Ratliff Care Center

Mike Ratliff's parents started the business in 1962, and Ratliff Care Center has been family-owned ever since. In the 15 years since he took over, he's seen some changes.

"From my standpoint, there's been a lot more research that's come out and we're reaping the benefits of that," he says. "It helps us make this [our clients[']] home."

Regulations and the economics of the industry have changed as well, which has occasionally made things difficult.

"You have to balance a resident's rights versus the moral obligation of keeping them well," he says.

But what hasn't changed are the things his parents taught him about running the elderly care facility. Compassion remains the guiding principle.

"They really had a passion for doing what they did, caring for the elderly," Ratliff says of his parents. "That's something we continue to do: treat each person as if they were a member of the family."

Hiring the right people, he says, can make all the difference.

"Really and truly, we care about the folks who live here and I think that's what's most important," he says.