By Barbara Augsdorfer
At some point in life, as an aging adult or the grown child of an aging parent, someone has to decide on the best place that meets the needs of an elderly family member. It’s a daunting decision that must not be taken lightly. With the many options available – assisted living, skilled nursing or at-home care – each with its own set of services and amenities and costs, those seeking the services of these facilities must consider all their options.
One Mesa, Arizona facility offers something unique in its offerings of compassionate, individualized care and desert vistas. Crismon Peaks is a residential group home licensed for 10 residents. What makes it unique is that everything about the facility is eco-friendly. The air purification system removes 99.999 percent of airborne and surface contaminants. The patented laundry system allows for clothes and linens to be cleaned with energized water without the use of harsh detergents. Titanium stainless steel cookware allows foods to be prepared without toxic chemicals seeping back into food. Pillows are hypoallergenic. Pest control throughout the facility is natural and nontoxic.
“When you take the chemicals out of the body, it reduces the stress on the immune system and natural healing begins,” said Meryl Schmitz, Crismon Peaks’ owner and marketing director. “We have residents age 65 to 96. We recently helped an 80-year-old resident get back to her active lifestyle.”
Because the facility is licensed for only 10 residents, Crismon Peaks focuses on quality rather than quantity. “I will take care of the 10 I have, and that will be my journey,” Schmitz said. “I’d rather work with redirecting people rather than medicating them.”
She helps patients consult with their healthcare providers, takes them to appointments, and provides for a patient’s individual and dietary needs. Meals are prepared daily with fresh ingredients. In addition to a full-time cook on staff, there is a registered nurse on-site 24 hours a day. The staff members are fully-vetted, certified caregivers.
Families are very important to the residents’ well-being and are welcomed whenever they come. “Especially for the holidays,” said Schmitz. “We usually have 40 to 50 family members here for Thanksgiving, Christmas and Easter. The residents know I give them a quality day every day. They know that they are loved, safe and cared for.”
For additional information about Crismon Peaks Assisted Living, visit their website, call 602-717-9098 or email info@crismonpeaksassistedliving.com.
Barbara Augsdorfer is a 1983 graduate of California Lutheran University and earned an MBA from University of Phoenix in 2017. Barbara has many years of writing and editing for a variety of newspapers and magazines. She lives in Maricopa, Arizona, with her husband Michael and spoiled black lab/rott named Lucky. Their son Robert is a senior at Valparaiso University.
