Meet the Founder of
Homeguard Senior Services, LLC

Hi, I'm Craig Okins, founder of Homeguard Senior Services.

I've spent much of my life fixing things, improving homes, solving problems, and figuring out how to make things work a little better.

I started doing household repairs when I was a teenager. Over the years, I've renovated fixer-uppers, owned and managed rental properties, worked as a caretaker, and tackled more household projects than I could possibly remember.

So when I first started thinking about Homeguard, the idea seemed pretty simple:

Help older adults take care of the little things around their homes that were becoming harder to do.

But the more time I spent with older adults, the more I began to realize there was something much bigger going on.

Sometimes It's Not the House That Needs Fixing

I began noticing people who had spent their entire lives working, raising families, farming, building businesses, caring for others, solving problems, and contributing to their communities suddenly wondering what came next.

Some were bored. Some had become less connected. Others had gradually stopped doing things they once enjoyed.

And I kept thinking: There has to be more we can do.

Maybe making someone's life better isn't always about fixing something that's wrong.

Maybe it's about helping them discover something they didn't know was possible.

An easier way to do something around the house. A new way to stay connected with family. Something interesting to learn. A project to work on. A skill they could teach someone else. A story worth preserving. A group they might enjoy joining—or even starting.

Sometimes one small idea can open an entirely new door.

That's What Homeguard Is Becoming

Today, Homeguard is about much more than taking care of a house.

It's about exploring ways to make everyday life easier, more comfortable, more connected, more interesting, and more meaningful as we get older.

We're gathering practical ideas for older adults themselves, for families who want to help without taking over, and for people who work with older adults and want to help them discover what's still possible.

Not every idea will be right for every person.

That's okay.

I'm not here to tell anyone how they should live their life. I'm here to keep opening doors.

To share ideas. Ask questions. Introduce possibilities. And hopefully, every once in a while, help someone discover something that makes life just a little better.

Why This Matters to Me

I still work part-time at Island Living, a senior living community in Bird Island, Minnesota. I help with maintenance, cook and serve meals when needed, and spend time talking with the people who live there.

Those conversations have taught me a lot.

Every person has a story. Every person has interests, experiences, opinions, knowledge, and abilities that are uniquely their own.

Getting older doesn't erase any of that.

And I don't believe retirement—or reaching 70, 80, 90, or beyond—means the interesting part of life has to be over.

There are still things to discover. There are still people to meet. There are still things to create, learn, teach, share, enjoy, and look forward to. And sometimes all it takes is one person saying:

“I came across something you might find interesting.”

That's the Homeguard I'd like to build.

Homeguard Began in Minnesota. The Ideas Are for Everyone.

Homeguard Senior Services is based in Renville County, Minnesota, where we continue to provide practical help to older adults in our local communities.

But this website is for anyone, anywhere, who believes getting older should be about more than simply getting through the day.

Whether you're exploring ideas for yourself, concerned about someone you love, or work with older adults, you're welcome here.

Take a look around. Follow whatever interests you. And maybe you'll discover one small idea that opens a door you weren't expecting.

It Started With Homes. Then It Became About Something Bigger