BILLINGS — The need for quality senior care continues to grow as the population ages, and the transition to a nursing home can be overwhelming, both emotionally and financially.

One woman is helping to ease that burden and expand options in Billings by offering an alternative: in-home care for seniors.

Anycia Wipf is a registered CNA and the founder of Heaven-Sent Elderly Care. She made this decision after working as an optician for 17 years and finally burning out.

“I just got to a point where it wasn’t my calling anymore. I just hit a dead end,” Wipf said.

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She changed career paths after her mother, a traveling nurse, told her there was a lack of help for elderly care.

After earning her Certified Nursing Assistant (CNA) license, she decided to pursue her passion after witnessing the challenges her great-aunt faced in a nursing facility.

“It was heartbreaking for me to see what she had lost and how she knew she wasn’t home,” Wipf said.

She then created Heaven Sent with the mission of making senior care more accessible and supportive for Billings families.

Although in-home care is not always cheaper than a nursing home, it is a crucial alternative for families who do not need 24-hour care but want the reassurance of a caring caregiver. records regularly.

Wipf is committed to ensuring that our customers receive the attention and care they deserve, whether they have long-term care insurance, are veterans receiving VA benefits, or are private clients.

To help cope with the workload, she employs nursing students from Montana State University Billings and provides them with valuable hands-on experience.

“I know that just having this experience will make them better at whatever they want to do. It’s from the heart, it means something to them. It’s not just another job,” Wipf said.

She has grown her business and now has seven clients, including Michelle Bomar’s mother Linda.

For over 35 years, Linda helped people in the community through her work at Family Service. Now she needs help. Nine years ago, he was diagnosed with dementia and Alzheimer’s disease.

“You basically cry every day because you see her, but it’s not her,” Bomar said.

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With Linda now nonverbal, Bomar needed help caring for his parents. After searching online, she found Wipf on Facebook and has been part of the family for almost two years.

“It’s been a relief to know they’re in good hands when she’s here,” Bomar said.

As a senior care companion, Wipf completes various tasks around their home, such as running errands and cleaning, and makes sure Linda is monitored and cared for. She’s not a nurse, so she doesn’t administer medications, but help is still vital.

“You try not to get attached, but, you know, with a family like this, it’s going to happen. You try to leave everything behind, but in aged care, how do you do it? Wipf said. “I’ve definitely bonded with Linda. I think about her when I’m not working.”

For families like Bomar’s, the services Wipf offers have been life-changing. Heaven Sent Senior Care focuses not only on physical care but also emotional support, providing seniors with the opportunity to maintain a sense of normalcy while remaining in the comfort of their home. It’s something she says Billings lacks.

“My services give them that companionship so they don’t feel alone or invisible,” Wipf said. “I think the main benefit is just preserving what they have left.”

For Michelle and her family, support is what it’s called.

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“My father was born and raised in this house, so it’s his house, and then my mother, it’s her house. It’s so much more comfortable for them to be able to stay at home,” Bomar said. “It’s a terrible disease, and Heaven Sent is very good. A very caring company.”

While the work is difficult, for Wipf it is also rewarding.

“I learned to slow down and realize that what she went through is important. They are important people and they are neglected. I feel like what I’m doing now is meaningful, you know, it’s rewarding. The glasses are also important, but you know, that’s it for me,” Wipf said.

Heaven Sent Senior Care hopes to expand its ability to reach the community and serve more seniors.