Tulsa Senior Services took a step forward last month in its campaign to strengthen family independence. In a ceremony that included area lead- ers and officials, TSS broke ground on the Donald W. Reynolds Adult Day Services Center in Broken Arrow. Construction on the $1.7 million center, 3106 S. Juniper Ave., should be completed early next year.

"This is a significant step in our efforts to provide these services throughout our community," said Bill Major, TSS executive director. "Tulsa Senior Services is establishing a national model for adult day care. This center in Broken Arrow will set several national benchmarks in the care for the elderly."

Applications for the adult day services program are available by phoning (918) 664-9000. The Broken Arrow center is one of two to begin construction this year. A second new center will be built in the Lansing Business Park at Pine and Lansing in Tulsa. The two sites were selected to complement TSS's current facility at 31st Street and South Lakewood and to more fully serve the metropolitan area.

The adult day services program serves older people who are socially isolated or have a physical, cognitive, or mental impairment and who can benefit from the variety of health, social and related support services offered. It allows caregivers to continue employment and participate in personal activities. At $35 a day, the adult day services program is less costly than home care or nursing home care and by delaying institutional care it saves significant government and family resources.

Financial assistance to help families with the cost of adult day services is available through a variety of sources, including the Veterans Administration, Medicaid and the Department of Human Services.

The new facilities will offer three levels of care, including specialized care for individuals with memory loss from Alzheimer's disease or other dementia; extensive nursing, restorative care and rehabilitation areas; full indoor and outdoor activity areas; bathing facilities; a full-service beauty salon; and conlnlunity training room and satellite/field offices for case management also will be included.

The centers will establish national standards in the use of multiple levels of care, the scope of services provided and for the number of participants served.

In 1999, The Donald W. Reynolds Foundation awarded Tulsa Senior Services $3.4 million for construction of the new centers. It was the largest- ever grant provided to TSS.

Tulsa Senior Services was the first in northeastern Oklahoma to offer adult day services in 1982. It remains one of the few in the country to offer services seven days a week. Expansion plans were developed to meet the growing need in an efficient and comprehensive way. By increasing the number of people reached, the elderly and their caregivers will receive the support essential for strengthening family independence.

"The project provides more community-based services to under-served areas of our community," said Bill Major, executive director of Tulsa Senior Services. "It will triple our capacity in the Tulsa area. Businesses will benefit as caregivers remain productive and the quality of life of seniors will improve as caregivers have easier access to necessary support?

The TSS Adult Day Services program recently earned a three-year accreditation from the Rehabilitation Accreditation Commission-it's highest endorsement. It is the first program in the state and one of the first 10 in the nation to merit the honor.

Last year, 155 completed a $7 million capital campaign that included funding for the centers and other improvements. The campaign included an initial gift of $1 million from the Anne and Henry Zarrow Foundation.

"This is only possible through the efforts of numerous volunteers and through the hundreds of gifts from organizations and individuals in our community' said Don G. Hayes, president of the 155 board of directors. "There is a great and growing need for these kinds of services. It's impressive to see the generous response to that need."