Agenda - 05-20-2003-6a - Laserfiche WebLink

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donated by Carol Woods to reduce the upfit expense and the paint was paid for by the Friends of the Senior Center. Policies and Programming The state standards for certification provide developing centers a blueprint for the types of policies they need. The Central Orange Adult Day Health Center went above and beyond these standards by creating policies that will deliver care which promotes independence and self-care, maintains a participants' health and well-being and improves their quality of life. The policies were formed with the input of social workers, physical therapists, occupational therapists, nurses, and others with experience in the field of geriatrics and adult day services. (Policies available) The programming components, consisting of social, therapeutic and educational activities, were developed with the cooperation of students dedicated to providing innovative and progressive engagement of older adults. These were students and interns in such fields as occupational therapy, nursing, and social work. Staffing Collaboration was key to establishing the highly qualified staff at the center. The Department on Aging has contracted with the UNC School of Nursing who will provide a Registered Nurse (RN) who can also supervise nursing students, giving them more exposure and experience with the older adult population. The Department also has contracted with Home Health Solutions, who will provide a nurse's assistant responsible for the personal and health care needs required by some participants. Staffing agreements with both agencies were signed, and all staff were hired and trained in December, 2002. Certification Process With renovations, furnishings, policies and staffing in place, the center was due for its certification process. This extensive process involved inspections by the County's Fire Marshal, Building Inspections Division, and the State's Division of Environmental Health. The Department of Social Services also designated an adult day specialist who conducts an initial review of all the materials that make up the certification package (which contains over 80 pages of documents). The Department of Health also reviews the health care component of the center. When the package passed the county requirements, it was sent to the State Division of Aging and a state inspector reviewed the package and the physical environment itself, right down to measuring the square footage available to participants. After extensive state program review and further modifications, the N.C. Division of Aging issued a state adult day care operators license in March, 2003.