A new adult foster care facility is being developed in Perham at 447 4th St. NE.
The facility will accept either Seniors, who no longer feel comfortable or unable to live on their own or developmentally disabled adults who aren't able to live independently.
The owners, Jeff and Holly Baker bought the home last fall and have been remodeling, in their spare time, while getting their license. The home has been doubled in size and the interior mostly re-done. An entire kitchen, including cabinets, dishwasher, refrigerator, microwave and double ovens was donated from an individual in Bethesda, Maryland.
The home is licensed for two adults but after a new addition next spring, will be able to take five adults. While the exterior still has a lot of work to be done, including a new garage and siding, a new out door stone patio, complete with fire pit was added late this summer.
Jeff and Holly made the decision to do adult foster care after Holly's mother lived with them and eventually passed away from cancer.
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"We both loved having my mom with us and want to be able to help other people who can't take their parents into their home. We want the people who come to us to be part of our family. Our children don't have grandparents and older people have so much to give, especially to the young," says Holly.
Holly is a CNA/PCA and has worked at Emmanuel Nursing Home in Detroit Lakes and North Star Nursing out of Osage. She is getting dual-licensed for child foster care as well.
Jeff's mother owned the first Adult Foster Care for developmentally disabled men, in Becker County, so Jeff grew up in an adult foster care setting, he also later worked at Lakes Homes, in Detroit Lakes.
"Just because someone no longer can be on their own, shouldn't mean they should have to go into a nursing home and there are a lot of reasons why someone can't take a parent into their own home."
Because the facility is Licensed by the Minnesota Department of Human Services through the Otter Tail County Human Services Department, payment may be made with state funding, as in nursing homes, insurance or self-pay.
"I really like working with senior citizens...I grew up with older parents," noted Holly.
If you would like more information on Baker Home, call (218) 346-7307.
