GALAX (WSLS 10) - Senior Home Shaw was started by a community member. It's an alternative to a nursing home and provides quality medical care at home for seniors to remain independent.
"I really enjoy the home atmosphere," said Sue Sink, who lives in the home.
Sink and Thelma Spivey live in a home in Galax where they get around-the-clock medical care.
"It's fine, I tried nursing homes for about eight years and this is more of a home," Thelma Spivey said.
The pair, along with another person, are roommates, where two share a restroom and one has their own private bathroom.
The owner of Senior Home Share, Jackie Fox, said the idea started two years ago when opened two homes in Northern Virginia.
Fox decided to bring the same concept to Galax,having three seniors live in a private home and get medical care 24 hours a day by a caregiver.
The caregiver works eight-hour shifts with those who live inside and can do tasks like cooking.
"Our goal is that this would have to be the last move that mom or dad has to make because we know moves are difficult on seniors and they don't always adjust to changes," Fox said.
After opening the home earlier this year in May, she's already renovating another home for more people which is expected to be ready within in a month.
"I am thrilled to do that, because this county, the administration is always looking at ways to improve community care," Fox said.
According to workers at Intrepid Hospice, the nearest assisted-living facility is 15 miles away and the next closest facility is 50 miles in Radford or out of state in North Carolina.
"Resources are limited, we don't have a lot of true retirement communities nor do we have a lot of assisted living facilities so when folks age and need a little more help in the home there's no place for them to go," said Jane Carrico with Intrepid Hospice.