Jarrettsville native Melissa Chaney had been practicing Occupational Therapy for over 25 years, spending the vast majority of that time as a Home Care Therapist, when she decided she wanted to branch out in a different direction and open her own assisted living facility. Along with her husband, Scott Chaney, the two moved forward, opening Broad Creek Manor in Whiteford, Maryland, with an eye on providing top-notch care while also honoring residents’ independence.
“I wanted to do something different than other assisted livings have done,” Melissa said. “I wanted to prove to myself and to the assisted living world that you can keep people as independent as they can possibly be. I’m really proud of keeping our residents very independent.” She and Scott point to their focus on encouraging residents to walk when possible, to dress themselves, and to exercise daily -- all with individual accommodations when necessary -- as some of the primary ways they help build and maintain self-sufficiency. In addition, Broad Creek Manor also invites myriad community members in for a whole host of activities that range from baking clubs, karaoke, and garden clubs to faith-based activities, bowling, golf, and nail care. “Residents are happy and like living at Broad Creek Manor,” Melissa said. “They wake up every day, the sun rises over the Susquehanna River, and they can enjoy that. Then, the rest of their day, they’re doing things.”
While many assisted living communities may look similar at a glance, Broad Creek Manor stands out. The couple has intentionally remained small-scale, with 16 or fewer residents. Doing so has ensured that Melissa can dedicate the necessary time to train staff and that the caregivers can give residents the attention they need and deserve. “Our care is top-notch; there is no better care,” Melissa said.
Melissa also points to the culture of Broad Creek Manor as a reason why her staff is tenured and committed to giving the best care possible. “You hear on the news about all of these places that have turnover and trouble finding people,” she said. “I don’t have that problem -- I have people that have worked for me for years; in this economy, that’s huge. It’s a nice place to work, and that’s another thing that’s important to me.” Broad Creek Manor also welcomes many volunteers who return again and again. “The reason we have such awesome volunteer groups is because the volunteers come in and they also get back,” she said. “It’s a happy, enjoyable place to be.”
Another facet of life that sets Broad Creek Manor apart is the community as a whole. The waterfront property in Northern Harford County is set in an area brimming with warmth. “The people here are hard-working, kind people,” Melissa said. “Most of the people who work for us are from the area -- they’re kind, gentle, compassionate people.” Scott agreed, also noting, “It’s a slower pace here -- there’s nature, beautiful views… It’s like a little oasis for our residents. They feel safe outside of the hustle and bustle.”
Personalizing each resident’s experience is at the heart of Broad Creek Manor’s mission. Before individuals move in, staff interview family members, finding out information that ranges from whether they like coffee or tea in the morning to what they like to do for fun. Then, the team tailors experiences based on that knowledge. “Right now, the people who live at Broad Creek are super avid readers, so Harford County Library comes up and brings books,” Melissa said. “When we have people who like different things, we try to push that more in our programming. We just sit down and really talk with the residents. That’s what’s nice about having a smaller community. We have the time to do it.”
Care for residents that’s personalized is a top priority, too. “Our goal is to keep people as independent as possible, so everything is tailored and individualized for all of the residents,” he said. “If you feel you need help, we’ll do that; if you can do it on your own, we allow you to do that, too.” Meanwhile, Melissa puts her Occupational Therapy background to work, ensuring staff members are highly trained on how to create accommodations that work for each individual, whether it’s related to mobility, dressing themselves, or otherwise.
While Broad Creek Manor has received support from the community in terms of volunteerism, a multitude of donations, and more, the Chaneys remain active in the area as well. “We’re members of the Jarrettsville Small Business Association and GAIN, and we stay involved. We’ve helped local families over Christmastime -- staff have donated time and money and toys through Adopt-a-Family -- and we give back as much as we can.”
As the Chaneys celebrate six years of Broad Creek Manor in January of 2026, they are optimistic about continuing to grow what they’ve started. “We’d like to be recognized as a leader in this in Harford County,” Scott said. “We want to be the destination that people want to come to.”
I wanted to prove to myself and to the assisted living world that you can keep people as independent as they can possibly be. I’m really proud of keeping our residents very independent.
They wake up every day, the sun rises over the Susquehanna River, and they can enjoy that. Then, the rest of their day, they’re doing things.
How the Chaneys Hope Residents Feel at Broad Creek Manor
I hope they wake up every day and that they feel respected and cared for. That they have fun, make friends, and are happy.