Mutual Benefits Grow from Randolph County Day-Care, Retirement Home Partnership
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The unique relationship between a local day care and retirement center has created a perfect union‚ adding spontaneity for residents of the retirement center and more nurturing for the youngsters.
Shepherd’s Way Day Care opened in September 2002 on the 32-acre campus of the Crossroads Rest and Retirement Home.
“My husband and I were looking for a place to open a day care‚” explains day care director Karen Lassiter. “We met with Crossroads‚ and our missions were so similar that we decided to partner with them.”
The day-care center‚ with a 125-child capacity and a waiting list for applicants‚ provides an abundance of activities‚ including the opportunity to interact with residents of the retirement home.
Recently‚ the older group participated in a musical activity with the children.
“We have a core group of ladies who come in and rock the infants‚” Lassiter says. “There is one resident who says she hopes her job in heaven will be rocking the babies.”
Steve Rumbley‚ director of the 20-year-old retirement center serving about 200 residents‚ said the facility is modeled on the Eden Alternative‚ a philosophy of care that includes plants‚ animals and children in the environment.
“Right now‚ we have 50 birds living here‚ two dogs and five cats‚” Rumbley says. “The children were the component we were missing‚ and they are the ones that add so much spontaneity to the lives of the residents here. It also creates more of a home-type environment.”
Rumbley says the small children ride in a big cart when they come to visit‚ while the older children walk over on a special path.
“Most of our residents really look forward to their visits‚” he says. “Those children have a lot of grandpas and grandmas.”
Story by Pam Sherborne
Photo by Greg Emens
