By Mike Steely

steelym@knoxfocus.com

“We were looking for a business that would permit us to give back to people in our community,” said Kelly Lohman. She’s a former school teacher and her husband, Layne, works for Siemens Healthcare.

“We were first introduced to BeeHive Homes while visiting our family in Montana and fell in love with the concept of serving seniors in a home-like setting. After a great deal of research, work, prayer and faith we are ready to open the BeeHive Homes of Knoxville! Currently, there are 160 BeeHive assisted living homes in the United States, but we are the first in Tennessee!” she said.

“We care about serving people,” she said.

Located at 1301 West Beaver Creek Drive, the beautiful home-like building is a residential assisted living facility that offers 16 private rooms with private baths, a salon, a large kitchen with home-cooked meals, cable TV, internet, and climate control for each bedroom. The facility sits on a hill with the lower part of the property backing up to Beaver Creek. The home provides a beautiful setting with a spacious, open feel.

“We love the West Beaver Creek neighborhood and have been well-received by the community,” Kelly reported.

“It’s like living at home. The atmosphere is set up to provide a safe, personal, social, healthy and interesting experience with great food and warm interaction.”

Beehive Homes will be well-equipped to meet its residents’ needs. “Nursing staff will direct and advise our resident health program, and additional physician services will be available on site on a regular basis,” Lohman told The Focus. “We have partnered with Riggs Drug, a locally owned and operated pharmacy in Powell, to help attend to the medical needs of our residents.

“We will keep residents active, including outings outside our home! In addition to our full-time residents, we will offer temporary respite care and day stays. We are also certified to accept residents who qualify for the TennCare Choices program.”

BeeHive Homes of Knoxville will open this month and hold its official public open house in June. For more information or to arrange a tour of the new facility, call Kelly at (865)809-2881 or visit online at http://beehivehomes.com/location/knoxville.