Church Community Breathes New Life into Prime Time Adult Care in Bethel Park
By Lois Thomson
As executive director of Prime Time Adult Care, Heather Deerfield received a nice surprise at the facility last year. The organization is located in Christ United Methodist Church in Bethel Park, and the church has a retired men's group that performs maintenance projects.
Deerfield said the pastor reached out to her about the church doing a special offering for Prime Time Adult Care during last year's Easter giving. As a result, Deerfield said the men's group "refreshed our entire (main) room – they painted, removed some shelving, made it look really fresh and more modern."
She said the project took a couple of months to complete. "They did it on weekends and evenings so it didn't interrupt our programming. We didn't have to move anywhere; it was really nice."
The main room is where just about everything takes place – activities, lunches, etc. – so days without interruption are important for Prime Time Adult Care. The facility is an adult day center that provides services to those with a variety of needs in the South Hills. It is open from 8 a.m. to 4 p.m. Monday through Friday and provides care for adults whose needs range from socialization to dementia care.
Deerfield discussed things that might occur during a typical day: "Our focus is really on person-centered wellness – the whole person – trying to make sure we're giving them a little bit of everything: physical activity, mental stimulation, and socialization. We make sure they're getting all-around care."
“It’s very important for participants to have some type of schedule and structure, and attending at least two days a week is an effective way to create that structure. It just depends on what works for the family and the participant.”
She went on to say that the Prime Time activity coordinator does an amazing job of partnering with the community and artists for events. "One of the popular activities is the Go Team Therapy Dogs. They come every week, and the participants love it. It is such a wonderful program to have." The facility also includes families in some of the events, such as a summer picnic and a holiday party in December that featured entertainment and a luncheon. One participant and his wife even asked if they could be Santa and Mrs. Claus.
In addition, Deerfield said there is a nurse on staff five days a week and she creates a care plan for each participant. "She does vitals every month and looks at different areas to see how they're doing. It's an excellent way for us to help the families and caregivers by making sure they know what we see."
Overall, Deerfield said her first year-plus at Prime Time Adult Care has been "great. It was what I hoped for, it met and exceeded my expectations."
Prime Time Adult Care, located in Christ United Methodist Church in Bethel Park, started as a mission of the church in 1985. For more information, call (412) 835-6661 or visit www.primetimeadultcare.com.