Necitas Homes: A family story
At NECITAS, compassion is at the heart of our care.
Keeping the residents competitive at a bowling alley
By Maricar CP Hampton
For Marrieta Barcelon-Cinco, an experienced Certified Geriatric and Critical Care Nurse, putting up a senior assisted living home is something personal.
“I grew up in my grandmother’s home, from my father’s side. I was very close to my lola Felisa. When she started getting weak due to old age I was sad,” she recalled in an interview with The FilAm D.C. “Here I am in the USA working, taking care of others and I cannot even take care of my own lola back home.”
The death of her grandmother in 2007 made a big impact on Marrieta that she vowed to “plan ahead” for her parents’ sake.
“I want to be able to take care of my parents myself.”
Marrieta opened her first assisted living home in January 2008. She named it Necitas Homes in honor of her mother and under the company name Kievlan Group of Companies named after her father.
Aside from Necitas Home, Kievlan Group of Companies runs three other businesses–Kievlan Kid LLC, Konsty & Franny LLC, and PhilMar Senior Care LLC offering services to seniors in Maryland.
Marrieta and a resident enjoying a game of Bingo
“I created Necitas with the intention of having a nice set-up for my parents where I can personally supervise their care in their old age,” she said. Making it a business, she stressed, was not high up among her objectives.
Today, she has four thriving senior homes conveniently located in the prime areas of Silver Spring Maryland.
Residents take part in fun-filled activities such as day trips to the Smithsonian Museums, and Cherry Blossoms Festival. They go shopping and restaurant hopping. Even their relatives enjoy numerous birthday and holiday parties complete with live sing-along music of their choice.Marrieta said Necitas is conscious about providing “quality, compassionate and holistic care” in a home-like safe environment. Each resident receives personalized, individualized genuine care while also enjoying the comfort of a bright and warm atmosphere.
A native of Hinunangan in Southern Leyte province, Marrieta came to the U.S. in 2001. She was recruited as a nurse for Sibley Memorial Hospital in Washington D.C. Sibley is a unit of Johns Hopkins Medicine.
Like any business Necitas faced some growing pains.
A resident receiving personalized care
“We are in Montgomery County, the toughest county to get licensed as an assisted living in the state of Maryland. It is the only county that requires you to get a separate license from the county on top of being licensed by the state,” she shared.Another challenge is competition.
“Competition in this field is tough. Being a newcomer with no connections was even tougher. But if you have pure good intentions, God will lead you to succeed,” Marrieta added.
She believes her true calling is taking care of people. “I believe God wants me to do this, that is why we are still here 10 years after, bigger and stronger.”
Marrieta continued, “I am doing my part in spreading and sharing the love of God through genuine service to our seniors one assisted living home at a time.”
She credits her dedicated staff as the front-liners who goes above and beyond the call of duty — who cares for the seniors just like their own.
“My staff is my greatest asset. They are the ones responsible for the success of our homes,” she said.
Now on its 10th year, Necitas is considered one of the best homes in Montgomery County with a tough waiting list of applicants.
Marrieta is married to optometrist and nurse Dr. Phillip Jon Cinco and a devoted mother to 2-year-old Jacob and 10-month-old Joy.
Daily morning exercise with Thelma, one of the residents at Necitas 3