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Phyllis joined the Birchrock Castle family in August of 2022. While downsizing from her Mukwonago home was not easy, she says people can take better care of her here, which she could not do on her own.

“I am very independent,” Phyllis says. “I do most things myself. I always try to make my bed. I do the best I can.”

“Here, you can go around and do you own thing. Nobody bothers you about it. I love to exercise, so I work on my arms and legs mostly. I try to go several days a week.”

At 97 years old, Phyllis is the only one in her family who has lived this long other than a grandma who made it to her early 90s. She’s discovered how residing at Birchrock Castle has helped her live a better life.

“I have asthma so I have to get medicine for a breathing treatment. They come in and help me and are all very nice.”

Phyllis, who was lovingly known as “Phil the Pill” growing up with her three brothers, was born in Big Bend, but was raised in Mukwonago in a home on Grand Avenue that her father built.

“My dad was a carpenter and he had a shop in town with my Grandpa Frank,” she recalls. “I used to stop there after grade school and my grandma Maggie would always have cookies for us. At that time, it was during the war so it was hard to get things for baking.

“When I was older, I had to come home and help my mother with the house. I didn’t particularly care about that. I wanted to go out with my friends. We took long walks for fun and looked for wild asparagus along the railroad tracks.”

The second of four children, Phyllis was especially close to her brother Harvey, whom she lost at a young age.

“He was killed in a car accident when he was 17 and it broke my heart,” she says. “He was so smart and spent a lot of time building model airplanes in our basement. I still miss him.”

Her other brothers, Foster and Bill, served in the Army and Air Force. And Phyllis also did her part during World War II right out of high school.

“I went to Milwaukee and took a typing test to work for the government,” she says. “I earned a high mark so then they put me in a big room with other female typists. As the guys came home from the war, they asked if I wanted to be the head of the claims department. We had to file claims to see if a soldier was eligible for a pension.”

Phyllis met her husband, Dudley on a blind date at her friend’s New Year’s Eve party. With her independent streak and love for her work, Phyllis wasn’t thinking about settling down.

“We dated a while and he asked me to marry him. I said I wasn’t ready to be married yet or tie myself down. We just kept going out. I was 28 when I finally got married.”

Phyllis and Dudley married on April 30, 1949 at her church in Mukwonago. They had four children, three boys and a girl, and lived in Fox Point, Menomonee Falls and Mukwonago.

“I have three retired kids who live close by, so they can come to visit me. I have so many grandchildren that I cannot keep track.”

When Phyllis is not exercising, you can find her reading a good book, (a favorite is Gone with the Wind), or watching the birds feeding outside her window. She credits Robert Sheets, the Activities Director at Birchrock, for always keeping the feeders full so she can enjoy her feathered visitors.

When asked about her proudest accomplishment in life, Phyllis has this to say.

“I just kept on going. I made the best I could of it.”

The Thanksgiving holiday holds many memories for Castle Senior Living and is among our favorite time of year for reflection and thanks. Looking back, we count our blessings as a family company with 30 years in business, and are grateful to offer independent living, assisted living, memory care and hospice services throughout southeast Wisconsin.

We are fortunate to have dependable, trusting and loving employees who care for our residents with dedication and purpose. They embody our mission of providing compassionate care in a loving home environment.

“Our employees come from different backgrounds and experiences,” says Kevin Kiefer, “but everyone has a story on what inspires them to care for others. We embrace their stories to reflect our mission and encourage a positive experience.”

Castle Senior Living is grateful to help people. We are thankful for our residents who make our livelihoods possible and our communities a home.

“I know we can and do help our residents improve physically and emotionally, which is so encouraging,” says Kris Kiefer.

Our residents’ families – those who often help make the difficult decision to remove their parent from a long-time home – face an incredible burden. We appreciate their choosing us for a loved one’s care.

“We are able to relieve the pressure felt by our residents’ children and families as they transition here, and ensure their parent will receive all the help, love and support they need,” Kevin says. “Families approach us and thank us for the difference we make.”

On the business side, we are pleased to have grown our 30-year-old company organically – staying focused on quality and customer service as the priority. Our growth and progress stems from the new construction at Grand Hills Castle in New Berlin a few years ago to our current expansion project at Birchrock Castle in Mukwonago.

“I’m thankful we can share our compassionate care with more seniors, as we welcome additional employees and increase our service levels in a larger, improved space,” says Candy Mings, Executive Director of Birchrock Castle. “We are accomplishing great things together as part of the team.”

So, as we take our seats around the holiday table in late November, we recognize and appreciate the trust our employees, residents and their families place in us every day. “Thanks-for-giving” us the opportunity to serve you. Happy Thanksgiving, everyone.

This event has been delayed due to construction delays to a TBD date/time.

Castle Senior Living is excited to announce the grand opening of our Birchrock Castle Expansion on September 15, 2022.

The community now includes an additional 20 units for the CBRF in an array of room styles from private suites to efficiency and one-bedroom apartments. Residents can choose a new, larger unit that fits them best. The original building continues to be remodeled to specialize in Memory Care and designed to showcase the beautiful wetland preserve surrounding Birchrock Castle.

When: Thursday, September 15^th from 2:30 p.m. to 7:30 p.m.*

Where: 210 McDivitt Lane, Mukwonago, WI 53149

Who:  All are welcome to join us for the celebration

Details: A ribbon cutting ceremony with the Village of Mukwonago will take place at 2:30 p.m. An open house will follow with drinks, appetizers and tours of the building and grounds until 7:30 p.m.

*The event date is subject to change based upon possible construction delays that may occur in the coming days. Any updates will be posted on our website and on our Facebook page.

With the expansion of Birchrock Castle finishing up soon and the Grand Opening likely occurring at the end of August, we are thrilled to be able to start accepting reservations. We sat down with Castle Senior Living’s Candy Mings to find out more. Candy is the Executive Director at Birchrock Castle.

What are you most excited about with this expansion at the Birchrock Castle Community?
We now have the opportunity to offer care to more seniors. There’s such an incredible atmosphere here at Birchrock Castle. It’s the most special place I’ve ever worked. Our team is dedicated to bringing joy and excellent care to our residents. Now we can share that compassion and care with more people.

There is so much to love and appreciate about a new building – where do you start? Some of the apartments have kitchenettes and fabulous one-bedroom spaces. A wonderful amenity is the addition of patio doors so residents can access the outside and enjoy their own personal retreat.

When can those who are interested in Birchrock Castle begin applying for and reserving rooms?
Right now. People are already calling us about available spaces and asking questions about our waiting list and amenities. They’re visiting our website, where you’ll find an easy way to learn more about Birchrock Castle and paying a visit. If you reach out to us online it will circle back to me and I will contact you.

I spend a lot of time at Birchrock Castle. This place is a part of who I am, so I love picking up the phone and talking to people about their loved ones and their needs. A conversation also gives you the opportunity to know more about me. I was 19-years-old when I started working in this field as a Certified Nursing Assistant (CNA), then as a nurse and now executive director with 30 years of experience in senior healthcare. I want people to understand that my skills and expertise can guide them on the journey to determine their loved ones’ needs and how we can meet them at Birchrock Castle. I will provide all of the ways we can help.

Why do you enjoy working at Castle Senior Living?
I remain dedicated to Castle Senior Living because I love working for a family-owned company. Kevin and Kris Kiefer’s vision is to deliver the best care possible to our residents. But they also focus on making caregivers feel important and cared for; that we are accomplishing great things together and are part of the team. I’ve never encountered that dual focus on the job before. Of course, the residents come first, but if you maintain a great staff, you will have great care.

We’ve grown into a family at Birchrock Castle – with a mutual love and respect between the care staff and residents. It may sound corny, but we enjoy each other. Healthcare can be a difficult field to work in every day and especially over a length of years. My staff laughs with the residents. We support one another and we get through the day. There’s a teamwork atmosphere. If someone is sick or running late, I have people willing to fill in or stay on shift longer. Someone has your back and supports you here. I don’t take that for granted. I have an open-door policy and believe in communicating with my team. There are no bad questions in my book. I love to teach and listen. My employees are my eyes and ears in this place. I am happy to hear their ideas and incorporate what we can do to improve.

What is it about Mukwonago that led Castle to expand there?
I’ve been with Birchrock Castle for almost four years now and in that time the Village of Mukwonago has grown exponentially – everything from hospital expansions, apartment complexes and subdivisions under construction. With that growth comes the need for us to add to our space and meet the demands of this thriving community.

What do you enjoy most about the Mukwonago area?
We are located in a neighborhood, which supports a homelike feel in the surroundings. The wetlands are right behind Birchrock Castle, with a great view of nature. When people take tours here, many choose us for their next home because they like how we make them feel. This community is filled with hard-working, everyday people. There’s a lot of pride in being able to experience compassionate care in their hometown.

How are the current residents feeling about the major changes to their home?
We’ve been in the throes of construction for many months, of course, but the overall vibe here is excitement. Our residents watch the construction process, keeping tabs on where the workers are digging, building and the various machines that make it all possible. It’s especially entertaining for the men, though some of the women have shared their thoughts on how the project should be carried out. It’s incredibly fun to watch the expansion unfold and we’re all looking forward to the grand opening.

We would like to announce and celebrate that Birchrock Castle had a deficiency free state survey!

This survey was conducted by the Wisconsin Department of Health Services and specifically the Division of Quality Assurance. This division conducts both announced and unannounced surveys of assisted living facilities in Wisconsin to ensure that state licensure/certification and home and community-based services (HCBS) requirements are met.

The surveyor evaluated Birchrock Castle’s performance and compliance with applicable laws and standards in the areas of resident rights, program services, nutrition and food service, physical environment and safety, medication, and staff training.

To find out more information about these surveys please visit the Wisconsin Department of Health Services website.

With the exciting expansion of Birchrock Castle scheduled to be finished in mid-July and residents being accepted in early to mid-August, we thought we’d sit down with Castle Senior Living owner and vice president, Kris Kiefer, and ask him a few questions.

 

What does this expansion at the Birchrock Castle Community include?
We’re really excited about it! Construction is going well. There have been a few hiccups with the supply chain, but ultimately everything is on schedule and on track for a mid-July completion. We are adding an additional 20 units to the CBRF. These new units will allow us to offer an array of room styles: private suites, efficiency apartments, full one-bedroom apartments, etc. This allows our residents to choose a newer and larger unit that fits them best.

We are also remodeling the current building and adding on a back element to the building. Right now, it is a horseshoe shaped building, but with the addition it will be converted to a full circle. This allows residents to walk in the hallway, get exercise and makes it more memory care friendly. Additionally, it will be more secure so residents can enjoy an interior courtyard. We will be planting in raised garden beds so residents can enjoy spending more time outdoors.

The Birchrock Community wraps around some wetland preserves so there are beautiful views almost as if you are living with nature. Just about every new unit has a private walkout patio to easily access the outdoors and enjoy the nice summer days.

 

What are some new amenities that will be offered due to this expansion?
Many of the trends are similar to what you’d see in a new home. These elements include a large sunroom with big windows, high ceilings and natural light, a TV/theater lounge, library area, a salon with private beautician services, an activity area and a fireplace lounge. There are many areas for residents to interact, hang out and participate in activities. We’ll also have a farmhouse style kitchen with a coffee/juice bar.

Additionally, we’ll be providing chef-inspired meals with a larger culinary team, have a dedicated housekeeping staff to provide a clean environment and a larger team to focus on the health, well-being and activities for the residents.

This brochure covers many of the amenities.

 

When can those who are interested in Birchrock Castle begin applying for and reserving rooms?
You can start contacting us right now by reaching out to our executive director Candy Mings to get on our wait list. Interest is definitely out there and some have already signed up. We will give “hard hat” tours to families interested in the community so that they can take a look. We’ll wait a few more weeks to schedule those, probably mid-June, when things are closer to wrapping up inside.

 

What is it about Mukwonago that led Castle to expand there?
Birchrock has been active in Mukwonago for over 20 years now. We like the area. It has that small-town vibe and the people are just terrific. You combine that with a location that is close to everything, but still surrounded by 17 acres of nature and it’s a great fit.

The goal is to increase our level of service at the Birchrock Castle Community. With this addition, we can create a larger team to provide more support for residents. When residents need more advanced care, they can age in place longer and stay where they are comfortable longer. We will now have the capability of two-person transfers, mechanical lift transfers, insulin injections and other higher level medical needs if they would ever need it.

 

There seems to be a lot of construction on senior living communities. How much is the Milwaukee-metro market lacking in senior housing? Is there a shortage of living space similar to the current housing market?
COVID-19 delayed many projects and now you’re seeing them coming to fruition. Demand is only going to grow with everyone aging so that’s why we’re seeing more supply. Some senior living communities out there have aged and need updating. New providers are also coming into the market, providing nicer newer spaces and amenities, just like we’re doing here.

 

Are you hiring for positions at the Birchrock Castle due to the expansion? If so, when?
We already have some candidates in mind and will be hiring in the next few months. We are currently accepting applications through Indeed and on our website.

We have an outstanding team already at Birchrock and it’s incredible to see the longevity we’ve had with our people. It’s an amazing community because of the employees who are here. We want to keep building on that caring culture. Some of our care staff have been here for more than 15 years. Company culture matters to us.

We are extremely proud to announce that on January 6^th, 2022 Castle Senior Living’s hospice program was awarded its Community Health Accreditation Partner (CHAP) deemed status and is officially recognized and accepted by the Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services. CHAP accreditation demonstrates that our hospice meets and exceeds the industry’s highest nationally recognized standards for hospice care. We have undergone rigorous evaluation by CHAP which focuses on structure and function, quality of services and products, human and financial resources, and long-term viability.

Now that we have an excellent foundation for our hospice program and services, we are ready to offer our hospice care and services not only to support our Castle Senior Living residents and their families, but also to anyone who needs quality, compassionate, hospice care in southeastern Wisconsin.

We would like express our gratitude for the overwhelming excitement and support we have received from everyone as we began this journey to bring our hospice program into our continuum of care. Our team considers it an absolute privilege to walk alongside others in life’s incredible journey, and we are honored to serve our patients, caregivers and their families.

We invite you to meet our dedicated hospice team and celebrate our CHAP accreditation on Wednesday, May 4^th from 3:00-7:00 pm at Mo’s Irish Pub at 10842 W. Bluemound Rd, Wauwatosa, WI 53226. Download the event flyer.

Castle Senior Living is excited to be celebrating our 30^th Anniversary this year. While we have certainly grown and changed throughout the years, our mission remains the same: to provide compassionate care to seniors in a home-like environment that encourages independence and focuses on improving physical and emotional well-being.

The Castle story is one of family and of love. In 1992, the Kiefer family began to take care of frail elderly and those with disabilities in a few extra rooms they had in their home. They quickly became state licensed and then in 1995, they opened a small care home in the New Berlin area. Current owners, Kris and Kevin, were quite young at the time, but they were involved and learned what it took to be great caregivers and managers. The mission of improving the quality of life for seniors in their local community became their passion. Throughout the years, Kevin and Kris continued to work with their parents to help build and grow Castle Senior Living. In 2008, Kevin and Kris followed their passion and purchased the company.

Today, Castle Senior Living has ten locations and offers Independent Living, Assisting Living, Memory Care and Hospice. Hospice is our most recent service line and we recently received our official certification from the state of Wisconsin and the Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services (CMS)! We are also excited about our current expansion project at our Birchrock Castle location.

Kris states, “30 years in business is a monumental achievement. Only about half of small businesses survive pass five years, and only about one in three small businesses get to the 10-year mark. We are so thankful for our employees, residents and their families who’ve made this possible.”

Kevin adds, “The senior living business is a tough one, but one that comes with many wonderful moments – especially when you have a passion for it like we do. Our employees are amazing. These last couple of years with COVID-19 have not been easy for anyone. We’re glad that we have such a strong team, but are also always looking for other great people to add to the team.”

Castle Senior Living is proud of the past 30 years and looks forward to many more as we strive to continue to provide the most satisfying living experience for the residents we serve.

It is hard to believe that we have seen another year come and go in the midst of a pandemic. With so much growth, the team at Castle Senior Living wants to take a moment to share with our residents, families, friends and care partners a bit about our year in review and what we hope to accomplish in the coming new year.

COVID-19

It goes without saying, COVID-19 continues to bring about new and challenging experiences for everyone. It is surreal to think that in a few short months, we will be reaching the two-year anniversary of the World Health Organization’s declaration of the COVID-19 pandemic. Throughout this time, Castle Senior Living has led the charge against COVID-19 with top-tier infection control practices, vaccination support, staff retention programs, and a leadership team with the tenacity to protect our residents and staff, while simultaneously adapting to the ever-evolving challenges presented by this pandemic.

We enter 2022 with a new tool to support our communities and the Greater Milwaukee/Waukesha County areas in this area. Castle Senior Living has partnered with the Wisconsin Department of Health Services and our local health departments to operate as a community outbreak testing resource for COVID-19. This enables us not only to conduct PCR testing for our own senior living environments, but also for other local organizations in need of outbreak testing resources. For more information on COVID-19 testing opportunities through Castle Senior Living, please feel free to reach out to info@castlewi.com.

Hospice

At the beginning of 2021, Castle Senior Living was excited to announce that the foundation was being built for a Medicare-Certified home health hospice program as a part of the Castle Senior Living line of services. This was no small undertaking by any means. Our hospice team, led by Yvonne Ward, APSW, ACHP-SW, has worked tirelessly since August of 2020 to bring this program to fruition. In July of 2021 we accepted our first patient under our provisional license and began preparation for accreditation. As of December 15, 2021, our hospice program has completed its accreditation survey and is awaiting final certification by the Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services (CMS).

The introduction of hospice services into our portfolio significantly expands our continuum of care at Castle Senior Living. With the ability to oversee and manage this independently, should a resident or loved one elect to use our services, we can streamline communication between the hospice and community clinicians, thus providing more effective, efficient, and engaged care to our residents and families. Furthermore, offering hospice services allows us to reach and support local individuals wherever they call home.

Birchrock Castle Community Expansion

Anytime an organization grows, it must be for a purpose. At Castle Senior Living, our purpose is always to better serve our residents, loved ones, and staff. In November of 2021, the plans for an expansion at the Birchrock Castle Community in Mukwonago were finalized, and construction of an additional 20 suites next to the existing Assisted Living community broke ground. This project is scheduled for completion within the next 6-7 months and encompasses multiple updates to the existing assisted living and independent living communities.

At the completion of this project, we will see a restructuring of services offered at the Birchrock Castle Community and a renewed purpose for the 17-acre site. Our independent living community, known as the Birchrock Apartments, will offer refreshed and vibrant amenities. The existing Birchrock Castle will be upgraded to create a safer environment for our “A Smile to Remember” Memory Care program. The new construction will boast beautiful views of nature, spacious studio and 1-bedroom apartments, and will feature inviting communal areas, designed to bring people together.

Castle Senior Living Training Academy

One of the key differentiators within Castle Senior Living is our staff and their longevity. This starts with supportive training and continuing education that sets our team up for success. The result of an investment in training is better staff retention and quality care for our residents. Through the collaboration of our internal team of healthcare experts, including nurses, social workers, dementia care practitioners, and human resources specialists, we completely redesigned our orientation and continuing education program at the start of 2021. In May of 2021, we introduced Samantha Brenner-Carr, EMT-B, an experienced clinical partner and CBRF leader, as our Lead Instructor for the Training Academy.

This is where things got fun, and FAST! In just a few short months, we not only had our redesigned internal training program, but also began offering CBRF, Dementia Care, and Basic Life Support training to individuals outside our organization. This is such an awesome service to be able to provide to our own staff, other healthcare professionals, and the community at large. We know we are making a difference by enhancing clinical skillsets in healthcare settings throughout our community and offering life-saving skills to the general public.

As we move forward into 2022, we will continue to offer opportunities for learning and growth and plan to develop a Wisconsin State Certified CNA training program.

A Message of Gratitude

As a home grown, family-owned healthcare organization, we recognize that our accomplishments in 2021 and plans for the future would be nothing without the love and support of others. This starts with our residents, patients, and their loved ones. With the trust that is placed in us to provide care and support for all we serve, we are given the opportunity to demonstrate our passion as health care professionals. A final thank you goes to the staff of Castle Senior Living. It is with their combined years of education, experience and expertise, that we are stronger than ever and are moving into the new year full steam ahead!

Everything comes back to 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.

Wishing you and yours the warmest of holiday seasons,

The Team at Castle Senior Living