In 1997 I retired as a Lieutenant Colonel after serving 21 years in the United States Army.  My family and I moved back to our home state of South Dakota and one of our primary reasons was so my wife and I could be near our aging parents.  My mother had just passed away.  My father was 78 and in declining health.  He was living in his own home in Pierre, SD and I convinced him to move closer to us and enter an assisted living center near our home.  He agreed and moved into Greenleaf Assisted Living Center in Brookings, SD. 

That was my first exposure to the assisted living industry and the profession of caregiving for the elderly.  I was greatly impressed by the staff at Greenleaf, the sincere loving care that they provided for all of the residents, and the family-like environment.  I was so impressed by what I experienced that three years later I decided to join the business world and bought into the company.  Today I am one of four co-owners and I lead the Greenleaf Assisted Living Corporation’s day to day operations.

If you are reading this it is probably because you have an aging parent or loved one about whom you are very concerned and you are beginning the search for a place where they can be comfortable, secure and loved as they age.  I know exactly how you feel and why you should consider a Greenleaf Assisted Living Center.

The primary reason is our staff.  At Greenleaf Assisted Living we seek people who view their work as a calling, not as a job.  That is the fundamental principle upon which all hiring is based.  A Greenleaf caregiver must provide compassionate loving care that truly comes from their heart.  Most assisted living centers will tell you that they employ great people but at Greenleaf Assisted Living Centers, we prove it on a daily basis.  Many of the staff at our facilities are long time employees dating back to when we first opened in that particular location.  Applicants are screened before hiring with background checks from the South Dakota Department of Criminal Investigation and Department of Motor Vehicles, as well as reference checks with former employers.  We make a point of hiring people that are well known in the community for their compassionate personalities, are nursing students at South Dakota colleges and universities, or have an established background in caregiving.  It is because of these measures that five of our caregivers have been selected for the prestigious CAREGIVER OF THE YEAR AWARD presented annually by the Assisted Living Association of South Dakota.  No other assisted living center in the state can match that accomplishment.

As a retired Army Officer, I know about “White Glove” inspections.  All Greenleaf Assisted Living Centers adhere to the “Greenleaf Standards” that include cleanliness standards second to none.  Our housekeepers at every facility work very hard to maintain these standards and we are extremely grateful for their efforts, and take great pride in their devotion to duty.

When my father lived in Greenleaf prior to his passing, I was greatly impressed with the family like atmosphere.  My father loved the staff and often gave them parental advice (whether they wanted it or not!) and spoke of the sincere love and care they provided.  I experienced this first hand long before I became an owner in the company, and that characteristic still exists today.

As a member of the Greenleaf staff I am proud of the organization we have built and the fundamental principles for which we stand.  We believe that all residents deserve respect and that the services we provide must be laced with sincere loving care.  We hope you will visit one of our facilities and experience for yourself the warm family atmosphere.  Our pledge to you is that we will do our best to perform our duties, to adhere to the Greenleaf Standards, and to care for your loved one like one of the family.

Thank you for giving us this opportunity.

Very respectfully,

Constantine G. Chamales
LTC, USA-Ret
Operations Officer/Owner