East Valley Adult Day Care

BJ: "This is an act of faith.."

By Adrienne Campbell

Mesa---The Adult Day Health Care (ADHC) Center at Love of Christ Lutheran Church in Mesa is under new leadership. Elizabeth J. (Betty Jo) Jacobs is the new Program Manager. Our best wishes go to Jackie Murdoch, the previous Program Manager, as she meets the demands of completing her professional nursing degree.

Betty Jo has 25 years of nursing experience and a BSN degree from Arizona State University. She has held a variety of positions throughout the Phoenix community. Betty Jo worked for five years in hospice care as a case manager for the home care of the terminally ill and their families.

Client quality of life is her and her staff's number one concern. For her every day serving in a non-profit is both rewarding and challenging. "I am gaining a fuller appreciation of the term-to serve," explained Betty Jo. "I must wear many hats in my job-as an administrator, leader, healer and consoler. When the FAX machine jams, I must fix it. When employees are frustrated by a situation, I must step in and help bring them back together. When a client is sad or a family member concerned, I must put aside whatever I am doing and make time for them."

Running a licensed ADHC center is demanding. The facility, the paperwork, meals, and the quality of care the clients receive must meet the strictest of state standards. DayBreak, LSS-SW's term for its ADHC centers, receive their clients through Area Agency on Aging and other state or county health and human services agencies. Every year Arizona's Department of Health Services inspects our facilities and program.

Traci Gruenberger, Vice President for Development and Operations has been with the agency for nearly ten years. Over that time Traci says she has seen the DayBreak program evolve from an activity center for seniors to a center providing respite from and assistance with the demands of providing health care for frail seniors not ready for a nursing home but needing attentive care.

"During the day, our clients' health needs are carefully watched, but most importantly we are attending to their sense of self-worth during the five to eight hours they are with us," explained Betty Jo. "We average 16 clients a day, and they have a range of abilities and challenges. Our Activities Coordinator, Joy Kramer has an exceptional level of creativity and compassion."

Adult Day Health Care Center provides clients with a therapeutic recreation program. To keep minds stimulated, Joy plans discussions about current events, engages clients in word games and mind teasers. She organizes fun and varied physical activities from goofy ping-pong using a balloon to outings like picnics or mini-fishing expeditions. She introduces some creativity into their day with craft projects and art.

Volunteers are invaluable to the program. "We cannot thank the congregation at Love of Christ Lutheran Church for their support: Carol Posze and Andrea Clary have been helping for quite along time, and new volunteers Sharon Ginter, Penny Day and Fran Olson answered my prayers for additional help," explained Betty Jo. Visiting musicians and dancers volunteer their time to bring additional energy and excitement to the program.

There are currently 24 people enrolled in the program here. Diane Pfeiff and Bob Grave drive the vans that pickup many of our clients. From the moment a client is helped into the agency's van to come to the center and throughout their day, all the staff's eyes and hearts are devoted to each client.

Betty Jo turned down a higher paying job right after LSS-SW hired her. "This is where I need to be. This is an act of faith for me, to be a part of social ministry, right on the grounds of the very church I attend."

ADHC at 1525 N. Power Road in Mesa is open Tuesday, Wednesday and Thursday from 8:30 to 5 p.m. Betty Jo's goal for her program is to be open five days a week and to reach that goal ADHC needs more volunteers. If you would like more information about the program or want to volunteer, please call 480-981-6260. ADHC programs are also located in Apache Junction, 480-671-3086, and in Tucson, 520-795-0524..