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00:00All right, it's your girl Lori Mack here from 105 When The Bounce and today I have a special guest.
00:04I'm really excited about this one actually, okay? My girl has 15 years mental health, okay? She has
00:10the experience and now she is a founder of her own company, all right? The Time Together Adult Day
00:17Center. Please help me welcome my girl Sherry Scott. Thank you. Hi! Thank you so much for
00:24coming on the show. Thank you. Thank you for having me. Absolutely. So, you know, I'm excited
00:28mainly because we all have somebody that we take care of. You know, we have adults, elderly,
00:35you know, family members that sometimes we get exhausted and we don't know where to turn.
00:40Absolutely. So, it's nice to have a center, a company, a business that is doing just that.
00:46Okay, so I want to just go back for a minute. I want you to take me back to 2020.
00:52Okay, look,
00:52I know you started Time Together right in the middle of COVID. Yes. What did you see happening
00:58with families, you know, adults that made you say, I got to do something about this? Yeah,
01:03so we started during September 24th, 2020. That was when I started. So, six years. It's
01:10been six years. Ooh, shout out to you. There we go. So, yes, we started and during COVID,
01:16we noticed how not only just the elderly population, but mainly the elderly population
01:24were isolated. We saw that they were used to going out and going to family homes and things like that,
01:33and then a lot of them did get sick. So, during that time now, you have a lot of families
01:38who need
01:39to take care of the elderly population. Yes. So, during that time, you had a lot of suicide
01:49ideations went up, a lot of isolation, depression increased, and a lot of, of course, we know a lot
01:57of death increase. Yes. For, from COVID. So, I started with three clients. I had three clients.
02:07Just three. You got to start somewhere. Three clients. That's good. One veteran and two clients
02:13that were, that had mental health disorder. I had a, got a veteran contract in 2020. And then,
02:19I had two clients that were in, that lived in the city of Detroit. And I started with them. And
02:29we
02:29ended up serving. Now, we have served over 346 clients. Oh, my goodness. Yes. Since being open.
02:37Okay. Yes. Thank you. And what I love most about that, because I can relate, you know, I'm
02:43way back when, about a year ago, I used to take care of my mom, you know, and during COVID,
02:48it was one of
02:48the hardest times for us, mainly because you didn't, you didn't want to get sick. You know,
02:53the precautions, the, you know, the isolation that we had to go through just to make sure
02:59that she was good was, it was, it was, it was a hard. So, to have something like this back
03:05then
03:05would have been nice. If I would have knew about this back then, let me tell y'all what took
03:09advantage.
03:09Yes. And this is the thing you started with just three to now having almost 400.
03:14Yep. We have served over and 95% of our members, although we are in Macomb County and Warren,
03:2195% of our members are Detroit residents. Oh, um, so we do provide the transportation too. So we kind
03:27of, we, I wanted to make sure that the family had as much help as possible. Uh, when providing the
03:33transportation, we do provide hot breakfast, hot lunch, as well as a snack. They get weekly meditation,
03:40yoga from a yoga instructor. Um, they get weekly haircut. So we do haircuts in house.
03:46Yes. We do partner up with the hair salon, um, and St. Clair Shores. She does the ladies hair for
03:52free.
03:52Get out of here. Yes. We provide non-perishable foods, clothing, um, if clients need wheelchairs,
04:01walkers, briefs, things like that. We do have that. Um, we do daily group therapy. So everyone get group
04:08therapy that comes, they get psychotherapy, uh, individual as well. Um, we do arts and crafts.
04:16So we do a lot of things to keep them busy bingo on Fridays and a lot of things to
04:21keep them integrated
04:22into the community as well as keep them with their peers. Um, because a lot of them, um,
04:29they are at home. Some of them are at home by themselves. Some of them are at home just with
04:33their children and their children have to work and need that respite care. So yes, it keeps them,
04:39um, actually, you know, staying busy, staying with their peers and things like that. So yes,
04:45I agree. That's why I was saying like, I can definitely relate to this because I wish I knew
04:49about something like this because I mean, caregiving can be beautiful, but let's be honest, it can be a
04:55little exhausting. Absolutely. And the point, a lot of, a lot of family members, moms, sisters,
05:00they don't want to admit that, you know, it's sometimes you feel guilty admitting that you need
05:04a break. Yes. I love this. And what I love most is that you've been doing it for a while.
05:10You're
05:10experienced. Okay. You're not new to this. You're true to this. Absolutely. And how do you now walk
05:17we through a day at daycare, at the day center, please. How is it like on a Monday through now
05:24you
05:24say you guys do different things every day, which I love because activities are something that doesn't
05:28happen everywhere, you know? And I know it's hard for some, you know, some elderly people because
05:33they don't want to move. Yes. So I love that you give them options to move and you give variety.
05:38Absolutely. So what does a day look like? So like on, let me just, well, this is almost every day.
05:43So
05:44they come in, um, we do their vitals. So we do everyone vitals daily. We do have, um, CNAs on
05:50staff. And then I
05:51partner with Chamberlain nursing school. So I have registered nurses on staff as well. Um,
05:58we also, um, so they get their vitals done, they get breakfast. Um, once they get their breakfast
06:04and their vitals done, then we do our group therapy. Um, so sometimes we let the members
06:11pick which topic they want to discuss. And sometimes we let them lead. Yeah. Because if we,
06:15if you get them involved, they're most likely to want to feel, they're feel like they're needed.
06:21Right. Which they are. Absolutely. Um, so we do group therapy. So right after group therapy,
06:27they'll have their break. Some of them do smoke. So we, they have their smoke break. They're able
06:32to go outside and have a smoke break and then we'll come back in and they may do, um, some
06:38arts and
06:39crafts, or it might be a day where it is karaoke day. They love karaoke. I know that's right.
06:45They might do karaoke. They might do hangman. They may do, you know, and then right after that,
06:51um, they're into lunch. So then they're having their lunch and they have good lunch.
06:57Ooh. I mean, we're, we're barbecuing, we're making, you know,
07:01getting the best chicken, but we're making sure they also have their vegetables as well.
07:05Um, um, after they have their lunch, um, they off, they break off into groups. So some people have,
07:13some of the members have ladies groups and men's groups. Um, and then on Thursdays they have Bible
07:19study. So, and that's if they choose to do Bible study, they can do Bible study. Um, so then after
07:26that, um, they usually are leaving the program about two 33. Okay. And then most of them are back at
07:32home for about three o'clock. They start getting there about eight AM. So they're there for about
07:37six, six and a half hours out the day. Oh, a nice full day full of fun. Let me tell
07:42you something.
07:43Yeah. I might have to go with myself, you know, no, no, no, no, that's nice. I really love that.
07:46I do. And then, you know, it's something, it's just something about that. This is really just,
07:51it just touches my heart because I could tell how attentive you are to every resident there,
07:57you know, not just you, but your team, you know, you have trained nurses, you have everything
08:01that you need to make sure that your parent is taken care of, because we want to make sure that
08:05when we send
08:06our loved ones somewhere that they're thought of, they're taking care of, they're considered
08:10because we know a lot of places don't do that. And I love that. Yes. So, you know,
08:14we got to go into it. A lot of families want to know when it comes to payment. Yes, absolutely.
08:20Does it take insurance or yeah. So I am contracted with the VA. So if it's any veterans out there
08:26that
08:26need adult day services, the VA does pay for it. Um, and I'm also contracted with all of the insurances
08:33in Michigan. Oh, I love it. All of the insurance. Um, I know, um, some places do charge cash. Um,
08:41if they didn't have any insurance, um, they could pay cash, but I'm a licensed master social worker.
08:47So I can assist them with getting insurance system with the application and things like that. So,
08:52Oh, I love that. I love it. So that way you have no reason not to go. Right.
08:57And we provide the transportation. So that is the biggest barrier with everyone, especially seniors,
09:04is transportation. Yes. So we provide the transportations. We go as far as Southfield.
09:08Um, we go, we're on the east side. We, uh, go Harper woods, um, St. Clair shores, um, downtown.
09:18So, and you pick up and drop off. Yes. We pick up and drop off. Yes. I love that.
09:23And we're open Monday through Friday. And where are you located? Um, so we are in Warren. Um,
09:27we are at one three zero eight seven East 11 mile, um, between Shainer and Hoover. Oh, I love it.
09:34Okay. Now when you were talking about social connection and emotional wellness, um, how
09:40serious is loneliness and isolation for adults that you serve? Oh, it's very, it's so serious that
09:46during COVID it went suicide, um, attempts as well as going through with it. It increased by 14%. Oh,
09:55wow. Amongst older adults. Oh, wow. So it is, it is very isolation will lead to that. It will lead
10:02to
10:02major depressive disorder. Um, and we had one client, um, he is a veteran and his wife is like,
10:10he needs to get out. He is depressed and he loves coming at first. He didn't want to help,
10:16but cause you know, getting us, as we get older, we kind of get stuck. Yes, we do.
10:21So, um, to see that he loves coming, um, it, it is really good. And to see that he's not
10:29isolated
10:29anymore. Yes. He's asked to become a part of the community. Absolutely. And now it's like a second
10:34home. Yes. And they give, especially the veterans, they give back and they have helped us so much and
10:39they fought for this country. It is just, it is no way that we should not be giving back to
10:44them.
10:45Amen. Because I feel like a lot of veterans go unnoticed. A lot of them leave with addiction or
10:51alcoholism. Like it's just PTSD, everything. Yes. And then left on the streets. And I hate that.
10:56Cause a lot of times you see a lot of them on the streets, asking for money. How'd you get
10:59here?
11:00I'm a veteran where I went to war to fight for our country and they don't have the proper
11:04resources for me here. So that's amazing. And as a social worker, what are some of the signs family
11:12members might miss when an aging parent or a loved one is doing, well, isn't doing so well emotionally?
11:18Um, eating, um, could be one, it could be the lack of eating or it could be overeating.
11:24Oh, so it could be either one of those signs. Um, it can be the, just wanting to sit in
11:30one room all the
11:32time. Yes. The isolation, it could be crying. Um, we did have one client who came in. Um,
11:38she has a mental health diagnosis. Her, uh, daughter used to take care of her,
11:44her daughter and her grandson took care of her, but then her daughter passed.
11:48So the grandson takes care of her. So she does, she suffered from grief and a lot of major depressive
11:55disorder. Um, so her son called me cause all she did was cry and he needed to work. He's young.
12:00He's in his twenties, right? You know, and he's taking care of his grandmother. So,
12:05um, so he comes, she comes to us and it helped tremendously. She had connected with some other
12:11members there. Um, she's not crying. She's not having those, um, depressives, uh, those crying
12:18spells where she's isolated. So, and those groups helps as well. The ladies groups.
12:23I really agree with that. And I feel like that's something that I didn't notice with my mom. You know,
12:29I feel like she was definitely isolated a lot. Um, she always stayed in the room and never wanted to
12:34come out. Um, and if it was, it was only for a short time and she couldn't really walk like
12:39that.
12:39You know, she wasn't the best at getting around. So I, it was days where I was just crying because
12:46I
12:46just felt so helpless in a world where I still had to work. I still had to take her to
12:50dialysis. I still
12:52had to pick her up. I had to drop her off. I had to get my son from school. I
12:55had to drop him off,
12:55you know, to the point where I felt like when, when do I take a moment to breathe?
13:00And that's good that you said that. So we do have support groups, the third Wednesday of the month
13:05for caregivers and, you know, family members and even for other client, other people who are not
13:12clients. Um, it's like an open talk. It's, it's somewhere for them, everyone to, and it's at our
13:18Warren location. Um, it's the third Wednesday of every month, um, from seven to eight, I want to say.
13:24Oh, seven to eight. Um, and you can also see that on Facebook, on our Facebook page, which is
13:30time to get times together, adult day center. Um, and it's posted on there as well. Um, so yes,
13:38that is, that's a good point. Um, because it is very hard being a caregiver. And I don't think
13:45people understand until they are a caregiver, especially when you have your own, you know,
13:51family as well. Yes. So, uh, those extra support groups, those, they do help.
13:58I love that. I love that you have that. I love that you thought of everything to the point where,
14:03I mean, I might just come just, just because I want to sit in and just, just experience and live
14:10in that moment. You know, I think it's really important. I love that you are taking care of
14:14these senior citizens, these loved ones, you know, cause they need a home and they have a second
14:19place within you. I love that. Now, do you have any more events or anything or anything coming up?
14:24Yes, we do have a trunk or treat. Um, and it's for, you know, the kids as well. Uh, we
14:30are,
14:31it's October 11th. Um, I want to say it's from two to four. It's at our Warren location, the one
14:37three zero eight seven East 11 mile road. We'll also have a clothing that we're giving away. So we'll
14:43have free clothes, uh, haircuts. If any, anybody adults or children wants to get their haircut,
14:49come get your haircut. Um, we'll be doing free haircuts. So I love it on top of candy.
14:56Right on top of candy. Yes. Spoiling, spoiling them. I love that. I love it. And with you doing
15:02this for so long, how do you, how does it make you feel when you get certain reactions? When people
15:07say,
15:07thank you for, for opening this up. Thank you for creating this. How does it make you feel?
15:12Oh, it, and you know what? It makes me feel as though, um, what I'm doing matters
15:18because I've also had another client. Her dad used to come and he was a veteran and, um, he stopped
15:26coming, um, because of health reasons. But she said, this was the only place that kept him alive.
15:31He died. He passed away shortly after coming. I mean, he had preexisting conditions as well,
15:37but she was like, this is the only place that kept him alive. So that right there, knowing that,
15:43you know, when he passed, he was able to, at least before he passed experience,
15:49uh, being with his peers and being with people, you know, other people, other than his family who
15:55actually cared about him. Absolutely. It's important. And I love that. That's something
15:59that can always stay with you. Yes. And before we go, I gotta ask, um, if the daughter, son, spouse,
16:06a caregiver or somebody who desperately needs help and they're listening right now and they're
16:12overwhelmed and they don't know what to do, what would you say directly to them?
16:15I would honestly say, give me a call.
16:20If I can't help, I can point them in the correct direction for someone that can, because it may be
16:26somewhere where they need to make, maybe call the local community mental health agency in there,
16:33wherever they are, whether it's D-WIN, whether it's OCHE in Oakland, or whether it's Macomb.
16:40Um, but if it's something where they like, look, I have to work and I don't want my parent or
16:46loved
16:46one to be home alone, then they can call me. Um, so our office number is 586-393-1013.
16:55And my direct line is 586-738-4374. Beautiful. Well, once again,
17:03thank you so much for coming. I love, love, love, love what you're doing. Please don't stop
17:07on any account. No, stop. I'm not. I'm not. Keep on going, girl. I'm coming there. I'm rooting,
17:12I'm rooting on the sidelines. I'm just so proud of you. Come visit. Yes. And where can they find
17:16you on social media? Yeah. So we are on Instagram at time underscore, uh, together, uh, A-D-C. Like,
17:26I have to try to remember. Nothing wrong with that. Let me want to get it right. So time underscore
17:31together, underscore A-D-C. And then on Facebook, we're at times together adult day center. So times
17:39with an S. Perfect. And then on our website, you can, we have a website is, uh, www.times together
17:47day
17:48center.com. Oh, I love it. I love it. And you're always taking new applications, right? Anybody can
17:52come and sign up today. Yes. As long as you have a mental health diagnosis, um, long as you are
18:00a veteran as well. So yeah. Perfect. Oh, well, thank you so much, Ms. Skye for coming and talking today.
18:06Okay. Again, make sure you guys go out. Just look it up, you know, just go out and show some
18:10love.
18:10Absolutely. If you have a loved one that needs some love, needs some care, this is the place to go.
18:16Time together, adult day center. All right. Make sure you shout her out. All right. It's your
18:20girl Lori Mack on 105.1 to bounce.