In-Focus Advertorial | Published August 14, 2025
WARREN — When The Arbor Inn opened its doors in 1975, “assisted living” was virtually unknown in Michigan. Founder Carl Ruby recognized the need as people were living longer and often required help with daily activities but did not need nursing home care.
“Carl had owned a similar community in downtown Detroit and felt there would be a need out in the suburbs,” said Director of Operations Lou Petroni, who is also Ruby’s grandson. “Back then, there weren’t many options for seniors outside the city.”
Ruby selected Warren for its potential for long-term growth, and construction of the 146-bed community was completed that same year. Across the street, St. Malachy Catholic Church was also being built. Clergy have maintained a relationship with The Arbor Inn for five decades and still come weekly to hold Mass for residents.
From the start, The Arbor Inn has offered private and semi-private rooms, along with services such as cooking, cleaning, laundry and medication management. Residents enjoy the three landscaped courtyards, activity rooms, outings and seasonal events such as barbecues and picnics.
A multigenerational tradition
Over the years, the community’s family-centered approach has extended beyond the Ruby family. Executive Director Mary Sieger joined in 1977, and many staff members have had multiple relatives work there.
“Our administrator’s son worked here in high school and is now director of dietary,” said Admissions Director Tara Yagonczak. “Both of my sons have worked here. One still does. It’s all about family here.”
Petroni recalls his mother and aunt visiting residents every Christmas. “That kind of involvement has always been part of who we are,” he said. “We know every square inch of this building, every resident’s name and story.”
That closeness has led to unique connections. Some residents have called The Arbor Inn home for more than two decades, and the children of past residents often come to the community when it’s time for the next generation to need care.
Adapting to changing needs
While the mission to provide safe, affordable care with dignity has remained constant, the needs of residents have evolved.
“We are now seeing more people with memory issues,” Petroni said. To meet those needs, The Arbor Inn opened the Reflections memory care unit in 2022, providing a secure setting for residents with Alzheimer’s disease or other forms of dementia to remain in familiar surroundings as their needs change.
The community has adapted to technology demands with Wi-Fi upgrades and streaming capabilities. “We have residents who FaceTime with their families and use Alexa—things the building wasn’t designed for 50 years ago,” Yagonczak said.
Commitment to affordability
In an era when many assisted living communities are run by large corporate chains, The Arbor Inn’s independence helps keep costs within reach for a range of incomes.
“We keep people at whatever they can afford to pay,” Petroni said. “If someone has spent their savings, we’ll work with their income.”
The Arbor Inn also partners with PACE of Southeast Michigan and Macomb County Veteran Services to help support veterans and their family members, along with lower-income residents. “The affordability is the icing on the cake,” Yagonczak said. “We have options for people from every economic background, and many ways to help them age in place without disruption.”
Beyond serving its residents, The Arbor Inn offers public seminars on topics like hospice care, veteran benefits and the differences between independent living, assisted living and memory care. “Even if someone doesn’t choose The Arbor Inn, I still want to make sure they get the right information,” Yagonczak said. “If we can be a resource, that’s part of our job.”
The community’s ties to the broader public run deep. Local schoolchildren visit to trick-or-treat, and church groups hold services and events. Some families of former residents even return to volunteer.
Now 90, Ruby still visits often. Petroni said his grandfather remains focused on quality and accountability. “He will not accept anything less than 110 percent for our residents,” he said. “That’s been the standard from the start.”
Yagonczak credits that standard with keeping the building well-maintained and the staff engaged. “It’s rewarding to know residents are taken care of, that someone is greeting them every day with dignity and respect,” she said.
Petroni hopes to see The Arbor Inn continue for many more decades to come. “We will always adapt,” he said. “But the core will stay the same: treating residents like they’re our own family and offering them a safe, welcoming place to call home.”
The Arbor Inn is located at 14030 E. 14 Mile Rd. in Warren. For more information, call (586) 296-3260 or visit thearborinn.net. Follow “The Arbor Inn” on Facebook.