About US

Hello, 

My name is Emily Wilson Barnes, and I am the founder of A Range Home LLC.

When my grandparents moved later in life, their children were able to devote a

tremendous amount of time, energy, and research into finding and creating a home

environment that would be worthy of their cherished loved ones. This labor of

love greatly benefited my grandparents’ quality of life.  There were some challenges,

but they were well-supported and very grateful for their children's devotion to their

well-being.

Over the years, this got me thinking about how difficult this kind of planning and

transition would be.  I started to worry that I would not be prepared to provide my loved ones with the high-quality support they might need someday, and it seemed like everyone I spoke with had a similar concern when the topic came up.  I realized my fear had revealed a great opportunity to create a business that would help not just my loved ones, but others, too.  I conceived the idea of A Range Home.

I have lived in Kansas my whole life.  I grew up on a beautiful farm and ranch in the

Flint Hills of Kansas. I attended Kansas State University where I received a BFA in

painting, and after graduation I worked at an assisted living community in Manhattan,

KS called Meadowlark Hills in Verna Belle’s Café. There, I enjoyed baking pies,

cooking and serving brunch to a fantastic group of regular patrons. I loved getting to

know the friendly residents and this work inspired me to pursue a career where I could work directly with people.

I completed coursework to receive a pre-K-12 art education license through Emporia

State University’s Graduate School. While studying at ESU I taught art classes for

children and adults of all ages at the Emporia Arts Council.  After receiving my art

education license, I moved to Lawrence to teach elementary art for the Lawrence

Public Schools and then the Lawrence Arts Center where I had several roles.  I taught

preschool, helped develop and teach a kindergarten program, and created and led

numerous summer camps for early childhood students. I also worked as a studio

manager, organizing and preparing spaces and supplies for the early childhood

education team.  Working with the amazing and inspiring teachers at LAC changed

my perception of education and childhood development. 

As a teacher working with hundreds of children and their families and guardians, I

learned a lot about people of all ages.  I learned how to make my positive attitude and encouraging personality an important asset in my work.  I developed a set of management skills including guiding transitions, creatively solving problems, adapting environments for purpose, and planning for the known and unknown.  I regularly identified strengths and targeted areas for growth, created goals, implemented plans, and revised strategies to help my students achieve their goals and discover an intrinsic love of learning. Though the demographics of early childhood and elders are vastly different, the management and interpersonal skills I developed through teaching, and my background of working with older adults and families, have given me a strong foundation for A Range Home’s services.   

In 2020, when my classes abruptly ended and many of the aspects of teaching that I

loved were no longer part of my job, I decided to pursue the education I would need to

make my business idea a reality. I wanted A Range Home LLC to provide older adults

and others with a positive, professional ally who offers one-on-one expert guidance and support to achieve an optimal home and high-quality lifestyle, similar to the loving care my grandparents received.  

I joined the National Association of Senior and Specialty Move Managers and received training to become a Senior and Specialty Move Manager and @Home specialist. I read books on organizing, moving, and aging in place.  I took every webinar I could find on issues related to caregiving, aging, moving, diversity, organizing, and business.  I also sought out the National Association of Home Builders’ Teacher of the Year to train me to become a Certified Aging in Place Specialist. I spent months combining all the resources and knowledge I gained from these trainings to develop A Range Home’s services.

Life can be unpredictable, and many aspects are out of our control, but when we clarify what we need to live our best life, and we take steps to prepare and adapt for a range of possibilities, we can have some peace of mind.  My hope is that A Range Home can positively impact people’s lives, and I look forward to growing and learning along with my clients and their loved ones. I am so grateful that I have had the opportunity to create this business, and I could not have done it without the support of my amazing husband and wonderful family.  I am excited to begin this meaningful work and use my positive energy and encouraging personality to empower and serve the wonderful people of Lawrence and Eastern Kansas.  

Emily Wilson Barnes