Staff and officials welcomed visitors during an open house for the new Valley Health Services adult day health care facility at Little Falls Hospital Tuesday afternoon.
Cheryl LaQuay, RN, director of the adult day health care program, said there was a need for this expansion. She said it strives to help adults with health concerns to remain living independently in their own homes while receiving attention to their personal and health care needs.
Construction began on the new facility in September and it opened on Feb. 10. The facility features a relaxation room, a multi-purpose social room, lockers for the staff, an exam room and a bathroom suite.
Kathy Eisenhut, assistant administrator of Valley Health Services, said the expansion was needed to help meet the growing needs of the health care community. She said it was through the help of several grants that made the expansion possible, including $100,000 from the Community Foundation of Herkimer and Oneida Counties and $266,000 from the Heal NY 2 grant. She also said the state Department of Transportation contributed two vans for the program and the Dale Trust Fund provided the special bathtub.
Visitors said they were curious about the facility and to see if it would be the right fit for people in their families.
“It’s a lovely facility,” said Donna Crocker.
Besides doing activities at the center, LaQuay said the staff also try to incorporate outings, such as to the movies or an Adirondack Scenic Railroad train ride. Eisenhut said they also do trips to Fly Creek and make trips to the mall. Registrants are given a calendar of daily activities.
“It’s not just coming and sitting and looking at the walls all day,” she said.
LaQuay encouraged people who are interested in the facility to contact them about their services. She said many times people think they are not eligible when the program really is open to them.
Contact LaQuay at 866-3330, ext. 165, for more information or go to the Web site www.valleyhealthservices.org.
An adult day health care program is also held at the Folts Home in Herkimer.
Little Falls, N.Y. —
