When Jim Kimzey’s mother was diagnosed with Alzheimer’s disease, he began looking for ways he could improve her quality of life. When he stumbled across a book published by the Alzheimer’s Association, he found a blueprint for best practices when providing care for people with dementia at home. This book is what led Kimzey to open Tender Rose, a homecare company specializing in dementia care, in 2009.
Kimzey ran Tender Rose for 11 years before it was acquired by Home Care Assistance. But after retiring, he still felt a pull to help families faced with caring for a loved one with dementia. So in early 2025, he opened Full Bloom Memory Care in the Chicago area. The brainchild of Kimzey, Andy Tysinger and Jennifer Muskat, Full Bloom’s goal is to create an environment where those living with dementia don’t just survive—they flourish.
Full Bloom provides companion care, personal care, couples care, community care and the Safety Net Program—a support program for those who aren’t quite ready for in-home care—to patients and their families. Full Bloom’s goal is to prepare the family and patient so that when it is time for care, Full Bloom can step in at a moment’s notice.
“A lot of times, it might be the person is living with dementia and they’re fine because their spouse is there to support them,” Kimzey said. “But now, if the spouse gets sick and has to go to the hospital for a week, what are (they) going to do? And so, we are ready to step in and help out in those situations.”
Full Bloom operates on the principle that people living with dementia can still have fulfilling lives. They help patients do so through person-centered care and a holistic practice. This can look like taking patients on trips to do things they love, such as sailing on Lake Michigan or strolling through a museum.
“For example, we had an early client [at Tender Rose] who was an architect,” Kimzey said. “And one of the things he loved to do is go for a walk in his neighborhood and engage the caregiver in conversation about different architectural elements of the houses as they were walking by. … So, a lot of times what you’re doing from a caregiver perspective, is you’re tapping into the abilities that remain and not reminding them of the abilities they’ve lost.”
Full Bloom Memory Care believes that people are more than their diagnosis. They were a full person before, and they continue to be a full person after.
“We see ourselves as a trusted guide where you can come to us no matter where you are in your journey,” Kimzey said. “We are going to do everything we can to help you and your loved one have a high quality of life from now until the end of their life. It really is about being there no matter what the challenge is.”