The Yellow Brick House, a licensed assisted living residence in Lithonia, prides itself on providing quality, individualized care in a small, warm and intimate setting. The family-run business was opened 22 years ago in the personal home of the owner’s grandparents, Dr. and Mrs. T.W. Stewart. The residence, originally built in the 1920s, has since been expanded, adding 22,000 square feet of living space, while maintaining the building’s home-style appeal.

The Stewart family decided to open Yellow Brick House in 1988 after looking for an assisted living facility for the aging Mrs. T.W. Stewart. At the time, it was the largest assisted living facility in DeKalb County. The Stewart family has its roots in helping the community. Dr. T.W. Stewart was one of the then three physicians in the Lithonia area and was the last "horse and buggy" doctor in the DeKalb County.

While the Yellow Brick House is located in Lithonia, it provides residence to people from the surrounding area, including Rockdale County.

"Rockdale is our main marketing area," said Dawn Stewart Massey, director. "About 20 percent of our residents are from Rockdale."

The Yellow Brick House provides 24-hour care to its 33 current residents and offers a variety of amenities, such as weekly shopping trips, entertainment and leisure activities. Yellow Brick House also provides a variety of individualized medical assistance, such as medication assistance and scheduling and transportation for medical appointments. Yellow Brick House is an intermediate care facility, which means it provides more living assistance than an independent living facility, but does not provide medical care like that of a nursing home.

"We really focus on individual care," Stewart Massey said. "It’s really like a large family."

In 2003, Yellow Brick House expanded it care and services to serve residents who suffer from dementia-related conditions, such as Alzheimer’s Disease. Called Memory Care, the specialized unit provides additional care and enhanced assistance for memory-affected residents, including assistance with daily living, such as bathing and eating, and a secured outdoor garden area. There are 14 special private studio suites that incorporate low stimulation features and a warm home-like environment. The staff for the Memory Care unit has additional training by the Alzheimer's Association.

For more information about the Yellow Brick House, call (770) 482-4044 or visit www.yellowbrickhouse.com.