Costa Mesa : Adult Health Care Center to Open

An adult health care center will open Thursday to provide health, therapeutic and social services to frail, elderly, physically or mentally impaired adults.

The Harbor Adult Health Care will be open from 9 a.m. to 3 p.m. Monday through Friday inside the Rea Community Center, 661 W. Hamilton St.

Huntington Beach and Fountain Valley residents are also welcome to the health services, said Beverly Daniels, the program director of the nonprofit organization, which is certified by the Medi-Cal program.

“There is a real need in the community for a health care center like this one,” Daniels said. “This is specifically geared for a special population that is having medical problems. An average healthy senior citizen would not come to something like this.”

A registered nurse, a certified social worker, a psychologist, an activity coordinator and a consulting doctor will assess the individual’s health needs at the center, then offer a variety of services, including nutritional and psychological counseling, physical therapy, blood pressure readings and insulin injections.

Information on diseases such as Parkinson’s and Alzheimer’s will be available, along with a list of the symptoms. The registered nurse will be able to administer medication.

Patients rebounding from strokes can also receive help at the center, whether it is learning how to walk or talk or use their limbs.

Part of the goal of the center, Daniels said, is to prevent placing the elderly in convalescent homes by dealing with their health problems in advance.

Dances and sing-alongs are a few activities that will take place at the center for those who are able. Exercise classes will be held, and current events will be talked about.

Fees may be covered through health insurance, managed care programs, medical benefits or private pay. Programs are available for those who cannot afford the services.

For more information, call (714) 548-9331.