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Compassionate Care in a Loving Home Environment

At Castle Senior Living, our passion is to help older adults live rewarding lives in a safe environment. For more than 25 years, our family-owned organization has excelled in giving loving care to those in need of assistance. It is our mission to provide compassionate care to seniors in a home-like environment that encourages independence and focuses on improving physical and emotional well-being.

Castle Senior Living community residents experience a happier, healthier and safer environment than living alone. Residents become part of our family and get the extra attention and support they need to live well.

Learn more about our culture and values!

Our Story

The Castle Story began in 1992 when Kevin Kiefer and Kris Kiefer helped their parents care for disabled seniors in their own home. Their parents had a few extra rooms in the house and became state licensed to help take care of frail elderly and those with disabilities. In 1995, they opened a small care home in the New Berlin area. Kevin and Kris were involved in this process and learned what it took to be a great caregivers and managers. They both developed a strong passion for this line of work and made it their life’s mission to improve the quality of life for seniors in their local community.

They continued to work their way through college and helped build and grow Castle Senior Living. In 2008, Kevin and Kris purchased the company from their parents and continued to grow. With Kevin specializing in Human Resources and Kris in Nursing, they have built a company that understands the importance of taking care of  both residents and employees. Kevin and Kris continue to focus on creating a team filled with people that believe in the mission and want to make a difference. They have built a company that continues to strive to be the most respected place to work in the industry and provide the most satisfying living experience for the residents they serve.

Our Team

Castle Senior Living caregivers are heroes! We select team members that fit our culture. Like family, we are supportive and try to help create more moments of joy. We work hard to bring solutions to daily challenges and take pride in being a part of a team that makes a positive impact on the community. The Castle Senior Living team is comprised of friendly people who believe in our mission and live life representing the values of the company.

Leadership Team

Kevin Kiefer

Owner & President

Kevin is a graduate of New Berlin West High School. He attended the University of Wisconsin – La Crosse and the University of Wisconsin – Milwaukee, receiving a Communication degree. He has worked in assisted living for most of his life and has been with Castle Senior Living for 16 years. He is a Senior Professional in Human Resources from HRCI and a Senior Certified Professional in Human Resources from SHRM.

Kevin spends a lot of time at work, but fills up his free time with his wife and three daughters playing games, camping, skiing, and swimming. He also hunts with his dog, Alice, and shoots trap.

"One of my passions is watching and encouraging the personal growth of my employees. I believe that the team at Castle Senior Living is incredibly skilled to support the emotional, physical and social needs of older adults. To me, it’s also critical that a Castle community not just be a place for people to live, but one that is deeply involved with their neighbors in surrounding communities."

Kris Kiefer

Owner & Vice President

Kris is a registered nurse (RN) and is a graduate of New Berlin West High School. He attended UW-Waukesha, studying and living at home so he could continue to help his parents with the business. Following that, he enrolled in the clinical nursing program at Waukesha County Technical College (WCTC). Kris serves on Wisconsin’s Health Care Build Environment Committee and is a former president and board member of the Greenfield Chamber of Commerce

When Kris is not engaged on the business end, he plays piano for the residents and makes sure that each Castle Senior Living facility is outfitted with the instrument. Home life is busy with his wife and four children, filled with music, summers on the golf course and on the water near Brule, Wisconsin, downhill skiing, and the Kiefer Ice Skating Rink in winter.

"My objective is for Castle Senior Living to always build communities with a family feel and truly become immersed in the neighborhood and community. The residences should be small enough where you know everyone by name, but also offer a variety of services so that people can truly love where they live."

Diana Howell

Director of Operations

Diana Howell joined the Castle Senior Living team in 2020 as the Director of Operations. Diana has over 12 years of experience working as a leader in Aging Research and Senior Living. She holds a Master of Science from Purdue University and has completed her coursework for dual-title PhD in Gerontology and Biological Anthropology. Diana is also a Certified Dementia Practitioner and advocate for persons with dementia.

Diana partners with the leadership team at every community to improve services and operational outcomes and she champions strategic initiatives to help Castle Senior Living innovate and grow.

When she is not hard at work, Diana enjoys going on outdoor adventures with her son and traveling around the world.

Janell Breitzman

Director of Employee Experience

Janell Breitzman is the Director of Employee Experience for Castle Senior Living. She holds a bachelor’s degree in Human Resource Management from Concordia University. She has a background in the operations side of Senior Living, previously working in Quality Assurance and Administration. Janell has been at Castle Senior Living since 2017.

Janell acts as the link for the management teams in the facilities for all human resource functions. Her focus is on implementation of new policies, assisting in developing new programs and looking at new ways to attract great talent.

When not at work, Janell is a mom of three that keep her busy. She loves attending country music concerts with her husband. And her favorite past-time is driving ATVs and UTVs through the trails in Northern Wisconsin.

Frequently Asked Questions

Is your staff able to care for a resident with dementia?

While every person with dementia has a unique journey, we are experienced with caring for residents with various forms of dementia. Our program is designed to assist residents that suffer from an array of physical and mental health ailments and promote their independence. Our staff receive specialized dementia training during their orientation process and ongoing dementia education throughout their career with Castle Senior Living.

Castle Senior Living has a Dementia Specialist who is always available to consult and we incorporate information from the latest scientific research on dementia in our approach to memory care. Our smaller, home-like settings allow us to focus on the person-centered needs of each resident and support their individual goals.

What times can family and friends come to visit?

In normal times, our philosophy is that this environment is the resident’s home and we will respect the wishes of each resident. If the resident would like family to visit at a certain time, they are more than welcome. As a general recommendation we ask that family visit between 10am-8pm. Visits can be made 7 days per week.

However, in this time of COVID-19, we are allowing controlled indoor visits under our Safer Indoor Visitation Policy at each location.

Can couples live in the same room together?

We have many couples who live together at our Castle communities, but room size and availability are dependent on the individual location. Please contact us for more information.

What are the staffs’ credentials?

To become a caregiver at Castle Senior Living, one must pass several state mandated CBRF training courses and a vigorous orientation process.

Each location is overseen by an experienced administrator and leadership team that assists with daily operations to ensure resident satisfaction. We strongly emphasize the importance of continued education and ensure that every Castle Senior Living employee obtains ongoing training and monthly education.

Each of our locations has a registered nurse, who is on-call 24/7, that leads the team in monitoring the well-being of each resident.

Do you offer financial assistance such as Family Care when my, or my loved one’s, funds are depleted?

Yes, many of our communities have Family Care contracts in place to help fund residents when their assets run out. Please contact us for more information about financial assistance options.

How long is the lease agreement?

The lease agreement is only a month-to-month agreement. We know how quickly things can change with family situations and we want to make any future changes hassle-free.

If my loved one becomes weaker or develops more medical concerns do we need to move to a different location?

Our team will first analyze what is causing the resident’s condition to change, and then take measures to try to improve his/her health. If it is determined the resident’s condition will not improve, then we will discuss supportive options with the resident and family. When appropriate, we partner with hospice services to help provide end-of-life palliative care in our communities. Additionally, we will soon be offering hospice services of our own.

 

In some cases, a resident may need care or treatment that is beyond the scope of our practice. The health and safety of our residents is always our top priority, and in such cases, we will work with residents and families to find alternative care solutions. It is our goal to keep residents in the least restrictive environment to maintain their independence. We work closely with our residents, families, physicians, and healthcare partners to accomplish our mission and improve overall quality of life for our residents.

What is the cost for room, board and care?

The cost varies depending on the location, level of a care and size of the room. We contract with state funded financial assistance programs to aid residents who need financial assistance. Please contact us for more information.

How big are the rooms?

We offer a variety of room sizes and floor plans to meet your individualized needs. Room sizes and floor plans vary depending on the location. Please contact us for more information.

Our mom is a resident at Castle. She has been there over eight years, and absolutely loves her home and everyone that cares for her. My brother and I are eternally grateful to all the caregivers and Castle Senior Living's owners, Kevin and Kris. Whenever we have any questions or concerns they are immediately addressed. We are so blessed to have found such a wonderful home for our mom.

KarenDaughter of Resident

As owner of Senior Planning Group in Brookfield, we depend on Castle Senior Living and Kris Kiefer to provide excellent care for our clients. Once our clients move into one of Castle's excellent facilities, they are welcomed as if they were family.

Barbara

The staff was very easy to work with. I appreciate everything they did to help my mother.

MaryDaughter of Resident