Among Friends (Entre Amigos) Adult Day Care Health Center had a 22nd anniversary celebration on March 17 at its 851 S. A St. building in Oxnard.
Roughly 100 clients watched as longtime staff were recognized for their years of service at the healthcare center, including Activity Director Maggie Tapia, who moderated the event.
Tapia was given a certificate honoring her 15 years at the center by Program Director Moises Sanchez, who in turn has been at the center since about a month after it launched.
The center provides day health care treatment for disabled people and seniors, Sanchez explained. A typical day includes breakfast, socialize and participate in activities.
“Most of the people who come here find a new lease on their life,” Sanchez said to VIDA Newspaper, adding that sometimes clients’ children or parents join the center as well. “They see the impact this has on them.”
The center has a staff of nurses, dieticians and social workers who develop a program for each client’s specific needs, explained Sanchez.
In between activities nurses and social workers are “providing prescribed treatment for all individuals,” said Sanchez. “Our goal is to keep them home and avoid nursing homes, hospitalizations and health deterioration.”
There are 230 clients, with about 100 attending on any given day, said Sanchez. When the center started 22 years ago there were only six clients, but 2,600 patients have attended the center over the years. The center was founded by Mark and Irene Kovalik 22 years ago.
Oxnard mayor John C. Zaragoza presented certificates of Commendation to the owners and to members of the staff.
“Our biggest thing was to provide a strong reputation for quality care,” said Sanchez to VIDA Newspaper, adding that the for-profit center accepts Medicare and insurance such as Gold Coast.
The center had more clients before the pandemic, and the state has expanded what the healthcare center is allowed to do to accommodate COVID patients, who can temporarily receive treatment at home.
“We’ve done a good job of educating the community, but there’s still many who don’t know about us,” said Sanchez. “It’s amazing to see people just light up when they come in here, they may remember when this was the Bank of America building.”
Lucy Bono, who lives across the street from the center in what used to be the Press-Courier building and has been a participant for six years, said the center gives her something to do.
“I come in when they open and devote my time helping out,” said Bono. “To begin with, I’ve very moody, being here I don’t have a chance to get moody, I’m more relaxed.”
Thomas Fitzgerald, one of the staff who guides patients with mobility of pain issues through group exercises, said he enjoyed the atmosphere at the center.
“It’s great, it’s a family kind of atmosphere,” said Fitzgerald, who has been on the center staff for two years. “People enjoy themselves here.”
The healthcare center’s web site is amongfriends.org and their phone number is 805-385-7244.
Photo Credit: Pete R. Placencia