Who Cares About You More Than Family?
Reflections of a Senior
“A calling to provide seniors who can no longer live independently with a safe, loving home that fosters dignity, love, and family.”-Steve Maskrey
Here I am in my 72nd year on this earth.
That’s right. I’m officially a senior. Some might even say elderly.
And honestly?
I’m proud of it.
I’ve been incredibly blessed throughout my life. I grew up in a loving and supportive family. My parents have now joyfully relocated to what I like to call the ultimate planned community… Heaven. My brother and I simply pray that our names are on the waiting list someday.
I’ve also been blessed with a wonderful Christian wife, an amazing family, good health, lifelong friends, a rewarding professional business career and personal family experiences, and now…
Retirement.
Or at least that’s what everyone calls it.
Isn’t Retirement Supposed to Be the Finish Line?
For many people, retirement represents the finish line.
The reward after decades of hard work.
The moment you’ve finally earned the right to slow down, relax, and focus entirely on yourself.
Especially for those of us in the Baby Boomer generation, retirement has often been described as the ultimate destination.
“We made it.”
“We’re done.”
“Now it’s our turn.”
But for me…
Retirement wasn’t the end.
It was the beginning.
Discovering a New Purpose
Rather than slowing down, my wife Theresa, our business partner Brandon Schwab, and I found ourselves answering a much greater calling.
We realized there were countless seniors who could no longer live safely on their own.
They needed more than assistance.
They needed a place that truly felt like home.
Not a facility.
Not an institution.
A home filled with dignity, compassion, respect, and genuine love.
That mission became Shepherd Premier Senior Living.
Where This Passion Began
People often ask why we chose senior living.
The answer is deeply personal.
Our family’s experiences caring for aging parents completely changed the way we viewed senior care.
We learned firsthand just how difficult it can be when someone you love begins losing the ability to live independently.
We experienced the emotional weight of making difficult decisions.
We experienced the uncertainty.
We experienced the heartbreak.
And through all of it, one question continued to surface.
Who Really Cares About You More Than Family?
That simple question became the foundation of everything we believe.
Because at the end of the day, family wants what’s best.
Family wants dignity.
Family wants comfort.
Family wants safety.
Family wants their loved one to continue living with purpose.
That belief eventually inspired our Shepherd Premier tagline:
“This Is Home.”
Because that’s exactly what we strive to create every single day.
Family Means More Than Blood
At Shepherd Premier, we don’t simply care for residents.
We become family.
Our caregivers know every resident personally.
We celebrate birthdays.
We laugh together.
We cry together.
We pray together.
We walk alongside families during some of the most emotional seasons of life.
When someone entrusts us with their loved one, that responsibility is never taken lightly.
It becomes personal.
Caring for Seniors Is a Calling
Senior living isn’t simply a profession.
For us, it’s a calling.
Every resident deserves to feel valued.
Every resident deserves meaningful relationships.
Every resident deserves compassionate caregivers who genuinely love what they do.
That’s why we’ve dedicated this season of our lives to creating homes where seniors are known, respected, and cared for like members of an extended family.
Looking Ahead
As I reflect on everything life has given me, I realize retirement has been anything but the end.
It’s simply been the next chapter.
One filled with purpose.
One filled with service.
One filled with gratitude.
And one filled with the incredible privilege of helping families care for the people who once cared for them.
Because when all is said and done…
Who cares about you more than family?
At Shepherd Premier Senior Living, that’s exactly what we strive to be.
Family.
To every resident.
To every loved one.
Every single day.
