Local seniors enjoy home style comforts at Alpine Kastle

By Lori Bledsoe
The Alpine Sun

    ALPINE — Kasitz Kastle is one of Alpine’s oldest and grandest buildings, built in 1894 by Benjamin Arnold who kept it as his residence for a short time. During its very long existence here in Alpine, the familiar spacious Victorian home, now painted in a cheerful yellow with white trim, has belonged to several families.

     For the last 38 years however, the Kasitz Family has owned this elegant dwelling. They raised their family of six children at the home, and then 20 years ago, when they saw the need, they opened their home up to our community’s elderly.
     The idea to open up an elder care facility in Alpine originated with owner Kathy Kasitz who had lots of experience caring for the elderly. She worked in La Mesa, at Villa La Mesa, which is still in operation, and found that Alpine, which was originally a senior community, needed a facility that cared for those elderly in need.
     Knowing that her home was similar to the homes that many of Alpine’s seniors grew up in, Kasitz’s segue into to making her home into an elder care facility was a natural one. Her daughter, Darlene Kasitz, who is the youngest of the Kasitz’s six children, has been working in this facility for the last 20 years. Darlene is now the administrator there, and has been for the last seven years.
     The Kasitz family runs this facility just as a family would run their own home. They have the ability to welcome 12 seniors into residence, and treat each individual as if they were one of their own grandparents. They make sure to celebrate each of the residents’ birthdays, and special holidays.
     As expected, during the winter holidays, Kasitz Kastle and its residents enjoy an outpouring of volunteerism from the community of Alpine. People from local churches as well as the girl scouts come in to visit, sing and give small gifts.
     Currently, they have all women as residents, ranging in the ages 77 through 96.
     A lot of tender loving care goes into the services they provide seven days a week, which include: home cooked meals, walks around the grounds, chair exercises, bingo and other recreational games. They also welcome live entertainment for the ladies. Recently, Johnny Long has been performing, as well as a pianist that comes in weekly.
     For more information on the services offered by Kasitz Kastle, one may contact Darlene Kasitz, who is always friendly and eager to answer any questions.
 

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