Hometown Rankin - February & May 2015

ven though it was a gray and misty day when we pulled
up to the sprawling assisted living home named Plain View,
the interior was bright and conveyed a sheltered feel.
Brandi Loredo, the activities director, greeted us as we
waited to meet the co-owner, Dan Johnston.
Dan and his partner, Sid Scarbrough, saw the need for a facility
like Plain View for the Richland area and combined their talents
and investments to make it a reality.
The 40-room home opened its doors in July 2014, and is making a
safe, comfortable dwelling for its occupants. As more seniors and their
families hear about Plain View, it continues to add to its occupancy.
Dan graduated from Mississippi State and began work at McCarty
Farms as service supervisor for ten years. Over the next twenty
years, he worked in sales at Farm Bureau Insurance. Still, he felt he
wanted to do something more rewarding with his life. He’s quick to
confess, “I’ve always had a heart for the elderly.” He knew that
operating an assisted living home for the elderly would be the job
that could make a difference in someone’s life. His wife, Gwen, and
children, Brandon and Ashlyn, were supportive in his decision.
He and his friend, Sid Scarbrough, who is a contractor, collaborated
and Plain View was soon a reality. The spacious facility has a beauty
shop, laundry room, expansive dining room, rehab and den area.
Nurse Tracy Floyd, along with two RAs, offer fulltime medical
assistance. Plain View presently operates with fifteen staff members.
Dan’s dedication to his residents is reflective in his 12 to 16 hour
workdays at Plain View. He’s learned, “You’ve got to invest in a
business and not just dollars.”
We visited briefly with Mr. Murray Griffin, a resident and World
War II veteran. He was quick to offer the testimonial, “I’ve been
highly pleased.”
The concern and interest that Dan feels for his residents shows
not only in the well- designed facility but in the philosophy he
practices. He shared how he sat through lengthy interviews in
hiring the staff members. “I listened to all their job experiences
and references, but what I listened for most was compassion.”
And compassion is a priceless amenity in caring for any age.
Hometown Rankin • 17