Patty M. Messick

Program Coordinator, Trinity Living Center

Caring for our seniors is perhaps one of the greatest responsibilities any of us will ever take on, but at Trinity Living Center it’s our passion.

Adult day service programs, like LSC’s Trinity Living Center, provide programs specially tailored to adults who need supervision and assistance during the day. Trinity Living Center’s services provide social activities and health care services for adults with physical disabilities and/or cognitive impairments who are unable to stay alone safely.

Older adults, who may be lonely and need to be with people and participate in activities instead of sitting at home alone, receive that when attending Trinity Living Center. Trinity Living Center helps end that isolation while giving their caregivers a chance to take a break, remain in the work force, or just take care of daily needs while knowing their loved ones are in a safe place.

These services are vital to the community, and no one understands this like the Rowan County United Way. Trinity living Center relies on the United Way to keep our center in operation. Trinity Living Center would not be able to offer the quality of care without the United Way, which provides about $40,000 of the center’s annual budget. These funds are critical to the day to day operation.

Rowan County United Way depends on the citizens, business and other contributors continuing to donate so they can continue to assist such quality programs in the community.

Doing the right thing is easy for the United Way, because they understand how budgets are getting cut and alternate funding resources are becoming more difficult to obtain. The United Way truly understands the need for the services and make it their mission assure facilities like Trinity Living Center can continue.

Trinity Living Center and the United Way know and understand the stresses and struggles caregivers go through to take on this extremely demanding role. Caring for a loved one with an impairment that no longer allows them to be left at home alone is difficult to say the least.

Suddenly roles can become reversed where a child/spouse/loved one may find him/herself in an unexpected caregiver role. Offering options that keep families together and improve the quality of life to both caregivers and their loved ones is Trinity Living Center’s main goal.

When an elderly loved one needs additional care or supervision during the day, many families think that they have no choice but to quit their jobs. Some caregivers find their own health deteriorating as the stress of round-the clock caregiving prevents them from taking care of themselves or families may think that placement in a long term care facility is their only option.

Adult day service centers such as Trinity Living Center provide another option for families to choose from that is unique in their own right.

The activities offered at Trinity Living Center can improve the participant’s outlook on life, help preserve independence, and also improves participant/caregiver relationships, which makes the caregiving process go more smoothly while providing to our participant enjoyment, entertainment, and companionship.

Participants enjoy visits from different student groups in the community such as the Book Buddies from Salisbury Academy that come and read their newest books to each participant.

The Seventh Day Adventist School also visits Trinity Living Center and has become pen pals that come to sing and provide a special card for each individual in the program. These students always bring smiles to brighten everyone’s day.

Recently, volunteers from Faith Lutheran Church came and shared Halloween stories and had a delightful sing along, which the participants truly enjoyed. Groups like this bring the community to Trinity Living Center participants that may not have access to otherwise. The participants share meals, play games, and enjoy outings.

Participants from Trinity Living Center usually go on at least one trip out into the community each month. No matter where they go, there are always smiles and laughter.

Trinity Living Center is located at 1416-A S. Martin Luther King, Jr. Ave. in Salisbury and is open Monday through Friday from 7:15 a.m. to 5:30 p.m. with and transportation services also available to and from the center.

The center has a full-time registered nurse, certified nursing assistants, and on-site caregivers are available to provide health care management as well as assistance with personal care. Trinity Living offers bathing services, which can be a lifesaver for a caregiver trying to provide this in a home setting; it can be dangerous to both the caregiver and their loved one. The facility also has a full service beauty salon, adding to Trinity Living Center’s one-stop shop appeal.

For more information on Trinity Living Center’s services, please call 704-637-3940. Thank you Rowan County United Way for helping us help others, because it is the right thing to do.