The Susan J. Rheem Adult Day Center Celebrates 40 Years of Caring and Gratitude
A husband and wife enter the main lobby, to a greeting as warm as sunshine: “Good Morning Bob! Great, you joined us today,” says Laura Dreibelbis, LPN, joyful Program Director of the Susan J. Rheem Adult Day Center. “Breakfast is ready. Your friends are waiting for you!”
Bob eagerly heads to the dining room, where the aroma of homemade eggs, sausage, toast, and coffee awakens his senses; Bob’s wife Rose thanks Laura then exits the building to freedom from her role as caregiver. Over the past 40 years, caregivers by the thousands have given thanks for the services of The Susan J. Rheem Adult Day Center.
Since 1982, The Susan J. Rheem Adult Day Center, a nonprofit, medical/social adult day health program licensed by the Arizona Department of Health Services, has served caregivers and adults living with illnesses and disabilities, as well as dementias including Alzheimer’s disease. More than 5,000 adult day centers in the U.S. thrive in larger cities; The Susan J. Rheem Center thrives in rural Arizona. The purpose-built building on Windsong Drive in Prescott Valley serves those from all towns within the outlying areas of Prescott, Paulden, and Cordes Lakes. Late founding Executive Director Susan J. Rheem, who resided in Prescott from the 1970s until her passing in 2011, understood caregiver challenges in rural America.
“Participants and caregivers are at the heart and soul of everything we do,” said Laura, who’s held her position for years. “The design and security of our building, and our team, are next to none!”
Certified drivers provide door-to-door transportation to and from the center in comfortable wheelchair-accessible vans. A talented onsite chef prepares delicious and nutritious meals and snacks. A nurse, life enrichment director, assistants, and other support staff create a positive, loving, and supportive environment. Community partners such as the Veterans Administration, NACOG, ALTCS, and Arizona Caregivers Coalition may offer support to qualifying families unable to afford necessary care.
Recently the organization was the proud recipient of the 2022 David Besst Award from the Arizona Caregiver Coalition. This award recognizes an organization or person who untiringly works to establish resources and respite for family caregivers as part of the AZ Family Caregiver Day at the Capitol.
Susan J. Rheem Adult Day Center’s Executive Director Yvonne Napolitano said, “Susan Rheem. I know she is proud of what this program has accomplished on behalf of caregivers and care receivers over these last 40 years. It is an honor for so many of us to carry out her legacy through an amazing staff, volunteers, community partners, and donors!”
For more information about The Susan J. Rheem Adult Day Center, a tour, or the 40-year anniversary celebration, visit www.adultcareservices.org or call 928.775.3563.