Who We Are
We're people just like family giving care to the elderly and handicapped. Ideal Care is professionally operated by John & Kathy Magee. Contact John Magee or Kathy Magee. Their thirst to assist families who need caregiving for a special family member is only matched by their desire to serve others. having this premise as the foundation from which to grow they have built their ministry upon meeting the needs of the physically and mentally impaired.



John & Kathy Magee

Southern hospitality is simply a way of life for John and Kathy Magee. In fact, it has become their mission.

John Magee, a native of Jackson, Mississippi, grew up picking cotton, swimming in creeks, and watching his grandfather break horses. His favorite thing to do as a child was listen to his grandfather's stories afterward. He drove his grandmother places whenever she needed him to. John slipped out in the evenings to spend time with his grandfather or his aunt and uncle. His desire to help and spend quality time with people started at a very early age.

In 1977, John graduated from Mississippi State University with a Bachelor's of Science in Educational Psychology. He met Kathy Magruder when she moved to Jackson with her family and they married in 1977. John spent the next five years in sales, primarily in the gas industry. In 1982, with two young children, the Magees moved to Riverton, Wyoming, where John supervised 32 residents and 40 employees at the State Training School for the Mentally Handicapped. This experience reinforced John's desire to help those who need special care.

Kathy Magee, originally from St. Matthews, spent every Saturday of her young life with her grandmother, Idelle. Kathy would fix Idelle's hair, do her nails, and iron for her. it was Idelle who got Kathy loving music because when she visited, Idelle would play the organ and sing. Idelle had tea parties and kathy would entertain her guests. This was the beginning of Kathy's aspirations to be an opera singer or one day perform on Broadway.

Kathy also graduated from Mississippi State with a Bachelor's of Science in Speicial Education and a Voice minor. She taught kindergarten for one year and then decided to stay home with her growing family. Kathy became very active in the community and in her church. She sang often at weddings and dinner parties. She chaired numerous events and committees at her church. She has a multi-faceted gift for hostessing and making an evening absolutely memorable for guests.

In May 1985, John and Kathy received a phone call that her grandmother, Idelle, was suffering with Alzheimer's disease. Without hesitation, the Magees packed their things and moved to Louisville to take care of Idelle. John, Kathy, and their children moved in with Idelle and cared for her full-time for three years. It was during this time that the Magees recognized a definite need in our cummunity for specialized care for patients like Idelle. They attended Alzheimer's support groups and heard the same story over and over. Where do we go? How can we care from them? The Magees lived and shared that story, too.

In September 1988, John and Kathy Magee forged their own path and began Ideal Care, named after her late grandmother, Idelle. The ministry began as in-home care, but their sights were set on providing another option for their clients. The Magees wanted an affordable, safe, warm, and stimulating place for their clients to come and be social, while giving their caregivers a break.

In 1999, they found just such a place. John and Kathy purchased an expansive home with an in-ground pool, hot tub, tennis court, and basketball court and opened The Corinthian in January 2000. The property was zoned residential and commercial, it was handicap accessible, and it was a dream come true for the Magees. Although the Magees are enjoying the realization of their dream, they are hardly finished. Their goal is to provide a Corinthian in every corner of the community, and eventually nationwide.

John and Kathy share similar childhood experiences of spending time with their grandparents, and ironically, they continue to take on the same roles they did as children. John sits and listens as clients reminisce, many times telling a story they've told him before. He listens intently each time and enjoys recognizing people's gifts and God-given talents, even through the confusion of dementia. Meanwhile, Kathy sings and entertains, prepares gourmet lunches (always with fine china), and takes leisurely strolls outside with clients. She makes the day memorable for her clients, even if only for a moment. Kathy says that her intentions of performing in an opera or singing on Broadway were simply met with a different audience.

John and Kathy Magee stand firm that the best situation for any loved one who needs long-term care is to remain in their own home with as normal routine as possible. However, the second best situation for any loved one who needs long-term care is to remain in their own home with as normal routine as possible. However, the second best situation is for that patient to come to a beautiful place that is incredibly close to home. The Magees are deeply committed to their Christian faith and feel they were led to do exactly what they are doing. When asked "am I my brother's keeper," their answer is a very simple "yes."