Angel Adult Center named  Small Business of the Year

By Ashley Crutcher
Angel Adult Center is consistently growing after having won the Small Business of the Year Award at the Panola Partnership’s 22nd annual meeting and dinner recently.
The purpose of the center is to assist functionally impaired persons in their homes by providing assistance with activities of daily living. The business hopes to preserve confidentiality, client autonomy and independence.
The centers assist elderly members of the community through social, recreational and daily living activities.
“We work through the state of Mississippi as far as our funding,” said Janet Flint, LMSW, Director.
Those on Medicaid can go through North Delta Planning and Development to get on the waiver program which funds four hours of Adult Day Center services. However, the center also accepts private clients.
“Our main focus is to keep people active, keep them from sitting around the house,” said Flint.
“We pick them up and provide them with a hot breakfast and lunch. Usually everybody’s ready for a nap after lunch, so we’ll take them home.”
The center offers arts and crafts and takes clients on excursions at least once a week. The group also ventures to the casino once a month.
“One thing I like to do is take them to see different cultures. I try to take them to Oxford to see some of the artwork or visit the monastery to learn about the Buddhist community or the Amish community near Tupelo just to see other cultures. It’s been very popular to learn about new cultures of people,” said Flint.
Current members have hand stitched what they call “port pillows” for cancer patients to wear so that their port would not be pushed on by things like a seat belt.
“We try to do what we can for the community,” said Flint. “We try to get people to come in to talk about safety. There are a lot of really good services that we try to get from the community.” Volunteers are a big asset to the center. Other roles within the center includes two drivers, Jimmy King and Willie King; Queen Thompson, Activities Director and Barbara Hentz, Nutrition Coordinator.
“She’s a great cook,” said Flint. “We do daily exercise. We have a dietician that comes in every month. We have a registered nurse on staff that discusses plan of care with clients.”
Flint is a licensed social worker, so the center also provides social work services.
“This group at the dinner, I made sure they got up with me because it’s a group effort. We have a real good relationship and are willing to hop in and help each other if we need anything. We’re just there to do a service for these people,” said Flint.
The center is located on Hwy. 51. in Courtland. Those interested may contact the center at 662-561-9797.