Baby Buddies visit Unlimited Care Assisted Living Cottages in The Woodlands

THE WOODLANDS, Texas -- Senior residents of Unlimited Care Assisted Living Personal Care Cottages enjoyed a special opportunity to visit with little ones as Baby Buddies recently brought its program to the cottages near The Woodlands off Budde Road.

Baby Buddies is a group of moms who volunteer their time with their babies and toddlers to visit seniors in the community. During their visit to Unlimited Care, they read stories, sang nursery rhymes and visited while enjoying birthday cake.

Melissa Melton created the program in 2012 in honor of her late mother, Leanne Luciano, and the charitable contributions she made to the community. “Mom had such a heart of service and was very active with giving back,” she explained. “So when I had my son, I decided to create Baby Buddies as a way to carry on her legacy of serving others, and also have the opportunity to bring my son along with me. Soon I was recruiting other moms to join me and the group grew quickly.”

Melton said, “I researched several assisted living places and chose Unlimited Care because the environment is not so much a ‘facility’ but an actual home. Baby Buddies is just like taking the kids to see grandma or grandpa, so the cottages are the perfect environment for the babies.”

Buck Buckholtz, who has owned and operated Unlimited Care Assisted Living Personal Care Cottages since 1998 along with his wife, Terri, said “Melissa began the visits to our Unlimited Care cottage in Kingwood, and has recently added the cottages near The Woodlands and Spring. This is a wonderful program for our residents. It really brings back their fond memories of grandchildren and great grandchildren.”

Terri Buckholtz said, “We are always looking for creative ways to offer more enrichment and entertainment for them, in addition to music therapy and pet therapy. Last fall, we hosted children from the Kid To Kid childcare center to show our residents their Halloween costumes and enjoy candy. The residents truly enjoy seeing the young children. ”

Unlimited Care Assisted Living Personal Care Cottages has eight locations in The Woodlands, Spring, Cypresswood, and Kingwood areas. The concept offers a unique alternative to larger, more institutionalized assisted living communities or nursing homes for families in need of care for an aging parent or relative. The cottages provide a smaller scale, family-style atmosphere with dignified care.

The cottages are one story homes averaging 2,500 square-feet, with a spacious back yard that is licensed to accommodate up to seven residents through three private and two shared companion bedrooms that can be furnished with personal furniture and belongings.

What sets their concept apart is that the care provided results in one of the highest staff-to-resident ratios in the industry – all within a cozy, home setting. Cottage residents enjoy home-cooked meals served at the kitchen table, reclining in the living room to watch television, and soaking up a nice sunny breeze while enjoying nature sitting among the front and back porches. Services come to the cottages, such as physician calls, pharmacy delivery, home health, podiatry care, salon services for hair and nails, and hospice if needed.

The level of care provided ranges from minimum to maximum care with assistance for activities of daily living, such as bathing, dressing, transferring, and medication reminders. Transitional care is available for individuals who need extra help after a lengthy stay in the hospital or a rehabilitation center. Respite care is also offered as space is available.