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The Citizen, Auburn, New York
Progress 2006
January 30, 2006
5
Open Monday through Friday, 8:00am - 4:00pm Flexible Schedule
For further information or to schedule a tour, please contact the
Admissions Office at 315-253-0351 ext. 244
Mercy Health & Rehabilitation Center
3 St. Anthony Street
Auburn, New York 13021
Mercy's Adult Medical Day Program Can Help!
A complimentary Guest Day Pass is
encouraged and available upon request,
Call 315-253-0351 ext 244
Medicaid, Private Insurance, VA assistance, Grants,
Private Pay welcomed.
M
Mercy's
Adult Medical
Day Program
Mercy's Adult Medical Day
Program is a community
based long term care
program that provides
comprehensive health care
services in a group setting.
Program participants are
provided with the medical
and supportive services they
need to remain at home and
part of their community.
Services offered include:
· Skilled Nursing Care
· Rehabilitation (Physical, Occupational and
Speech Therapy)
· Health Monitoring
· Personal Care
· Pharmacy Review
· Daily Hot Lunch
· Nutritional Services
· Therapeutic Recreation
· Case Management/ Social Services
· "Door to Door" Transportation
A jolly snowman has replaced the
scarecrow standing by the door outside
Mercy Health and Rehabilitation Cen-
ter's Adult Medical Day Program.
"We don't change where you live .....
Just how you live" touts a sign nearby.
Inside the doors, there's always a bus-
tle of activity from cooking to playing cards
to bingo.
Mercy's Adult Medical Day Program
is a community-based program that pro-
vides comprehensive health care servic-
es in a group setting. "The purpose of the
program is to enable clients to main-
tain their highest level of independence
while living in the community," said
Judy Greco, Director of the program.
Clients are enrolled in the program after
a comprehensive screening assessment
to identify their medical needs and types
of services required, and how those needs
can be met through the program. Services
can range from monitoring, observing and
maintaining an individual's health status
to creative interventions and utilization
of resources.
"Mercy's Adult Medical Day Pro-
gram is the only medical day program in
the county. Our clients are able to receive
skilled nursing care, rehabilitation ther-
apy, health monitoring, personal care,
daily hot lunch, therapeutic recreation,
door to door transportation, and a host
of other services," Greco said.
The program is staffed with medical
professionals, a licensed registered nurse,
a licensed practical nurse,certified nurse
aides, activity staff a registered dietician,
a social worker and licensed therapists.
Other services include podiatry, optom-
etry, psychological counseling, radiolo-
gy, pastoral care, dental care, an on site
beauty/barber shop and gift shop.
One big part of the program is the
recreation offered ranging from outside
picnics, gardening, holiday parties, to
daily discussions on current events and
health issues. Clients also like to offer
their volunteer services ... during the
month of December they made dog bis-
cuits for the Finger Lakes SPCA.
"The program provides not only a
hot noon meal but also offers some
clients breakfast, and can assist them to
prepare meals to take home for dinner.
We want to make sure that their nutri-
tional needs are met," said Greco. This
coming year the program hopes to estab-
lish a food pantry.
The program also coordinates out-
side doctor appointments, notifies clients
of availability of flu shots and, during a
recent water crisis in Auburn, made sure
clients had bottled water to take home.
For the second year, the program held
a harvest luncheon in November with
almost 80 clients, family and agency
contacts in attendance.. "It was a huge
turnout," Greco said, adding that clients
made all of the desserts.
It was in the late 1970s when the
concept of adult day care was first start-
ed and began with about 300 Centers
Nationwide. By the next decade, the
number of centers had jumped to 2,100
and has almost doubled since then accord-
ing to the National Adult Day Services
Association.
A little more than a year ago, Mercy's
day program increased from three to
five days and is open Monday through
Friday, from 8a.m. to 4p.m. Some clients
attend 1-2 days a week, others attend 5
days depending on their medical needs.
In the event the primary caregiver works
during the day, Mercy's Day Program
offers an alternative to nursing home
placement. According to Greco, "Mercy's
Adult Medical Day Program was the
best kept secret in Cayuga county, how-
ever that is no longer true. With sup-
port and referrals from numerous health
care agencies, physicians, family and
friends, our numbers have grown. We
still have space for additional clients,
and encourage anyone interested in the
program to give us a call and we would
be glad to have you join us for lunch, meet
the friendly daycare staff and see for
yourself how great the program is!"
Mercy's Adult Medical
Day Program Can Help
