A year and a half ago, the mother-in-law of Anne Beale Yancey, a Bothell resident, passed away from congestive heart failure.

Yancey’s father-in-law had ended up taking care of her, after choosing not to relocate her to a residential adult family home because there was no place that she felt comfortable.

“She had lived in a residential environment her whole life,” said Yancey on her mother-in-law’s wishes to stay at home. “It was extremely taxing on him.”

That experience inspired Yancey, who had cared for an ailing aunt as a teenager, to open up the Caring Cabin, located on two pristine acres in Bothell.

The 4,000-square-foot log cabin home, built in 1985, will house six seniors at a time and Yancey’s top-rate staff will care for their every need as they enjoy their golden years.

“So many seniors do not want to leave their homes,” she said. “I felt like I wanted to create an environment that was a fabulous residential setting, take in six seniors at a time, take care of them with nurses and give them the best home environment they can have.”

FULFILLING A NEED

In doing extensive research on adult family homes in the greater Bothell area, she found that there are about 60 homes, but only 19 of them are private.

“And of the 19 that are private, most of them are full or have a waiting list,” she added.

She visited most of them, but did not feel that any of them would have satisfied her mother-in-law, or her own mother.

“I want to take it to a whole different level than what I’m seeing in the residential environment,” Yancey described. “I want people to have all the benefits they’d have in a facility, but in an intimate, home-care environment… from independent living all the way to end of life and through hospice.”

As of late September, Caring Cabin has already received eight applications, with more sure to come in as the facility’s grand opening – scheduled for Oct. 27 – nears.

Yancey has left the difficult decision about who to accept to the Caring Cabin’s two registered nurses (RNs) that will live in-house with the residents. The nurses have over 25 years experience in senior care.

“They are going to be able to accept residents that have Alzheimer’s, dementia, physical weaknesses… it will be based on their assessment,” Yancey explained. “There is also an extensive financial portfolio they’ll need to meet.”

The estimated cost of living at Caring Cabin will be between $5,500 and $9,500 a month, according to Yancey, depending on the specific amenities and living requirements each resident needs.

But for those that can afford the bill, it will be well worth the cost.

MAJOR RENOVATIONS

Yancey knew that the cabin –located just down the street from her Bothell residence – and its “warm, secure feeling” was a perfect ambiance.

At the same time, a lot of work had to be done to the interior to make the home suitable for its purpose. According to Yancey, 275 square feet was added to an additional carport that was on the end of the cabin, and six private bedrooms, each with their own half-bath, are under construction.

A major shower room that will have heated tile floors will be within easy access from the bedrooms.

“Residents will be able to roll a wheelchair right in and bathe and shower without any obstructions,” she said.

Featured outside will be a hot tub for residents to enjoy aquatherapy, as well as a 21-foot-deep pond that will be stocked with trout.

The Caring Cabin is also in close proximity to senior activities, being less than a mile from the Bothell YMCA and only a few miles from the renowned Bothell Senior Center.

“We’ll also have an exercise specialist and dietitian coming in to take care of them, run activities here in the home, and celebrate all major holidays and birthdays,” Yancey listed. “We’re going to try and take care of all the services someone would need living in their own home.”

Yancey, a Certified Nursing Assistant, is also concerned about the public opinion on adult family homes after a Seattle Times expose that was run last November describing senior and elder care abuse in the state.

While she completely agrees to the recent tightening of home regulations implemented last January, she wanted to make sure that her Caring Cabin went far beyond state regulations.

“The homes I run are completely above board,” Yancey noted. “I’m really stepping up by having a premiere property on two acres, beautiful home, RNs living in the house, taking care of the residents and having a staff to support them. I felt like I needed to do this completely above and beyond what the state even expects.”

In a couple years, Yancey said she is looking to open up her own home to adult family living once Caring Cabin gets established, with the goal of creating an environment that families want to visit.

“I take this as personally as if I’m taking care of my own parents – we’re not all far away from needing this kind of care,” she said. “We want to welcome families to come by here all the time and be a part of their parents’ life. This home will be an extension of their own home. I want this to be a great place, but if my mom were here, I’d be here every day.”

Caring Cabin is located at 3511 236th Street Southwest in Bothell. For more information, contact Yancey at info@caringcabin.com, call (425) 202-6004 or visit the website at www.caringcabin.com.