Valley Adult Day Services’ History
Valley Adult Day Services’ history began early in 1989. Reverend Wim Meyer, Interim Pastor of the First Congregational Church of Porterville and Reverend Doctor Bruce Stevens of the First Christian Church (Disciples of Christ) of Porterville, determined that there was a serious need for an Adult Day Care to provide respite to the caregivers of Tulare County.
First Christian Church offered their facilities for the new program. Porterville Senior Day Care (PSDC) was co-sponsored by both churches. Reverend Wim Meyer was hired as the founding director. PSDC officially opened April 2, 1990. It served four to eight clients three days a week for four hours a day.
In 1992, PSDC became an incorporated non-profit organization under section code 501(C) (3) and became licensed by the State of California. A small board from the community was formed. Cheri Taylor was hired as an Assistant Director in September 1993.
On January 1, 1995, Wim Meyer retired. The board hired Cheri Taylor as the full time Executive Director of PSDC. Cheri’s first act was to expand the program to five days a week and nine hours a day. A used bus was purchased in 1997 to accommodate those caregivers who needed transportation. PSDC continued to grow annually.
In 1998, a grant was provided by the Tulare County Board of Supervisors to purchase the vacant Veteran’s Memorial Building. It was remodeled utilizing funds bequeathed from an estate. PSDC became licensed by the State of California for seventy-five participants and had PSDC’s “Ribbon Cutting Ceremony” on November 9, 1998. PSDC has been strongly supported by Kings Tulare Area Agency on Aging and United Way of Tulare County.
On October 25th, 2002, PSDC became officially Porterville Adult Day Services (PADS). PADS now includes an Adult Day Program (ADP), an Alzheimer’s Day Care Resource Center (ADCRC), an Eldercare Resource Center (PERC), and transportation with a van from K/TAAA, replacing the old bus.
PERC was conceived as a pilot program for the K/TAAA Advisory Council. It now networks with over 53 organizations that serve the caregivers and elderly of PADS’ community. PERC provides a resource clerk to provide information, assistance and referrals. PERC also has an extensive library of educational information, including a website.
In 2003, with the help of a California Endowment Grant, PADS was able to remodel its existing restrooms to include four wheelchair accessible restrooms, one attached to a shower.
PADS is open from 7:30 am to 5:30 pm. PADS continues to assist caregivers throughout the community by providing respite, in-service trainings, professional speakers, caregiver training classes, conference workshops, support groups, and individual and family counseling.
PADS’ mission is to be “Your Caregiving Partner”. PADS’ vision is to provide adult services honoring choice, dignity, independence and quality of life. PADS’ daycares’ mission is to serve those adults who cannot stay home alone, including those with Alzheimer’s disease and other related forms of dementia, AND we provide continuing support for the caregiver
PADS received the JC Penny Golden Rule Award for Volunteers in 1994. Cheri Taylor was recognized as Woman of the Year for Zonta International in1997, Porterville Chamber of Commerce in 1999, the California State Legislature in 2000 and received the Paul Harris Fellowship Award from Rotary in 2007 for her work through PADS in improving the services of the caregivers and elderly of Tulare County. PADS was featured in authors’ Virginia Bell’s and David Troxel’s books The Best Friends Approach to Alzheimer’s Care and The Best Friends Staff: Building a Culture of Care in Alzheimer’s Programs. PADS received Porterville’s Organization of the Year Award in 2002.
