A Brief History of Potomac Homes

Potomac was founded in the fall of 1989. Potomac develops and manages homes, which presently consist of up to 15 private bedrooms, an activities area, a kitchen and dining room, and usually at least one bathroom for every three residents; Potomac's homes are designed to cater to the special needs of persons suffering from a dementia disease such as Alzheimer's disease or Parkinson's disease. Dementia diseases, in particular Alzheimer's disease, already affect a substantial number of senior citizens in the U.S., and that population is expected to grow rapidly in the next decade, which will cause a significant increase in patients with dementia. The homes have a staff trained to meet the needs of its residents. The staff, with the assistance of a part-time activity director and professionals such as social workers and gerontologists, assists residents with dressing, eating, taking medication and all other aspects of daily living. The staff also implements an activities program at each home designed to afford residents access to recreational, craft and social activities that will benefit residents suffering from a dementia disease.

Management believes that there are few facilities comparable to the homes operated by Potomac; therefore, many with a dementia disease end up in nursing homes or wings of an assisted living facility, which are more expensive than a Potomac home and provide an institutional rather than home-like environment. Potomac is thus a low-cost and preferred provider for a sizable and ever-expanding market.

The Potomac Homes Team

Benjamin W. Pearce is the President and Chief Executive Officer of Potomac Homes Group. Potomac Homes provides management, development, and consulting services to assisted living and Alzheimer's disease and related dementia communities and other senior care providers. Potomac Homes has an important position in the senior living field as an innovator of services for elders. Potomac Homes is comprised of Potomac Group Home Corporation, and Antioch Construction, Inc.

Formerly Senior Vice President, Senior Housing of Genesis Health Ventures Inc., Mr. Pearce was responsible for the planning, implementing, and directing all facets of operations and marketing for 25 new and 43 existing projects. Mr. Pearce brings a rich set of skills and accomplishments to the assisted living arena from his experience. Most recently, he served as Senior Vice President of Operations for AoDoS Senior Housing, a wholly owned subsidiary of The Multicare Companies, Inc., which was acquired by Genesis Health Ventures in October of 1997. Prior to that he was Vice President of Operations for Classic Residence by Hyatt. Retirement Communities under Mr. Pearce's management have been awarded the prestigious Contemporary Long Term Care Order of Excellence Award on three separate occasions with two different companies. Mr. Pearce is a Director of the National Association of Senior Living Industries (NASLI) and Assisted Living Federation of America (ALFA). He is the author the Management Curriculum, Assisted Living Training System. Accounting Systems and Risk Management for Assisted Living published by Assisted Living University Press, 1998, and a book entitled Senior Living Communities: Operations Management and Marketing for Assisted Living, Congregate, and Continuing-Care Retirement Communities which summarizes two decades of retirement housing operational expertise encompassing over 100 communities in 23 states published by The Johns Hopkins University Press. Mr. Pearce teaches graduate level classes on senior housing and is a faculty member of the Real Estate Institute at New York University and serves on the editorial advisory boards of Resident Life/Assisted Living Success magazine, Briefings on Assisted Living, and Assisted Living Executive Report. Mr. Pearce holds a B.S. degree in Management from Oregon State University.

Allison Kurus Allen, Corporate Controller is responsible for all aspects of financial operations, planning, budgeting asset management, and finance. Formerly Ms. Allen was Corporate Controller with Kuala Healthcare, Inc., a $70 million healthcare company, Kuala is primarily focused on home care, long term care, assisted living and managed care products. In addition, Kuala operates a physician practice management company, a home infusion division and a medical product subsidiary. During her 6 years with Kuala, Allison served in various capacities including General Accounting Director, Principal Accounting Officer, and her most recent role as Corporate Controller. Allison's previous work experience has primarily been in the healthcare industry. With Delmed, Inc. (a publicly held manufacturer of dialysis products), Allison held the position of Senior Accountant. With Kallir, Philips, Ross, Inc. of New York (an advertising agency specializing in the pharmaceutical market), Allison served as the General Accounting Manager. Ms. Allen holds a graduate degree from the MBA Program at Farleigh Dickinson University and a BS in Accounting from the Rutgers University School of Business.

Randi S. Rubin joined the company in 2001 as Corporate Clinical Director for Potomac Homes. She is a Registered Nurse, and a Certified Assisted Living Administrator. Randi received a degree in Psychology from American University, and then went on to earn her Nursing degree, always planning to apply her skills and knowledge to the geriatric, long term care population. She is certified by the State of New Jersey to teach medication administration for licensure. Ms. Rubin also has teaches classes on Alzheimer's disease at the university level. She has written an orientation guide for new employees and over thirty continuing education lessons for caregivers on the stages of Alzheimer's disease and how to care and communicate with this population.

Ms. Rubin began her nursing career in Radiation Oncology. She ran a five physician practice, which treated 50+ patients a day. Spending time with patients and their families, helping them cope with a frightening diagnosis, was her passion. As Clinical Director, Ms. Rubin oversees the nurses and nursing aides of all the Potomac Homes in the daily operation of resident care, while following the guidelines set by the state regulatory agencies. She is licensed to practice in New Jersey, New York and North Carolina.

Browse Our Comprehensive Resource Page...