RossWoods grand opening is Sunday

Days before the unveiling of the RossWoods Adult Day Services facility in Dalton, Debbie Macon was painstakingly completing a stenciling on the wall in the kitchen activity area.

It reads: “Count your blessings.”

The words are a reminder for the participants at RossWoods, but also apply to the almost six-year journey that led to the creation of the only adult day care program with a medical focus in a five-county area.

On Sunday, RossWoods will host a grand opening from 1 to 4 p.m. for its new 14,000-square-foot building, which is seven times larger than the current facility next door.

“This isn’t just for our parents and our grandparents,” said Macon, a member of the RossWoods board of directors, as she took a break from her work. “When you think about it, this could be a place where I would go when I get older. That’s something we really want to stress to the community, that there is a place here for them, and have as many people involved as possible.”

RossWoods currently operates from a 2,000-square-foot converted home on Ross Drive just west of Hamilton Medical Center. On a typical day, it serves 20 adults as they participate in a variety of activities, from bingo to gardening to music. The new facility will be able to serve up to 100 people, though that number will be reached in phases, officials say.

Ellen Claiborn has been taking her older sister, Donna Sullivan, to RossWoods for about two years. Sullivan was diagnosed with Alzheimer’s several years ago, and Claiborn said RossWoods is a “big stress reliever” that allows her the freedom to complete her daily tasks. Debilitating diseases and illnesses often strain families. Claiborn said the staff at RossWoods give her peace of mind while she’s away from her sister.

“I’m her caregiver, she is with me,” Claiborn said. “It’s constant, it’s a 24-hour thing. So it’s really nice to have some relief and it’s comforting to know that she’s going to be OK. When you have someone to take care of, you really do appreciate the help.”

RossWoods is not a “sitting service,” board chairman Sherwood Jones said. And it’s not just for senior citizens. Anyone 19 or older with a pre-existing condition can attend. Jones said people who are blind or have suffered brain injuries have been at RossWoods.

“We don’t call them patients,” said Jones, a retired long-time physician. “They’re participants. It’s not a little hospital. They come to participate in activities. The focus is having them participate in things they are accustomed to, things that they can relate to. We want them doing what they did when they were working, whether it was at a bank or a carpet mill.”

The hospital began the service in 1997. On Oct. 1, RossWoods Inc. — which is a community supported, nonprofit corporation governed by a 21-member board of directors — officially separated from the hospital. However, the hospital is still involved. It is leasing the 3.5 acres RossWoods sits on for $1 a year for 99 years. RossWoods is also leasing the employees from Hamilton.

The idea for a private adult day facility began in 2003. That year, a group of community leaders visited Shelby, N.C., to visit the Life Enrichment Center, which is used as a model for adult day facilities. After the visit, the group formed a steering committee and kicked off a fundraising campaign. Later, the group established a building committee. More than $2.5 million was pledged and the board has received $1.6 million so far. That money covers the building and furnishings, but RossWoods still needs donations for outside activities. Jones said the group also wants to set up an endowment for families who can’t afford care or don’t qualify for state or federal aid.

“It’s all from the community,” Jones said. “Many of the people here have been touched by Alzheimer’s or have a disabled family member. They were already quite more aware of the issues.”

The new facility not only has more physical space, it also offers more activities. A beauty shop gives participants a chance to have their hair done. A kitchen allows them to reminisce about cooking family meals. A large common area is complete with a fireplace, couches and plenty of comfortable recliners.

While Claiborn said Sullivan calls the current facility “home,” she can’t wait to get a look at the new “home.” More importantly, the employees won’t change.

“I think the staff is so friendly,” Claiborn said. “They make you feel so happy. And they make her feel good, they make her feel like she’s somebody, a person. They make her feel like she’s important and they’re glad she’s there. They know how to help and they’re willing.”

For information about RossWoods Adult Day Services, visit www.rosswoods.org or call (706) 270-9628.

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