01
Help with bathing, dressing and grooming
On your schedule, by the same few caregivers, with your preferences written into the plan.
Care level
Assisted living · Salina, Kansas
Fifty-two apartments, one big front porch.
A family-run assisted living on the south edge of Salina, with caregivers awake all night, a kitchen that bakes its own bread, and a garden residents actually get their hands into.
- 52private apartments
- 2004opened by the Ostrander family
- 24/7caregivers awake and on site
Welcome to the Ridge
Built by a family who needed it first.
Doug Ostrander's mother farmed wheat outside Gypsum for fifty years. When she couldn't live alone anymore, the only options were an hour away. So Doug and his wife Karen bought twelve acres on the south side of Salina and built the place they wished she'd had.
Twenty years later, their daughter Melissa runs it. The porch is still the busiest room in the building, the sunflowers along the drive still get planted every May, and every new resident still gets a loaf of Ramon's honey wheat on move-in day.
Melissa Kemp, executive director
What sets us apart
What families notice first
02
Three meals a day, made from scratch
Fresh bread daily, Sunday fried chicken and a garden salad bar from May to September.
Included
03
Garden club and raised beds
Waist-high beds anyone can reach, tomatoes every summer and sunflowers along the drive.
Included- 52private apartments
- 2004opened by the Ostrander family
- 24/7caregivers awake and on site
- 1monthly rate, written down before you sign
Rooms & suites
Apartments with your name on the door
Every apartment has a kitchenette, a walk-in shower, an emergency pendant and a window you'll want to sit by.
01
Studio apartment
One bright room with space for a bed, a reading chair and a dresser full of photographs.
- Kitchenette
- Walk-in shower
- Large window
02
One-bedroom apartment
A separate bedroom and a living room big enough to have the kids over for coffee.
- Kitchenette
- Walk-in shower
- Two closets
03
Two-bedroom apartment
For couples who want their own bedrooms, or a guest room and a sewing room.
- Full bath and half bath
- Living room
- Couples welcome
04
Porch apartment
Six ground-floor apartments with a door onto the wraparound porch and the garden beyond.
- Private porch door
- Garden view
- One bedroom
Photo tour
A year at Sunflower Ridge
Sample family reviews
What Salina families say
Mom said she'd move 'over her dead body.' Now she runs the garden club and won't let me visit during bingo.
They told us the full monthly cost at the first tour, in writing. No surprises in four years.
Dad's a retired wheat farmer. Doug drove him out to watch the harvest last July and he talked about it for a month.
I came for a two-week respite stay after my hip. I liked it so much I came back for good that fall.
Tess called me at three in the morning when Mom fell, and again at seven to say she'd eaten breakfast. That's the kind of place it is.
The bread. I'm sorry, but I have to mention the bread.
We live in Denver, so the weekly email with photos means the world. We see what Mom is doing even when we can't be there.
Jenna measured Mom's apartment and figured out which furniture would fit. Moving day was easy. Nobody cried, which surprised all of us.
Our team
The folks who make it home
Melissa Kemp
Executive Director
Doug Ostrander
Founder
Tonya Fields, RN
Director of Health Services
Tess Holloway, CMA
Lead Caregiver
Activities & dining
This week on the Ridge
A sample week. The full calendar goes up on the porch board and in every family's inbox each month.
Mon
- Walking club around the pond
- Bread-baking with Ramon
Tue
- Garden club in the raised beds
Wed
- Chair yoga
- Bingo for prizes
Thu
- Van trip to lunch downtown
Fri
- Porch happy hour with live fiddle
Sat
- Cinnamon rolls and the morning paper
Sun
- Chapel service and Sunday dinner
Insurance & payment
Paying for assisted living
Melissa walks every family through the numbers before move-in. Here are the most common ways our residents pay.
Private pay
Most families pay monthly from savings, a pension or the sale of a home. Your written estimate lists every fee.
Long-term care insurance
Many policies cover assisted living. We help with claim forms and send the monthly paperwork.
VA Aid and Attendance
Eligible veterans and surviving spouses may receive a monthly pension toward care.
KanCare waiver
Kansas Medicaid waivers can help with some assisted living costs for people who qualify. Ask us about availability.
Now hiring
Caregivers who want a family business, steady hours and a porch to take their break on.
For families
For families
Whether you live across town or across the country, here's how we keep you close.
- 01
The Friday email
Every Friday families get a short note and a few photos from Shawna about the week.
- 02
Visit any time
No visiting hours. Use the front door, ring the bell after nine and someone will let you in.
- 03
Care conferences
Meet with Tonya and the care team at move-in, every quarter and whenever needs change.
- 04
Sunday dinner
Fried chicken, mashed potatoes and pie at noon. Families are always invited.
Ratings & recognition · sample
- Readers' choice · Favorite assisted living in Saline County
- Chamber of Commerce · Family Business of the Year
- Regional health system · Preferred senior living partner
- State inspection · Zero deficiencies, sample year
- Local newspaper · Best place to work
- Area garden club · Community garden award
Visit
South on Ninth, then left at the sunflowers
- 3150 Sunflower Ridge Road
Salina, KS
Park anywhere along the front circle. The main door opens on its own, and the porch has a bench if you want to sit a minute first. - (785) 555-0172
- Text us
- hello@sunflowerridge.example
- Sunflower Ridge Assisted Living
Tour & office hours
- Tours, Mon – Sat9a – 6p
- Sunday tours1p – 4p
- Office, Mon – Fri8a – 5p
- Families visitAny time
Stay for lunch after your tour. It's on us, and Ramon will want to know what you thought.
The porch light is always on.
Call or text Melissa to set up a tour, or just stop by. Someone will be on the porch.