Roy and Stacy Xiong are the new co-owners of SisterCare, an assisted living facility in Blue Earth.

The new co-owners of Blue Earth’s SisterCare assisted living facility, Stacy and Roy Xiong, explain that they view caring for the elderly as less of a career than a way of life.

“I don’t see the people here as residents. I see them as my parents and grandparents,” Stacy says.

She and Roy have always enjoyed interacting with senior citizens. However, their passion for providing senior care originated with their own family members.

Noting that his parents are getting on in years, Roy explains, “(Stacy) has been taking care of them a long time. She loves my parents.” 

Stacy also cared for her own parents as they aged.

“When my parents passed away, I wanted to keep doing what I’m passionate about,” she summarizes.

The couple is originally from North Carolina, where Roy pursued a career in management. Stacy, meanwhile, worked at a nonprofit organization called Sowing Hope, where she helped provide opportunities for socialization for elderly community members.

Stacy journeyed northward to Blue Earth last fall after SisterCare’s previous owners, Kayla and Carolyn Xiong, offered her the opportunity to take on a management role at the facility.

As Kayla and Carolyn faced a long commute to work, they were interested in passing on SisterCare’s ownership to someone new.

They did not have to look far to find Stacy and Roy.

As it happens, Kayla and Carolyn are Roy’s cousins. However, Stacy also has a years-long friendship with Carolyn.

“She is my best friend,” Stacy says. “We grew up together, and went to school together.” 

Stacy took on her role as co-owner and manager at SisterCare, a 16-bed facility, starting in September of 2022.

Roy, who is also a co-owner of SisterCare, joined Stacy in Blue Earth to help run the facility just weeks ago.

On a day-to-day basis, Stacy’s position involves a myriad of tasks, including overseeing residents’ care and accommodating their needs, ensuring staff know their responsibilities and that the facility is clean, doing inventory, and sometimes filling in when there are staff shortages.

Meanwhile, Roy serves in more of a managerial capacity, overseeing the broader operation of SisterCare.

SisterCare has traditionally promoted a holistic approach to senior care, maintaining and enhancing residents’ health physically as well as socially, physiologically and spiritually.

As SisterCare’s website states, “Our mission is to maximize independence, promote autonomy, ensure privacy and provide the freedom of choice without compromising safety.”

The facility, which currently employs 13 staff members, offers housing and services for its residents, including three meals a day and 24-hour-a-day supervision. Available services also include housekeeping and laundry, medication management, health monitoring by registered nurses, and assistance with personal care.

There is also financial assistance available to residents who meet qualifications.

The Xiongs wear many hats at work to ensure that those values and services are upheld. However, Stacy says chatting with the residents is the aspect of her job which she enjoys the most.

“I like to interact with people,” Roy agrees.

Stacy adds, laughing, “He is very popular at work.” 

The social aspect of assisted living is important to the Xiongs, who, above all else, do not want their residents to feel alone.

“I think making them feel at home is a must for me,” Stacy says. “I think (assisted living) should be more like a home environment.” 

She continues, “We want to make sure (residents) have somebody to listen to them.” 

At work, the Xiongs are building a home for SisterCare residents. However, they are also building a home for themselves in Blue Earth, where they have settled with their family of five children.

The couple, who previously lived in the North Carolina countryside, say the close-knit community is a good fit for their family.

“Blue Earth is the perfect place for us,” Stacy says. “It fits our lifestyle – it’s peaceful and quiet.” 

The Xiongs note that SisterCare has openings for seniors who are also looking for a new home in Blue Earth.

“We would love to have more company – more family,” Stacy says, smiling.