Kay County has the reputation for outstanding volunteers who see a need and proceed to address it.  When Edna Butler and Glenda Brown set about  to provide a facility in Kay County to care for the elderly and disabled during the day, they may or may not have envisioned, when its doors opened in April 1987, that 20 years later Golden Villa Adult Day Care would still be available to help families.  Golden Villa has undergone changes during the past 20 years, but its mission remains the same:  To provide a healthy living environment and avoid entry into a nursing facility sooner than the individual might need those services.

“Just as needs have changed for our 100 year old state, needs of our families have changed, states Melissa Kirchner, executive director.  “Our state’s beginning had families working together in many successful farm operations, and extended family members were usually nearby to care for young or old who were in need.  We have seen our society merge into one which is much less rural, and no longer has one or more stay-at-home members who are able to care for an elderly mom or dad or a family member with special needs”, continues Kirchner. 

Presently under the direction of Melissa Kirchner and with staff of Patsy Wynn, LPN and activity director, Pauline Buzzard, CNA, and Julie Fisher, cook. Daily activities includes meals and snacks, crafts, games, discussion of current events, an exercise program, and other monthly celebrations.

Planned activities enable participants to improve their quality of life.  Birthdays, holidays, other special events in participants’ lives, and even seasonal changes are recognized with various decorations constructed by the participants and staff.  The staff works together to coordinate appropriate food and games for the many celebrations recognized at the center.  Every effort is made to respect and respond to individual participant needs, and the various activities, accomplished on individual levels of ability, keep participants’ minds active and give each a feeling of accomplishment and inclusion.  Golden Villa staff encourages family involvement throughout the year by inviting family members to all of the center celebrations. A monthly newsletter detailing the centers activities and other news is mailed to all participants, their families and other patrons of Golden Villa.

In keeping with the choice of appropriate activity for each participant, and helping each achieve and maintain as much self-reliance as possible, a range of motion program provides opportunity for each participant to stretch and tone muscles and to improve circulation and dexterity.  Medications are administered by a health professional under the direction of the participant’s physician.  Weight, blood sugar, blood pressure, temperature and pulse rate are regularly monitored for all participants and that information is shared with each family.  As an added precaution, a yearly physical examination is required.

Golden Villa is governed by a volunteer board which includes members Jan Prough, Lisa Countryman, and Steve Ketchum, treasurer Warren Dick, secretary Terry Heyer, vice president Homer Nicholson and president Chuck Rager.  

The goal of United Way is to help make lasting changes in people’s lives, right where people live.  With the help of United Way and agencies like Golden Villa Adult Day Services - changes are happening every day. 

United Way helps support the following 13 member agencies: American Red Cross, Arthritis Foundation, Boy Scouts-Cimarron Council, Child Development Center, Domestic Violence Program of North Central Oklahoma, Girl Scouts – Bluestem Council, Golden Villa Adult Day Services, New Emergency Resource Agency, Northern Oklahoma Youth Services, Peachtree Landing, RSVP, The Salvation Army, and the YMCA.  Results you can see.