Ivey House Living Center

The Ivey House Living Center (IHLC), the brainchild of Jeffrey E. Lindstrom and Margaret F. Ivey, will  provide quality health and rehabilitative services in a safe environment for persons who are low functioning and medically fragile and who have severe to profound intellectual and physical disabilities. IHLC will focus on assisting and enabling the individual to attain or maintain his/her maximum functional level while experiencing a meaningful life.

Jeffrey E. Lindstrom, who will be the IHLC Director, graduated from the University of Central Florida in 1997 with a BS degree in Communicative Disorders, followed by 15 years serving individuals with disabilities.  Since 2001, he has worked at Southside Virginia Training Center (SVTC) as a Residential Service Manager and Qualified Mental Retardation Professional. As the IHLC Director, he will develop, implement, and evaluate a comprehensive array of health care and program services, and  be responsible for the overall operations which include maintaining the operations budget, human resources, quality control and supervision of all staff.

Margaret F. Ivey, who will be the IHLC Medical Director/RN, is a graduate of Southside Regional Medical Center’s School of Nursing in Virginia and became a registered nurse in 1989.  She has 24 years of experience and has worked at SVTC since 2008.  As Medical Director, she will serve as the primary care nurse when assessing the overall medical care for residents.  She will provide clinical supervision and direct nursing care during changes in the individual’s physical status, and identify and maintain medical supplies/equipment.

IVHC approached the Crater SBDC to seek assistance in gaining financing.  SBDC counselors and the client spent many hours perfecting the business plan, developing financial projections, and gathering market research.  Because of this hard work, dedication, commitment, and strong desire to be successful, they were approved for a loan in the amount of $150,000.00 from EVB.

IVLC is completing the licensing process and has found a builder for their first group home in Dinwiddie.  The long term goal is for 10 group homes that would employ 175 professionals.  They expect to open in June, 2014, with 10 employees. The Ivey House’s management provides the following testimonial:

“Without the help of Crater’s SBDC, I don’t believe our dream of owning our own business would have materialized.  Originally, I attempted to complete a business plan on my own but that proved to be very difficult.  I hired professionals to help, but their lack of knowledge and time constraints were only stalling us.  I met Pat Hood at an entrepreneur class where she was promoting the services Crater’s SBDC had to offer.