From Facebook to Wii, Blessing House in Tigard modernizes adult foster care

For years, while Karen Bledsoe and Corrine Isom worked together as nurses on the ortho-fracture floor at Providence Hospital, Karen's husband, Greg, was working for several retirement centers as the director of activities.  He liked the work and knew he was good at his job, so he started thinking of different ventures.  "I always thought, 'You know, I could do this,'" Bledsoe says of starting an adult foster care home.

Greg and Karen have a 9-year-old son, Tanner.  “It would be too much to do by ourselves,” Bledsoe says.

When Karen’s co-worker Corrine and her husband Steve (a former preacher and teacher), expressed interest in joining the Bledsoes on this project, everything fell into place. The Isoms even offered up their home to use, and thus Blessing House in Tigard was born.

“A Retirement Environment in a Foster Care Home” is the motto of Blessing House – a roof over your head and three meals a day is one thing, Bledsoe says, but he thinks his residents deserve more stimulation than that. As someone who is accustomed to coordinating activities for 100 to 150 people at a time, Bledsoe was happy to put his directing skills to use on a smaller – but far more personalized – scale.

Keeping the residents happy and active is high on the list of priorities for the Bledsoes and Isoms. Five permanent residents live in the house at a time. A 1,600-square-foot remodel created spacious rooms and living space for the residents, who have access to amenities that go far beyond television and board games.

Facebook, anyone? The Blessing House has its own Facebook page, which anyone who wants to see the facility (and household dogs) can view. Friends and family of the residents have access beyond what the public sees – they can trade messages with their family members, view photos of house parties and outings, and correspond back and forth.

Residents participate in meals – everything from shopping to cooking.

The group has even cooked up their own version of “Emeril Live.”

Corinne and Steve’s niece is attending culinary school, and one of the Blessing House residents has a son-in-law who loves to cook, so the two will come together to share their skills and knowledge.

“We’re going to have an ‘Emeril Live,’ where they’ll come in and cook and we’ll gather around, banter and chit-chat,” says Bledsoe.

A Wii gaming system, Bledsoe says, was a must for the home. He was always suggesting the Wii to one of the retirement centers where he used to work. When they finally took his advice and bought a system, the residents were thrilled. Now, Bledsoe says, the Wii is a mainstay at that facility.

Being an activity director taught Bledsoe to think outside the box – sure, there’s Scrabble and Bible study, but there are also opportunities for residents to garden, use computers, go to a game and take excursions.

The residents have cheered Tanner on at his basketball games and are gearing up to attend his springtime Little League games. Outings are encouraged, and someone is always available to drive the residents to the library, church, shopping or elsewhere.

“It’s a homey, family atmosphere. We try to keep doing the things they’ve been doing all their life,” Bledsoe says.

Six months after its opening, Bledsoe is pleased and proud of what they’ve created with the Blessing House. The state requires bedrooms to be 70 square feet, but the Bledsoes and Isoms insisted on 100 square feet.

“We did the extra bells and whistles upfront,” says Bledsoe. “I’ve been in some adult foster care homes, and their rooms are so small you wouldn’t believe it. You can’t even turn around.”

Residents at the Blessing House can turn around all they want, exercise their green thumbs and give their input in the planning of all activities. And when it comes to television, no one misses anything – Bledsoe has everyone’s favorite shows programmed on DVR.

“We’re not just watching “Judge Judy,” says Bledsoe. “We’re watching the shows they love to watch.”

The tag-team approach the Bledsoes and Isoms take has made for an enjoyable experience, both inside the house and out.

“Having the four of us is really valuable,” Bledsoe says, who explains that the two couples spell each other whenever the other takes a vacation or needs some time away. This differs from homes that are run primarily by one or two people, where a life outside the house is not a possibility.

“If I need to get away, I can,” says Bledsoe. “But I love being here,” he adds.