County of Prince William issued the following announcement on June 3.
Events, such as a drive-through ice cream social recently held for participants of the Prince William County Adult Day Health Care (ADHC) Program, aim to raise people’s spirits while at home during the COVID-19 pandemic.
“We offer services to adults who need a little extra support during their day. We focus mainly on dementia care for people living with cognitive impairments,” said Kathleen Wiley, recreation specialist for the Prince William ADHC. “We want them to know we are still thinking about them, and we care about them. We’re helping them to get out for socialization and to maintain a connection while we are closed.”
People who came to the ice cream social received ice cream, but they were also provided small, solar-powered figurines that dance in the sunlight, coffee mugs, activity books and watercolor painting supplies.
The Dale City-Prince William County Chapter of Top Ladies of Distinction, a nationwide organization dedicated to helping in the community, sponsored the recent event in the Woodbridge Senior Center parking lot supplying ice cream, activity books and mugs. “The ladies work with us when the program is open,” Wiley said. “They reached out and asked if they could help with anything. Since COVID, we have looked at a variety of new ways to continue service and support to participants of ADHC. The ice cream social was a fun way to encourage participants to get out and enjoy the beautiful weather.”
The Top Ladies of Distinction’s agenda includes supporting teens and senior citizens and promoting community partnerships, beautification and the status of women. “This falls under our senior citizens program, and it allows us to keep our footprint of service within the community,” said Pauline Hunter, the Dale City-Prince William County Top Ladies of Distinction chapter organizer. “Helping out with the ice cream social is just one way to recognize an important group. We honestly believe – it’s an old quote, and I’m paraphrasing – that the test of humanity is how it takes care of its young people and how it takes care of its older people.”
The ice cream social worked, according to those who attended. “I think it’s nice that they keep the connection socially,” said Lori Demas, who brought her mother, Pauline Buel, to the drive-through ice cream social.
“They want to make us feel good,” Buel said.
The ice cream social allowed staff to maintain the connection of letting participants and families know that they are not alone. “We are always here to support them,” Wiley said. “People might not remember exact moments, but they’ll remember the feeling of someone caring. We were able to create some happiness and hope for brighter days to come.”
Original source can be found here.
Source: County of Prince William
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