Blue Ridge Christian Home is a family-owned and operated household-style healthcare facility that operates with Christian principles to honor and serve the elders of the community. Founded as a not-for-profit organization, Blue Ridge Christian Home seeks to provide care in small, home-like, rural farm settings overseen by a family, with the goal of impacting the community by offering a safe place of refuge for the elderly. The facility believes in honoring the elderly by maintaining their roles as spouses, parents, and grandparents, without them losing their identity or being institutionalized in a large for-profit medical system.
The elders at Blue Ridge Christian Home eat together with the staff at every meal in the dining room, fostering a sense of community and connection. Each elder is provided with a comfortable chair brought from home in the living room, giving them a space of their own within the facility. The focus is on basics such as good care, good food, and creating an environment where elders can give back to the community. The facility allows elders to age in place, ensuring that they are not forced to leave when their care needs increase, which provides peace of mind and stability during potential health declines.
With a campus farm setting where elders live in a resident household and have access to crops, animals, and a sense of community growth and involvement, Blue Ridge Christian Home aims to create a family-like atmosphere. Family members are valued as vital to fulfilling the mission of care, and they are honored and encouraged in their role. The facility's vision is for elders to feel like part of "one family helping another" rather than being admitted to an institution, promoting a sense of belonging and connection. The staff at Blue Ridge Christian Home, led by the Wampler and Bender families, work to create a nurturing and supportive environment where the elderly can continue their journey with dignity and respect.