Belle’s Adult Day Center to open May 6

By Thomas Clapper

CCM Reporter

Belle’s Adult Day Center will open May 6 to care for Carroll County residents suffering from physical or cognitive disabilities. 

Owner/Manager Mindy Weiland also owns Belle’s House assisted living and wanted to have a space to help more of those in need. 

“I got the idea to open Belle’s Adult Day Center when I noticed that a lot of seniors were moving into Belle’s House because their caregivers couldn’t handle the stress any longer,” said Weiland. “I had a lot of people coming to me to recommend a caregiver for someone in their family. There was a Medicaid waiting list 30 people deep who were waiting to have a home health aide to provide care in their home. The Carroll County visiting Nurse Association closed its doors in January of 2024 which causes seniors to have even fewer resources to stay at home. I also noticed that even though my Belle’s House residents were in a home, they still wanted to be in their own home. Belle’s Adult Day Care Center can be a strong force in helping Carroll County seniors who want to remain at home a possibility.”

Belle’s Adult Day Center has a large lounge area with a large television and seating, an activity room for arts, crafts or whatever else they want to do, exercise room,  beauty/barber shop room, kitchen and privacy rooms for those who would rather keep to themselves or have quiet time.

Transportation is included with the cost. Belle’s owns a bus that will pick up and drop off anyone in Carroll County. The bus has a wheelchair lift and the building is handicap accessible. 

Weiland said at the day care, one caregiver can help six people at a time. Nicole Potts will be the activity director. 

“Customers will spend four to eight hours at the day care center where they will be monitored medically to identify changes in their health,” said Weiland. “Belle’s staff will help them perform activities of daily living like getting dressed, walking and using the restroom. They will receive a hot meal and have the opportunity to participate in a multitude of activities and entertainment to help improve socialization and decrease the isolation that frequently occurs when people become homebound as they age.”

Other features include a therapy dog for animal lovers, shelves of puzzles and games to play, and those more active can tend to the garden and attend groups for exercise. There will also be a Bible study group.

If this works out for the best, Weiland would like to expand and add an outside area built in the garage. 

The center will be open Monday through Friday, 8 a.m.-5 p.m. and someone can attend as much or as little as they want. For example, some could attend once every other week so their caregiver can have time to take care of themselves or some could attend five days a week while their caregiver works outside the home. Weiland noted seniors on Medicaid will have a case manager that determines the appropriate amount of attendance for each participant. 

Weiland has worked in nursing homes for over 20 years as a physical therapy assistant and a program director. 

“I always had a calling to help older people,” said Weiland. “When I would work at the nursing homes, I always thought of changes that could be made and I thought that enough times to where I finally did something about it. It was my experience at the nursing homes that led me to open Belle’s Memory Care/Assisted Living in the home that my great-grandparents, including my great-grandmother Belle lived in. Many people with dementia don’t need a nurse to start an IV or dress a wound. They need someone who is compassionate and patient to guide them through the day. I encountered too many people who could have lived in their own home if the right services were available. 

The center is located at 613 High St. NW in Carrollton. The center will be open to private pay participants on May 6. Weiland is hoping that people on Medicaid will be approved by that time. She has to wait on the final go ahead from the Ohio Department of Aging. 

“It has been a blessing,” said Weiland. “We are all going to get old some day and I can only hope there will be a place like this available for me.”