

“We had couple, the husband was here, and they had been married 64 years,” said Jeanie. “We did an anniversary dinner for them and they loved it!”

“We’ve had rave reviews from families,” said Brad. “They’ve all given us their phone numbers to give others for references.”

Emma’s Place provides a true family setting – the Kings have four children.

Before making the decision to open, “we talked about it with the kids and made sure they were OK with it,” said Jeanie. “They were excited about the possibility of people being here and taking care of them.”

Jeanie said, as a mother, she worried about how having others living in the home would affect her children. “It’s not the norm,” she said. “They’ve adjusted and adapted.” She said the kids all tell their friends about their home and have written papers about it. 

The older two work for Emma’s Place. Sierra is enrolled in the IUS nursing program and Taylor is a senior at North Harrison. The younger two siblings are Garrison, 14, and Brooklyn, 11, who also attend North Harrison schools.

The Kings said they think the setting is a big plus for residents’ emotional well-being. “The atmosphere is therapeutic for the guys [all the current residents are men]. “It’s a family environment and they interact with the kids.” 

That’s something the residents’ family members appreciate as well. Coming to the realization that a parent needs constant care and then choosing how to provide that is very stressful, they said. 

“It can be hard for families,” said Jeanie. “They almost feel a guilt. There’s a transition period and we help to make it smoother.” The couple said families are always welcome to drop in and visit at Emma’s Place.

The Kings said one thing they’ve learned is the importance of taking time for themselves. Because they are on-call 24/7, they schedule time to get away and relax. “We have professional sitters who come in if we have to be gone for the day or go on vacation,” said Brad. “We don’t put anybody here that we wouldn’t leave with our parents.”

Brad said that’s how he approaches each resident. “I treat them like they’re my mother and my father. I want them to be taken care of on that level.”

Jeanie said, “We do have their best interests in mind. Obviously, it’s our livelihood, but we have a vested interest in taking care of them. We love what we do!”

For more information on Emma’s Place, call 812-972-5416 or 502-396-4397.