Polk County seeks service provider for adult daycare

Published 6:19 pm Monday, February 23, 2009

Commissioners are inviting interested providers to visit both the Carolina Classical School (future senior center) and the Green Creek Family Life Center to see if anyone is interested in providing an adult daycare in one or both facilities.

David Page of the Green Creek Family Life Center board of directors reviewed the current facility Monday and answered questions from commissioners. Page said the Green Creek center about 10 years ago was interested in beginning an adult daycare and was certified by the state to house an adult daycare and health center, which is one level up in terms of capabilities from an adult daycare. It is still uncertain if the Green Creek Center was actually licensed for an adult daycare.

Page said Green Creek was not interested in being in the business of running the center. The organization wanted to provide the space, but could not secure a provider at the time. Page said the family life center is still not interested in management of the adult daycare center, but does wish to provide the space.

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Tentatively, Page said the Green Creek Family Life Center would consider charging the county around $250 per month from the county plus utilities. The space could currently house up to 20 participants, Page said.

Page presented a slide show of the Green Creek Family Life Center and said his board was excited to hear the county is interested in starting the service because his board has seen the need for years.

Because of the economic times and the ability to use the Green Creek facility with no remodeling or start-up costs, he suggested that the county begin an adult daycare there and possibly grow to a large facility later.

The daycare room in Green Creek is already furnished, has exit doors to outside and the hallway, has handicapped accessible restrooms, a commercial cafeteria and kitchen that already serves meals to seniors and indoor and outdoor recreational opportunities.

Page also noted that the center is within &rac12; mile of the Green Creek Fire Department with first responder services, and the Green Creek Family Life Center has an office for the sheriff&squo;s office as a substation for extra security.

Page also said in the event that state regulations have become more stringent and the center no longer meets certification, the family life center has about $30,000 available for any needed upgrades or future growth.

&dquo;It&squo;s ready to go now,&dquo; said Page. &dquo;We feel like it would benefit the county economically.&dquo;

Commissioner Ray Gasperson, who brought the Green Creek facility idea to the table Monday, said he&squo;d like to get a sense of how much interest and need for an adult daycare is out there.

Gasperson has invited the public to contact him if they are interested in participating in an adult daycare center at either location.

Gasperson&squo;s voicemail is 828-859-8078. His email address is ray4polk@yahoo.com.

The county in the meantime will contact possible providers and check on the Green Creek center&39;s certification status.

It is unclear how the county would house an adult daycare at the new senior center as current space is all being allocated for the senior center. Commissioners discussed recently the possibility of adding onto the former school or temporarily housing an adult daycare in a rear building at the new senior center that is planned to house a recreation room.