Adult Day Service reopens in Dublin
After a year of closure because of COVID-19, the 4,200 square foot Pulaski Adult Day Service & Fall Prevention Center reopened this week to the delight of staff and its founder/executive director, Linda Davis. For those who think (as I did previous to this tour) that the Center is similar to the doggie daycare concept where you merely drop off your loved one and pick them up a few hours later, you couldn’t be more wrong. The highly trained director and staff offer multiple services and therapies to help the Day Care participants improve their quality of life.
“We have the best educated, qualified and licensed staff available. At Pulaski Adult Day Service & Fall Prevention Center, we focus on quality of care. Our mission is to improve the participants’ function and quality of life. Many of our participants have been teachers, researchers, professors and nurses who have contributed to our community. Some have overcome tremendous physical and emotional challenges. We acknowledge their accomplishments and help build their self-esteem,” adds Davis.
Davis holds multiple degrees and certifications including Doctor of Nursing Practice degree (DNP) and Gerontological Clinical Nurse Specialist Certification (GCNS-BC). Additionally, she is certified in mental health practices and is adjunct faculty at Radford University. The Center is licensed by the Virginia Department of Social Services and employs Registered Nurses, Certified Nursing Assistants and Activity Assistants. The staff assess and monitor health conditions and will alert family members to changes in health, which helps prevent hospitalization.
“Many of us have taken care of family members and know what it’s all about. The gift of service is the greatest gift of all,” stated Davis, who provided long-term care for her own Mother. She dedicated the Clinic Room to her Mother, Bernice Davis.
At the Center participants are provided with breakfast, lunch (purchased from Pulaski CountySchool Dist.) and afternoon snack. Disabled adults with needs such as assistance with eating, toileting, ambulating, bathing/dressing and other special needs are cared for with respect and love. Many low to moderate income families in our area are served regardless of their ability to pay. Since opening in November 2016, the Center has provided care for 39 families with many of the participants remaining at the Center for 8-10 hours a day/5 days a week.
Participants are encouraged to enjoy the home-like atmosphere and become involved in meaningful activities which include gardening with the help of the Master Gardeners’ Club, music, games, dancing, socializing, exercise, crafts, artwork and using the interactive smart board donated by the CE Richardson Benevolent Foundation of Pulaski. The Foundation is also responsible for donating the ARJO Medical Therapy Tub which is very therapeutic because of the warm water and bubble jets.
The Center has established function-specific rooms to help with intake, evaluation and therapy for the participants. There is a fully functional exam room for health monitoring, a spa room, fall prevention equipment to help strengthen participants balance and prevent falls, a living-room area with comfy chairs and bookshelves, dining area, and outside gardens.
Since 2019, the Center has provided hands on clinical experiences in caring for older adults for 243 students from RU School of Nursing in the Gerontology Nursing course and Psychiatric and Mental Health Nursing course, RU School of Occupational Therapy Program and New River Community College Registered Nursing Program.
On hand to help in preparation for reopening of the Center, Lewis Gale Hospital donated boxes of paper plates, napkins, baby wipes, markers, colored pencils and storage bins in honor of National Doctors’ Day being celebrated May 30, 2021.
Davis is grateful for the generous donations from the Lewis Gale Hospital employees, as well as all the others who have contributed time, talents and funding to keep the Center open.
“The Center is absolutely God’s work. He gave me this project to help me through the loss of my Mother and provided the education and skills to take care of others. People should be celebrated, not overlooked and their accomplishments should be acknowledged. At the Pulaski Adult Day Service and Fall Prevention Center we get to do that. I see our participants as jewels,” Davis stated.
The Pulaski Adult Day Service and Fall Prevention Center is a 501c-3 Non-profit organization. For additional information or donations go to: https://www.facebook.com/pulaskiadultdayservice/ or call 540.307-5487.
Also, Davis says they are doing a webinar on Zoom with the Alzheimer’s Association on April 19th from 1:00-2:00 PM on Living with Alzheimer’s Disease. Call Davis to register.
By DANIELLE REID, The Patriot
