HOW WE FOUND OUR START
My passion for senior care was inspired by my mother-in-law, Gail. She was living in Custer, SD and helping elders in her community with basic household tasks. In January of 2023, she was diagnosed with pancreatic cancer. After a few months of treatment, she moved to Spearfish and into our home. During that time, I spent a lot of time with Gail. I took her to appointments and helped her navigate life while going through chemo and radiation. We spent many hours chatting about life and how difficult it can be to age. I read books about aging and end of life in order to help her as much as I could. She expressed to me many times how great I would be at helping other seniors in need.
During that time, I was searching for a meaningful career and she really encouraged me to start my own business helping others the way I was helping her. Gail passed away in September of 2023, and that big-hearted lady is missed every day. But that gave me the extra push I needed. Independent Living was my way to honor our Granny Gail, and to find a career that lit me up inside, and made my heart dance! I truly enjoy connecting with people, and passing out an extra hand, and some extra love where it's needed most. My goal is to create that culture within Independent Living. I will be forever grateful to her and I look forward to seeing how many lives Independent Living will help!
-Tori Bissell
Owner
About the Owner
Tori Bissell is a Spearfish native. She is married to her wonderful husband, Ryan and has four kids. She enjoys working out, running, eating good food, and spending time with family and friends.
