Adult Day Care centers are the facilities for senior people and those who, for one reason or the other,  are unable to manage themselves, and their families need to devote their time to other important assignments at hand.

Very recently I got the opportunity to visit, one such centers, the Greenacres. Adult Day Care,  in West Palm Beach, Florida USA. And believe me it was altogether a new world to me.

I was amazed to see a place, where  people of different physical and mental disabilities are being taken care of, by a very well organized and professionally equipped team of care takers, including the center owners.

The property is amazingly furnished with state of art  ambience, infrastructure and other facilities necessary for a professionally run adult day care center.

On top of it, the personalized care of participants by the center owners, was something that added to the credibility of the center as the pioneer in the region.

The founder and CEO of the facility Sam Zutshi asserted that though they draw a very special feeling out of what they do at the center, but for running such a show successfully, one has to put in a lot of toil and hard work.

 Sam, while enlightening me on the system of working in these centers said that Dealing with people of altogether different states of mind, and different genders and age groups,  you need to be passionate and at the same time tough, energetic, agile and determined. You also need to have a professional know how and leadership qualities to maintain a sound balance between the participants and the staff.

Catering and hygiene has to be up to the prescribed standards of the agency which regulates these centers, said the CEO.

Besides fulfilling all homely routine requirements of the participants, like food and hygiene, attention has to be paid to all other things, which can add to the happiness, comfort and involvement of the participants, they have to provide amusement activities and some interesting indoor sports activities, added the Co founder and MD, Neil Zutshi.

While I was being taken around the center, I happened to see one of the most important person on the property, Ms.Sandy Mistry, who I was told holds the key position in the center and that she is the back bone and the ultimate driving force for the smooth running of the center.

While having a short interface with Sandy, I could feel her utmost sadness and regret about not getting her parents to the center. And they would live more, she said.

She went on expressing her special gratitude to Sam Zutshi, who put her in the all important position at the center, as she said that during her 25 years of experience in healthcare, she found herself at home at the Greenacres adult day Care center. 

I could see a passionate and  a dedicated  person in Sandy Mistry.

“Definitely, with selfless people like Sandy, on our side, we can go places,” asserted the enthusiastic CEO.

While talking to some of the participants at the facility, I was pleased to know that all of them were of the opinion that Sunrise adult day Care was a home away from home, to them.

One of the participants, Margie who  is 100 years old  said that she would not be at a better place than Greenacres. Her family after a thorough research, found this wonderful place for her, she said.

Stephanie, another participant at the center is blind and when I asked her about how she felt at the center, she overwhelmingly said that she could see everything with the eyes of the center owners, staff, nurses and fellow participants. She said doctors are hopeful of getting her sight back.

When asked what would she do the first thing after getting her sight back, she said she would first like to see the center owners, who according to her are the most friendly people she ever knew.

Karen, another participant, was all praise for the nurse  Sammie, but she equally liked the other nurse Nancy as well, she whispered.

She had some suggestions for more games, puzzles and DVD’s to be acuired at the center, for more fun and movies. She said she has her sister and brother-in-law to take care of at their place, but she likes to spend more time at the center. Her mother died 4 years back and she never saw her father who lives in New Jersey.

I could very easily make out, after interviewing them, that Greenacres adult day Care center, is what could be the ultimate destination for them.
What puzzled me a lot, was the magic show performed for the participants and the staff and nurses, by the CEO himself. This was something that held everyone  spell bound.

Sam Zutshi, who himself happens to be an ace magician and illusionist, brought a special feeling of joy and happiness to everyone at the center through his mesmirizing magic tricks and mind boggling illusions. And when asked about the show he put in for the amusement of the participants and the staff, he said that he draws pleasure and satisfaction,  out of everything he does for them. They are the source of strength for him, he asserted.

When asked about the future plans and upcoming activities which could be helpful for making the center more popular and people friendly, the founder director and CEO wasted no time in aprising me of very well thought plans, like taking the participants to outdoor trips, close to nature and also places of interest for them. 

Mr. Zutshi said he would like to take the participants and the staff to wild life centuries, museums, historical monuments,sea beaches and various other places of interest, in and around Florida. This to me was definitely something innovative of the CEO.

Well, All I could learn, as a keen observer, was that if you are instrumental in bringing​ an unending happiness to the people who need care and revive an inspiration in them to live, you are definitely doing a great service to the Mankind.

The agencies which are responsible for the smooth running of these people friendly centers, need to be  working in close coordination  and with  a sense of belongingness, as a large part of the society is directly associated with these centers.Especially those, who want to take a very good care of their dear ones, but due to their pre occupations and personal constraints can not do so, and are obligated to put them in day care centers, so that they get a homely feeling and are safe and secure.