With the motto “New Home, New Beginnings, New Memories,” husband and wife team Melissa and Bobby Brignac have opened a new personal care home that aims to offer a homey setting. It’s called Serenity Pearl Living Center LLC and is located just outside of Picayune.

Melissa said she’s been a licensed social worker in this area for more than two decades, a job that’s consistently put her in a position to provide assistance to the elderly and the disabled. At one point in her career, she worked as a social worker in the facility she and her husband just renovated to create Serenity Pearl Living Center.

But reopening the facility was a bit of a challenge. After purchasing the building in February of this year, which sat dormant for years, the couple expected a 90 day renovation period before they would be able to open the doors to its first residents. But several obstacles pushed it to five months of work. While they say they could have taken some short cuts in the renovation process, they chose to do it right the first time.

As of the first of this month, the facility is complete.

The facility features 11 rooms that are private or semi-private. Melissa said the facility can accommodate 16 residents  and will be staffed with certified nursing assistants and personal care attendants, who are ready to come to work as soon as the first occupant takes up residency. Bobby and Melissa say that they are especially excited about the staff because each one was chosen by the couple based on past working relationships.

Even though the staff will provide 24-7 care, the facility was designed to resemble a home, not a clinic. Melissa said that is because their aim is to make their residents feel like they have arrived at their second home due to the fact that each resident is giving up a lot by moving to a personal care home.

Residents will be provided with all of the meals, snacks and activities they need. Melissa said she and her husband have enlisted the help of family, friends and fellow church goers to provide those comforts.

While some of the activities will include games such as Bingo, other activities will focus on keeping the residents mobile. Members of their church’s youth group have volunteered to conduct those activities, which will vary depending on a resident’s interests. Along with painting classes and music nights, family nights will be held to ensure each resident’s kin is enticed to make regular visits.

A call system has also been installed in the facility so staff will know in an instant when a resident is in need of assistance. Melissa said the call buttons can be worn or placed near the bed. Since they are waterproof, the call buttons can be worn in the shower or while bathing in the facility’s walk-in bathtub. The entire facility is ADA compliant.

Serenity Pearl Living Center LLC can be found at 340 Sycamore Road, Picayune and staff can be reached by calling 769-242-9000.