Contributing to a healthier community in Wilkes County, North Carolina
The Ruby Pardue Blackburn Adult Day Health Care Center
Soon adults of fragile health will have a safe place to stay during the day. The Foundation has launched a fundraising effort to build an Adult Day Health Care Center at West Park.
The Ruby Pardue Blackburn Adult Day Health Care Center will open in the fall of 2008, the product of love, understanding and incredible cooperation and collaboration of many individuals and groups. It represents the hope of a better tomorrow for many families going through the throes of illness and decline. But what, exactly, is Adult Day Health Care? Adult Day Health Care is a sophisticated program designed around the premise that “there is no place like home” and that most people would prefer to live out their natural lives in their own home. But sometimes, due to aging, illness, injury, or medical condition we find that some people cannot remain safely in their home during the day. Adult Day Health Care is a safe, enriching place to take an adult loved one during the day. At Adult Day Care, a full time nurse is on staff to give participants their medicine and to monitor their individual health concerns. Patients with diabetes, heart conditions, breathing problems, or other medical conditions can be cared for here. Additionally, participants with physical limitations can receive physical therapy. This could be beneficial to people recovering from a stroke or a brain injury. Adults recovering from surgeries such as knee or hip replacements would also benefit, along with people who have arthritis, muscle disorders, or other physical frailties. People with behavioral problems like wandering, or with illnesses such as dementia or Alzheimer’s are also safe at an adult day care center. The facilities are designed to allow adults the freedom of enjoying many of their favorite pastimes in a home-like environment. This means that adults who arrive in the morning can enjoy a cup of coffee in the kitchen, sit down to a nice breakfast, or even roll out a pan of biscuits if the mood strikes. While you would never want someone with memory problems cooking by themselves, at the Adult Day Care Center someone will always be nearby to make sure no one leaves a pot on the stove unattended. At the center a full program of activities gives participants a chance to socialize, participate in games, learn new skills, and meet new people. This careful balance of social interaction and supervision has recently been proven to actually slow down the rate of mental decline in Alzheimer’s patients—one of the many groups of people who will be served at the center. It has also been shown to help ease the transition to nursing home care should the need arise. The home-like atmosphere of the center alsoincludes plenty of private bathrooms, a spa-like tub, a beauty salon/barber shop, a library, craft room, and two bedrooms for people who become sick or need to lie down during the day.
The Cost of Care Building A Sustainable Adult Day Care Center
Because Adult Day Health Care Centers are medical facilities governed and licensed by the State Division of Facility Services, building costs are fairly expensive. The program will be located in unfinished space at West Park, in the old Sky City Building.
Facility Renovation$1,120,421.00 Home-like furnishings must be able to stand up to the wear and tear of a commercial setting. They must also be designed to accommodate all forms of disability. Computer programs must meet patient privacy standards. And some of the equipment, like the specially designed Parker Bath, are highly specialized for safety and ease of patient use. Furniture, Equipment & Technology$290,500.00 On average, it takes three years to develop a large-enough clientele to fully support the costs of the program, which include a full-time nurse. Once demand reaches a certain point, most facilities become operationally self-sufficient. Long term care insurance, veteran’s benefits, and governmental programs serving disabled adults are some of the sources of revenue the center will rely upon. Start-up Income$303,000.00 Contributions to the project have assured enough income to begin construction and open the doors, but fundraising efforts are needed to cover a number of remaining amenities. The west-facing garden area will need extensive landscaping to provide shade, comfortable wandering paths, and a pergola-covered patio. Many of the programs take place outdoors, as exercise and exposure to sunshine are known to help prevent depression. Plans to add a covered a porte cochere (a covered car port for dropping off patients), covered walkway, automatic doors,and other items are dependent on the success of ongoing fundraising efforts. for information, or to make a contribution, contact Heather Murphy at 336-838-1949 or Wayne Myers at 336-838-3178
Our mission is to improve the health and well-being of the citizens of our area.
The mission of The Health Foundation is to improve the health and well-being of the citizens of Wilkes County. Here, former President Brad Shinaman, DDS accepts the Wilkes Chamber of Commerce 2004 Chairman's Award from Arnold Lakey. The award was presented in honor of The Foundation's outstanding service to the community.
Past projects include the Wilkes Regional Medical Center (WRMC) Family Center, West Park, The Wilkes Public Health Dental Clinic, the on-site helipad at WRMC, the Kidney Dialysis Center, and more.
The Foundation also awards yearly scholarships to students studying allied health care.
Board of
Craig R. Bennett, MD
George B. Collins
James W. Cook
Mary Lee G. Culler
William Dunn
Debbie Ferguson
Leonard G. Herring
Arnold N. Lakey
J. Richard Marlow
Joe Johnson
Directors
Thomas K. McMahan, MD
Dwight Pardue
James Smoak
Brad Shinaman, DDS
William Warden
Nicholas Wehrmann
Carl G. Yale
PRESIDENT Patricia Taylor
EXECUTIVE DIRECTOR Heather Murphy, CFRE
A poor man served by thee shall make thee rich;
A sick man helped by thee shall make thee strong;
Thou shalt be served thyself by every sense
of servicewhich thou renderest.
--Elizabeth Barrett Browning
The Health Foundation, Inc. a non profit 501(c) (3) organization 231 Jefferson Street PO Box 667 North Wilkesboro, North Carolina 28659 336.838.1949 phone 336.838.9214 fax Your contributions are tax deductible to the extent allowed by law
