Dotson has a program aide who takes care of food preparation and activities for the clients. The meals are provided by a Lexington catering service.
Even with the aide, Dotson currently is the only medically-trained person on the staff and she can't leave to meet with community leaders to tell them about the changes in the program. Each five clients make the center eligible for another nurse.
When there are 10 clients attending the program, a certified nursing assistant can be added. However, Dotson said, once there are eight or nine clients, an assistant director may be added to the staff.
Many levels of care
While not every level of care is available, clients with physical and mental disabilities including Alzheimer's Disease, dementia, Parkinson's Disease, cerebral palsy, Down Syndrome, mental retardation, people with unsteady balance, and people who use oxygen or have feeding tubes can be accepted.
Before a person is accepted for the program, the person must be recommended by a physician and reviewed by home health personnel to assess the client's needs. The center accepts Medicaid payments for its services and the home health agency can assist in qualifying people for that program. The center also accepts private payments.
Transportation can be provided and the center is open from 7:30 a.m. until 4 p.m. As the center's clientele grows, those hours may be adjusted.
For people unfamiliar with the center that opened about a year ago, it is attached to the Mercer County Senior Citizens Center which is adjacent to Anderson-Dean Community Park on the east side U.S. 127 North.
To encourage care givers to take a day off, give possible clients a taste of the program at the center, and grow the number of clients using the program, the center is offering a free day for prospective clients.
For more information about the program or to enroll a person for the free day, call Dotson at (859) 734-5187.
