A safe place for seniors in Somers Point

Last Updated on Thursday, February 21, 2013 01:28 pm Written by SUZANNE MARINO Wednesday, February 20, 2013 09:37 am

State Sen. Jim Whelan and the owner and employees of Golden Heart Adult Day Care cut the ribbon to open their Shore Road site in Somers Point

SOMERS POINT—State Senator Jim Whelan helped cut the ribbon at the Golden Heart Adult Day Care Center on Valentines Day and thanked owner Dr. Tegas Patel for choosing Somers Point to open a center for local seniors. “We need facilities like this one to give our families more options for keeping their loved ones in a safe environment when they can not be with them,” said Whelan.

Patel, who also owns the Atlantic Adult Day Care Center in Northfield, said they began to look for another location for adult day care because there is a demand for such care and because it allows them to maximize their resources and take advantage of economy of scale. It permits them to keep the cost of adult day car affordable.

“In my country our goal is to keep families together and that is really what we are trying to do is to keep families together and keep families from being forced to put their loved one in a nursing home.
But of course, people must go to work and if they have a place where they can feel comfortable that their mother or father is being taken of and enjoying their time while they are at work, then they can relax and take care of their work while they are there and have the time to spend with their family member when they come home,” said Patel.

 “Our driver will take them shopping and to their doctors appointments. You will not have to worry about taking a day off to take your mother or father to their doctor appointment; just relax and know that we will take good care of your family member so that when you come home you are able to spend your time with them and not running to appointments or other things,” continued Patel. “We have a motto at Golden Heart Adult Day Care; it is “Where the heart feels at home.”

Joanne Brown is the activities director at the center and has plans for events and activities that will keep the seniors engaged while they are at Gold Heart. There are games, arts and crafts a quiet room, movies, music, reading and interactive discussions, billiards with other activities being added.

Brown said Golden Heart Adult Day Care is not limited to seniors. It is for anyone 18 or older who is disabled or needs assistance with daily living activities.

There is a continental breakfast in the morning and lunch is prepared by Alletto’s Catering in Deptford who serves other similar centers in the area so Brown said that was a great connection.

There is an RN at the center when clients are there. Ann Zilinek is the director of nursing for Golden Heart. Mike Hainsworth is the social worker on staff who helps clients with their insurance and connects them to agencies where they will be able to get services they need and are entititled to receive.

Physical, occupational and speech therapy will be available on site for those who need it by Spectrum Rehabilitation

Patel said most insurance along with Medicaid will pay for the cost of adult day care and it is available on a pay per day basis as well. Golden Heart is approved for 64 clients and Monday, Feb. 18 was the first official day.

Golden Heart Adult Day Care is located at 101 Shore Road, across from Primo Pizza. For additional information or to schedule a visit call (609) 788-0067 or This e-mail address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it