New Naperville space aims to give seniors 'a reason to get up in the morning'
The new Naperville Senior Fitness and Activity Center has a "director of fun."
It also has a TV to play Nintendo Wii, a golf putting set, color-coded musical bells, a drum set, a recumbent exercise bike, a quiet room for reading and the expertise of a physical therapist, an occupational therapy assistant and a registered nurse.
In short, founders Pam and Mike Cooper of Naperville say, the facility at 1504 N. Naper Blvd., Suite 120, has everything older people need to find a "home away from home."
"We want to have a lot of fun," Pam said, glancing at Theresa Capone, an occupational therapy assistant whose title is Director of Fun. "Hence Theresa's moniker."
They also would like to have a few more clients.
The center has only one member so far, but on Saturday the Coopers are sponsoring an open house from 11 a.m. to 1 p.m. to showcase their services and attract more clients, especially those who need assistance with mobility, using the bathroom or getting up from a chair, Mike said.
Some people who are discharged from hospitals or nursing homes aren't safe living alone if they can't afford the 24-hour care they need, said the Coopers, both 56. These are the people the center is designed to assist with things like balance, endurance and social interaction using activities such as walking, dance, stretching, music, trivia and card games.
Pam, a physical therapist, said she saw the need for daytime services among the patients she helped during a 22-year career in geriatric rehabilitation. Plus she and her husband both have a long-standing passion for seniors.
"We were both really close to our grandparents and I think that's why I ended up in the field I'm in," Pam said.
She said seniors who can walk and drive on their own have plenty of opportunities through the Naperville Park District and the Alfred Rubin Riverwalk Community Center. But those who need assistance getting around have to rely on family members or spend much time alone.
"Mike and I developed this idea over 30 years ago hoping to combine our careers in therapy and business," Pam said. "I wished there had been a place like this that I could recommend for the families."
The Coopers took out a loan to complete a $300,000 build out of the former bar and pool hall next to Butterfield's Pancake House at the corner of Ogden Avenue and Naper Boulevard on Naperville's north side.
The 4,056-square-foot space had been vacant about a decade and needed a lot of work, the Coopers said. So they borrowed from Ridgestone Bank and hired 36 companies that are members of the Naperville Area Chamber of Commerce to install flooring, build new bathrooms, design colors and furniture, and even add a basic kitchen and a nook where a hairstylist from the nearby Mario Tricoci salon will give free haircuts once a month.
"It really is a leap of faith," Mike said, a leap the couple waited to take until their two children were finished with college.
Mike said the location of the senior center is perfect for workers at companies in the I-88 corridor to drop off aging parents for activities from 7:30 a.m. to 6 p.m.
The center received a permit to open in late February and got its first client the next week. Clients can pay $105 for a full day of services or $15 an hour for up to five hours. Pam said that's less than the cost of care from a certified nursing assistant, which generally runs about $20 an hour.
Hot lunches and healthy snacks also are provided for clients who will be encouraged to stay up on current events and give back when they can.
The center plans to create a walking track in its large open area so members can participate in charity events such as the MS Walk for the National MS Society by getting sponsors to donate for laps they'll complete at the senior center.
"The whole idea is to give people a reason to get up in the morning," Pam said. "And if you know you're going to be helping somebody else, that's a pretty good motivating factor."