Today we’d like to introduce you to UNICE YEO.
Hi UNICE, can you start by introducing yourself? We’d love to learn more about how you got to where you are today?
From Runways to Residences: The Remarkable Journey of Unice Yeo
My story is not a straight line — it is a series of pivots, each one shaped by courage, circumstance, and an unwavering desire to live with purpose.
I began my career as a fashion designer in South Korea, immersed in the world of creativity and aesthetics that I loved. In 2009, I took a leap of faith and moved to New York City, where I built a life as a fashion designer in Manhattan — one of the most competitive and exhilarating places in the world to pursue that dream.
By 2017, I had reached a milestone that many designers only dream of. I launched Swing Golf, a golf apparel brand, into the American market — and within a short time, we were supplying to Trump Golf properties. It was a moment that validated years of hard work, creativity, and relentless determination.
And then, everything stopped.
A breast cancer diagnosis changed the course of my life overnight. I returned to South Korea to focus on treatment and recovery — stepping away from the career I had built and the city I had called home. It was one of the most difficult chapters of my life, but it was also the most transformative.
When I recovered and returned to Maryland in 2023, I came back a different person. The drive to create beautiful things was still there, but something deeper had shifted. I no longer wanted to design clothes. I wanted to design lives — meaningful, dignified, joyful lives for people who needed care and compassion.
Through a personal connection, I was introduced to Aberdeen House III, a licensed residential assisted living facility in Rockville, Maryland. I took it on with no background in nursing or healthcare. The learning curve was steep. There were moments of doubt, exhaustion, and uncertainty. But I kept going — because the work mattered in a way that nothing else had before.
Today, I run Aberdeen House III as its owner and Assisted Living Manager, and I am simultaneously pursuing pre-nursing studies at Montgomery College to deepen my clinical knowledge. Every day, I wake up knowing that the residents in my care may be living the final chapter of their lives. That reality does not weigh me down — it drives me forward. It reminds me that every meal, every conversation, every small moment of joy I can give them matters more than I can put into words.
I went from designing garments on runways to designing days filled with warmth, dignity, and love for the people who have trusted me with their most vulnerable years. I would not trade this path for anything.
If my journey has taught me one thing, it is this: sometimes the most meaningful work finds you only after life has broken you open.
Can you talk to us a bit about the challenges and lessons you’ve learned along the way. Looking back would you say it’s been easy or smooth in retrospect?
Smooth? Not even close — and I would not have it any other way.
When I stepped into Aberdeen House III, I was facing two very significant challenges at once. First, English is not my first language. Navigating the complex world of healthcare regulations, medical terminology, family communications, and government compliance in a language that is not your mother tongue is genuinely humbling. There were moments where I had to work twice as hard just to make sure I was fully understood — and that I fully understood others. Every document, every phone call, every meeting required an extra layer of focus and determination.
Second, my entire professional background was in art and design — a world away from nursing and elder care. I had no clinical training, no healthcare experience, and no roadmap. I was learning everything from the ground up, often in real time, while simultaneously being responsible for the wellbeing of real people who were depending on me every single day.
There were moments that were exhausting, overwhelming, and deeply uncertain. I will not pretend otherwise.
But here is what carried me through: I showed up with my whole heart every single day. I treated every resident not as a patient or a client, but as a person — someone’s mother, father, grandmother, grandfather — deserving of warmth, dignity, and genuine care. I paid attention to every detail, no matter how small. I listened. I noticed. I stayed.
And slowly, people noticed too.
The families of our residents began to trust me — not because I had a nursing degree on the wall, but because they could see how much I genuinely cared. Referral agencies and placement professionals who work with facilities across the region began to take note of the attentiveness and consistency at Aberdeen House III. Their recognition and positive feedback became a powerful affirmation that sincerity and dedication can bridge the gap that credentials alone cannot fill.
I am also currently enrolled in pre-nursing studies at Montgomery College, continuing to build the clinical knowledge that complements the care I already provide from the heart.
If there is one thing I have learned from this journey, it is that you do not have to be perfect to make a profound difference in someone’s life. You just have to be present, be consistent, and refuse to give up — even when the road is anything but smooth.
Thanks for sharing that. So, maybe next you can tell us a bit more about your business?
Aberdeen House III is not a facility. It is a home — and that distinction means everything.
We are a small, private residential assisted living community in Rockville, Maryland, caring for up to eight residents at a time. That intimacy is intentional. It allows us to truly know each person in our care — their preferences, their habits, their stories, their fears, and their joys. In a world where senior care can so easily become routine and impersonal, we choose to do things differently.
Professional Care You Can Trust
What sets Aberdeen House III apart is the combination of heartfelt, personalized care and a robust network of medical professionals and services that most small facilities simply cannot offer.
Our residents have access to a Nurse Practitioner (NP) who visits monthly and is available by phone at any time for urgent medical needs. Our Delegating Nurse (DN) provides ongoing clinical oversight, ensuring that all care delivered at our facility meets the highest professional standards. Together, they form the backbone of a medically sound care environment — one where families can have complete confidence in the level of attention their loved one receives.
We also partner with Medicine Shoppe Pharmacy to provide a seamless, one-stop medication management service. This includes prescription management, regular medication deliveries, blister pack packaging for accuracy and safety, and 24-hour pharmacist availability. Medications are organized, tracked, and administered with precision — so nothing is ever missed.
Aberdeen House III is licensed to provide care from Level 1 through Level 3, including hospice support. Whether your loved one needs minimal assistance or more complex, end-of-life care, we are equipped and committed to being there every step of the way.
Government Programs We Accept
We are proud to accept both the Medicaid Waiver Program and the Montgomery County Subsidy Program, making high-quality, professional care accessible to more families regardless of financial circumstance. Our rates range from $3,500 to $6,000 per month depending on the level of care required.
The Heart Behind the Care
What I am perhaps most proud of is the spirit that runs through everything we do. When I was diagnosed with breast cancer, my entire worldview shifted. Through years of research, lifestyle changes, and an unwavering commitment to nutrition and healing, I became cancer-free. That deeply personal journey is now woven into the care I provide every single day.
I apply those same principles — organic where possible, thoughtfully sourced ingredients, quality fats, balanced proteins, and nutrient-dense vegetables — to the meals I prepare for our residents. Because I have lived the difference that good nutrition makes, and I cannot unknow that.
Beyond the clinical and the nutritional, what truly defines Aberdeen House III is love. I do not see myself as a facility director or a manager. I see myself as a mother. I feed these residents the way I would feed my own children. I clothe them with care, ensure they sleep in comfort and safety, and I sit with them — truly sit with them — in the ordinary moments that make a life feel worth living.
These residents may be in the final chapter of their lives. That reality fills me not with sadness, but with a profound sense of purpose. If I can make even one day brighter, one meal more nourishing, one moment more full of warmth and dignity — then I have done something that matters.
I sometimes think to myself: perhaps one day, in heaven, we will meet again with smiles on our faces. That thought keeps me going.
That is what Aberdeen House III is. That is what we stand for. And that is what I will never stop fighting to provide.
So, before we go, how can our readers or others connect or collaborate with you? How can they support you?
There are three simple ways to connect with Aberdeen House III.
1. Families Seeking a Home for Their Loved Ones
If your family member needs assisted living care — whether transitioning from a skilled nursing facility, rehabilitation center, or simply needing more support at home — we invite you to reach out. Our rates range from $3,500 to $6,000 per month, and we accept both the Medicaid Waiver Program and the Montgomery County Subsidy Program. Please visit aberdeenhouse3.my.canva.site or email aberdeen3md@gmail.com to schedule a tour.
2. Healthcare and Social Work Professionals
If you are a social worker, discharge planner, or care manager looking for a trusted placement partner in the Montgomery County area, we would love to connect. We accommodate a wide range of care needs from Level 1 through Level 3, including hospice, and we accept both government subsidy programs. We are always happy to discuss how we can best serve your clients.
3. Community Members Who Want to Make a Difference
If you are a volunteer, faith organization, or community group looking to bring joy and connection to seniors — there is a place for you here. Whether it is organizing an activity, sharing a skill, or simply spending time with our residents, your presence makes a real difference. Please reach out anytime.
Aberdeen House III, LLC | Rockville, Maryland | aberdeen3md@gmail.com | www.aberdeenhousethree.com
Pricing:
- Shared room $3500 monthly
- private room $5000 monthly
Contact Info:
- Website: https://aberdeenhouse3.my.canva.site/
