A resident and her caregiver shaking out a white sheet together to make the bed in a sunny room

Memory care · Claremore, Oklahoma

Everyone here has a job. Most of them are good at it.

Verdigris House is a 44-resident memory care home in Claremore built on a simple idea: people living with dementia still want to be useful, and they still can be.

  • 44residents in four households
  • 30+daily jobs on the house roster
  • 2014first beds made together

Why jobs

Being needed is the best medicine we know.

Most of our residents spent sixty years being relied on: running a farm, a classroom, a kitchen, a machine shop on the line in Tulsa. Then dementia arrives and suddenly everyone is doing things for them. Many stop trying. Some get angry, and who could blame them.

At Verdigris House we do things with people, not for them. Every morning the house roster goes up: who's folding the towels, who's setting the tables, who's watering the beds, who's sorting the silverware or checking the mail. Every job is real and every job is optional. Caregivers work alongside, quietly fixing what needs fixing. Our residents finish the day tired in the right way, and they sleep better for it.

— Nadia Whitebird, founder and executive director

A resident checking off his jobs with a caregiver at the kitchen table
  • 44residents in four households
  • 30+daily jobs on the house roster
  • 2014first beds made together
  • 1:5caregivers to residents by day

What sets us apart

Where we shine

A resident measuring flour at the kitchen table by the window
01

Dementia-trained caregivers

Trained to work alongside residents, not just for them.

24/7
A resident in a red cardigan stirring batter
02

Daily job roster

Posted each morning; residents pick their work or try something new.

Daily
A resident and her granddaughter slicing fruit for the salad
03

Kitchen crew

Peeling, stirring, rolling dough, setting and clearing tables.

Daily

We believe people living with dementia want what everyone wants: to be useful, to be thanked and to finish the day knowing they mattered. So every day here starts with a roster, and nobody's name is left off it.

Rooms & suites

Rooms and suites

Every room is private. Bring the chair, the quilt and the toolbox.

Bright minimalist bedroom with a cozy bed, blue decor, and natural light from large windows.
01

Private room

A window, a dresser and room for a favorite chair.

  • Private
  • Your own furniture
250 sq ft
Senior woman in a comfortable bedroom, sitting in a chair and relaxing in a robe.
02

Garden room

Looks out on the raised beds and the potting shed.

  • Garden view
265 sq ft
A stylish bedroom with blue decor and large windows offering a city view.
03

Room with private bath

An accessible bath and walk-in shower.

  • Private bath
  • Walk-in shower
300 sq ft
A spacious and bright modern bedroom featuring minimalistic decor and neutral tones.
04

Corner room

Two windows and morning light.

  • Two windows
285 sq ft
Bright and spacious contemporary bedroom with elegant decor and minimalist design.
05

Garden suite

A larger room with a sitting nook.

  • Sitting nook
340 sq ft
Modern bedroom with vibrant decor, featuring teal walls and comfortable furnishings.
06

Companion suite

Two rooms and a shared bath for couples.

  • Two rooms
  • Suits couples
460 sq ft
Pickled vegetables and garden tomatoes

Our story

How the house roster started

Nadia Whitebird spent fifteen years as an occupational therapist watching capable people sit idle in memory care. She wondered what would happen if they had real work.

Read our story

Our team

The crew

Nadia Whitebird, Founder & Executive Director

Nadia Whitebird

Founder & Executive Director

Dana Whitfield, RN, Director of Nursing

Dana Whitfield, RN

Director of Nursing

Dr. Alan Reyes, Medical Director

Dr. Alan Reyes

Medical Director

Priya Raman, APRN, Nurse Practitioner

Priya Raman, APRN

Nurse Practitioner

Meet the team

Sample family reviews

From Verdigris families

Mom ran a laundromat in Pryor for thirty years. They put her in charge of the towels. She inspects every fold.
Brenda S.Daughter of a resident
Dad was a machinist at the plant. In the workshop he sorts bolts by size for an hour and comes out calm as a Sunday.
Rick W.Son of a resident
At the last place, they wouldn't let my wife near the kitchen. Here she rolls pie crust every Thursday.
Harold M.Husband of a resident
Every evening at supper someone thanks Grandma by name for setting the tables. She glows.
Ashley T.Granddaughter of a resident
Dana caught Dad's infection early because he skipped the workshop two days in a row. That's paying attention.
Ron D.Son of a resident
My mother was a school secretary. She sorts the mail every morning and knows every name on the envelopes.
Lisa K.Daughter of a resident
The quilt Mom helped sew went to the hospital nursery. I cried when they showed me the picture.
Carla P.Daughter of a resident
Kendra helped us apply for the ADvantage waiver and stuck with us until it came through.
James H.Son of a resident
Dad sleeps through the night now. He works hard all day, just like he used to.
Mike R.Son of a resident
I come on Saturdays and join the garden crew. It's the best visit we've had in years.
Anne C.Daughter of a resident
When Mom passed, the sewing room finished her last quilt and gave it to us.
Diane F.Daughter of a former resident

Ratings & recognition · sample

  • Readers’ Choice · Best Memory Care
  • Chamber of Commerce · Small Business of the Year
  • Regional Medical Center · Preferred Partner
  • Statewide Aging Network · Innovation Award
  • Area Agency on Aging · Community Partner
  • University OT Program · Clinical Site
  • Hospice Alliance · Partner
  • Quilters Guild · Community Partner
  • Farmers Market · Friend of the Market
Filling jars on canning day

Admissions

Moving to Verdigris House

We handle the details so your family can focus on each other.

  • A home visit from our nurse
  • A life-skills interview
  • Movers and room setup arranged
  • A first-week call every evening
  • A first job waiting on day one

Now hiring

Caregivers who'd rather work alongside than do for.

Visit

Find us in Claremore

Tour & office hours

  • Tours, Mon – Sat9a – 5p
  • Office, Mon – Fri8a – 5p
  • Families visitAny time

Families visit any time, and you're welcome to pitch in.

There's a job with your mother's name on it.

Call or text Nadia. Tell us what your mom or dad did for a living, and we'll show you where they'd fit.