The Thomas House was a beloved assisted living care facility located in Perham, Minnesota, that was founded by Lisa Nelson in 2002. Nelson was inspired to open the facility after realizing the lack of options for individuals needing assisted living care in the area, particularly after her mother was diagnosed with Alzheimer's disease. The facility was housed in Nelson's mother's old home, giving it a warm and homey atmosphere that residents and families appreciated.
Nelson's vision for The Thomas House was to provide a comfortable and personalized living experience for its residents. The facility could accommodate 6-8 women at a time, with a resident-to-caregiver ratio of 4:1. Nelson made sure that residents were actively engaged in daily activities, such as watching TV, going for walks, listening to music, and even doing household tasks like laundry and dishes if they wished. The emphasis on creating a home-like environment was a key aspect of The Thomas House's success.
Over the course of 20 years, The Thomas House served a total of 98 residents, each of whom received dedicated and compassionate care from the facility's staff. Nelson's commitment to maintaining the homey atmosphere led her to make the difficult decision to close the facility in January of this year. Despite the closure, Nelson ensured that all residents and staff were well taken care of and found new placements that suited their needs.
As a way of commemorating the legacy of The Thomas House, Nelson is holding a sale of old items from the facility at its location on April 29-30. She expressed gratitude to the caregivers, residents, and families who were a part of The Thomas House over the years, acknowledging their hard work and dedication. The closure of The Thomas House marks the end of an era but leaves behind a legacy of compassionate care and dedication to serving the community.