Honoring Supporters and Workers in Adult Day Services

Teresa Johnson, NADSA Communications Director

Adult day centers employ some of the most creative, resourceful and compassionate people to be found anywhere on the planet. NADSA congratulates member Christopher Vito, owner of Nevada Adult Day Healthcare Centers, who recently won small-businessperson of the year from the local district of the U.S. Small Business Administration in Nevada.

Vito, with a background in health-care administration, had seen a steady stream of adult day care centers filing for bankruptcy or just closing down. His solution was to add a health care component to what had amounted to sitting with senior citizens during the day. This boosted reimbursements from Medicaid, which accounts for about 85% of his revenues.

He opened his first center seven years ago with the help of an SBA loan, then expanded and bought his own facility in 2006 with another loan. His business has grown to three centers with 48 employees as of last year.

But the reliance on Medicaid has cast clouds over the future. A threat by Nevada Gov. Jim Gibbons in February to halt Medicaid funding for adult day care was fended off, but more cuts could be coming. Vito is concerned that he might lose reimbursement for the 12 vans he operates, which would leave him unable to transport people to and from home.

Due to the funding questions, Vito can only hope to open a fourth location in Henderson. "I want to do it this year but also have to do it in a way that involves minimal risk," he said.

Vito is active on the NADSA Public Policy Committee.

Nominate a Star!

One of the benefits of membership in the National Adult Day Services Association is participating in our own annual awards program recognizing excellence in the support and delivery of adult day services. Awards recognize program staff, organizations, programs, media representatives, legislators and advocates who support adult day services. Guidelines have been updated for the 2010 competition and are available on the NADSA website, along with information about previous winners.

The deadline for accepting applications is June 15, 2010. Nominees cannot be self-nominated. Either the nominating organization, the nominator or the nominee must hold an active membership with NADSA. Judges shall consider diversity of geographic regions, organizations and projects in selecting winners. Winners will be invited to attend the awards presentation at the National Adult Day Services Conference on August 21, 2010, in Raleigh, NC, as guest(s) of NADSA, and will be recognized in the NADSA newsletter and website. (Travel, lodging and meals will be at the winner’s expense.) Winners will be asked to submit a photograph for the awards presentation. Read details of selection guidelines and download the application from the NADSA website.

For more information about serving on the Awards Committee or about awards sponsored by the National Adult Day Services Association, contact Awards Chair Kathy OBrien.

Reference: "Small Business Administration Names Award Winners," Las Vegas Business Press, April 12, 2010.