Learn More About Melissa's House
The Story Behind Melissa’s House
Melissa’s House was created to honor Melissa and to give families in Norman, Oklahoma a more personal approach to assisted living.
Melissa was diagnosed with early-onset dementia at the age of 58. During her journey, our family experienced firsthand the difference that professional care in a true home-like environment can make.
That experience changed our family.
Katie later saw the same need in her work as a clinician: families navigating aging without enough support or enough care options that truly felt like home. Melissa’s House is our response.
Our residential assisted living home in Norman, OK was created to help older adults age with dignity while receiving personalized, professional support in a warm and intimate setting.
At Melissa’s House, residents are known personally, families are supported throughout the aging experience, and care is provided in a home designed to feel comfortable and familiar — not institutional.
Experienced Residential Assisted Living Operations
Melissa’s House is operated by the same operating organization and leadership team behind Legacy Senior Living.
That means Melissa’s House benefits from established experience in:
- Residential assisted living operations
- Caregiver staffing and scheduling
- Resident care and family communication
- Medication support and activities of daily living
- Clinical oversight
- Compliance and facility operations
- Technology and operational systems
Our experience operating Legacy Senior Living has helped us refine the systems and standards we now bring to Melissa’s House.
Ben Dickey
Ben supports Katie’s mission to create a more personal, welcoming aging experience for residents and their families. Passionate about small business and community, he enjoys meeting families, hearing their stories, and building lasting relationships. You’ll often find him at the homes, sharing the Melissa’s House mission throughout the community, or participating in the Norman Chamber of Commerce.
Ben brings 20 years of experience with a Fortune 500 company later acquired by Oracle, where he consulted with leading healthcare organizations around the world and helped develop their operating systems. With a finance degree from Oklahoma State University, he oversees business operations and back-office support at Melissa’s House, bringing that experience to the care of families in our community.
A Family-Owned Approach
Ben and Katie are raising three sons, and family is central to how they think about care.
Their goal is to build an environment they would feel comfortable choosing for someone in their own family.
That perspective influences how they think about:
- The size and feel of the home
- Caregiver relationships
- Family communication
- Meals and activities
- Resident dignity and independence
- The overall quality of daily life
