As soon as the doors open at 7:30 a.m. at the Sampson County Adult Day Health Center, clients are greeted by bright yellow walls lined with paper decorations and other handmade crafts.
Located on Fisher Drive near First Methodist Church in Clinton, the adult day care provides a change of scenery for each of its clients and a respite for their caretakers. The center caters to adults with intellectual or physical disabilities, who are age 60 and over.
“We’re really looking to get our name out there and let people know we’re here,” said staff member Casey Whaley. “We’ve got some slots for new clients available and we’re really looking to fill those slots.”
While the exact number of client slots available is hard to nail down due to different time slots being taken up for each person, Whaley stated that the center is looking to substantially increase its number of clients.
According to the center’s staff, the general criteria for being accepted to the center is that the incoming client must have at least two aspects of daily living that they need help with. This might include eating, showering, walking, etc.
In addition to offering clients a place to go, Whaley said the center could also be a service to their loved ones.
“We’re just here to offer their loved ones a little bit of a break during the day,” said Whaley. “If nothing else, it gets the clients out of the house for a little while. It’s good stimulation for them. They get out and interact with other people here.”
The center offers a wide array of services to its clients. This includes an exercise room, daily activities, arts and crafts, and a nurse on staff. The center also provides snacks, warm meals and occasionally holds events for the clients to partake in. Past events include a luau and a car show. More recently, the center has also offered a bingo night and a karaoke night. All in all, the center offers a place for clients to gather and socialize with each other, creating its own little community.
While Sampson County might be in the name, the center is open to anyone. According to Whaley, many patients rely on local transportation such as buses to get to the center. The average cost of admission to the center is $80 per day. However, if that is not affordable, some grants are available to cover the cost. It is worth noting that citizens outside of Sampson County will not be eligible for the grant. If you are interested in applying for the grant, just stop by the center to pick up the application packet for more information.
The Sampson County Adult Day Health Center is open Monday through Friday from 7:30 a.m. to 4:30 p.m. If you are interested in applying for yourself or a loved one, call 910-592-7787 or stop by the center at 210 Fisher Drive. More information can be found on the center’s Facebook page, under Sampson County Adult Day Health Care Center.