What once was a thriving parish with a school found new life nearly 25 years ago as a home for Summit Adult Day Services. Catholic Charities, Diocese of Cleveland, also uses the building for its Summit County offices.
St. Peter Parish, which was located at 812 Biruta St., Akron, was established in 1917 as a Lithuanian parish. Over the years, it shifted to a territorial parish and included a large brick school building. However, construction of Interstate 76 and Interstate 77 cut into the parish territory and forced many parishioners to move elsewhere.
In 1983, the school closed and six years later, a parish task force recommended that the parish also close. It was suppressed on Dec. 30, 1989. For a number of years the buildings on Biruta Street stood empty until the adult day care and Catholic Charities operations moved there in 1995.
Since then, the building has been renovated and provides space for four groups of primarily senior citizens to participate in a full range of activities Monday through Friday. The adult day service program began in 1977 and was the first of its kind in Summit County. Jim Mazzagatti has overseen the program for 32 years.
“I love what I do,” Mazzagatti said during a visit by Bishop Nelson Perez on July 12. Accompanying the bishop was Patrick Gareau, president and CEO, Catholic Charities, Diocese of Cleveland. Catherine Their, director of Catholic Charities in Summit County, and Mazzagatti, led the bishop through the bright, spacious building, pointing out bits of local history and information about the programs.
About 80 people are served at the adult day services program, which Mazzagatti said has continued to evolve over the years in order to best meet the needs of participants. He said nursing care is available to help participants with personal care, feeding tubes, administration of medication and to conduct monthly health assessments.
“We’re here to support and strengthen families,” he said.
One important service offered is peer support. Mazzagatti said families struggling with the care of an aging parent or other family member, including those with dementia, are often stressed and trying to do the best they can for their loved one. But jobs, family commitments and their own well-being can create a great deal of stress. He said the peer support program has evolved and assisted many families. It has become so popular that it’s being replicated at a second location – Our Lady of Victory Parish in Tallmadge.
Mazzagatti said nurses work with physicians and families, using a team approach to enhance the quality of life for program participants and to keep them as active as possible.
“It’s good for the participants,” he said. “It motivates them and gives them a reason to get up in the morning.” He said there have been several 100th birthday parties for attendees. One current program participant is 101.
Those in the adult day services program are divided into four groups, based on their abilities. Each group has a “home room.” Mazzagatti said staff members listen to the participants and provide programs they enjoy and want to participate in.
The second floor of the building houses the advanced and intermediate care programs, which have a higher level of need. Enrollment in the advanced care program is intentionally kept small – about 10 -- in order to best serve the participants, he said. They participate in activities similar to the other groups, but things are modified. Instead of kicking a large ball, the group bats or kicks balloons. Some members enjoy doing simple, repetitive tasks like folding things or sorting items, so staff members provide those opportunities. Hand massages and manicures also are popular activities for these participants.
Those with higher levels of engagement share news and talk about current events, listen to music, dance, participate in strength exercises and do arts and crafts. Painting and ceramics are popular. Participants also receive hot meals and snacks during the program, which runs from about 8 a.m. to 5 p.m. Monday through Friday.
Mazzagatti said the staff walks with participants on their last journey, allowing them to have as much independence as possible in a safe environment. “We meet them where they are on their journey,” he added.
When weather permits, program attendees can sit outside and enjoy the patio area. They also can do some gardening. Mazzagatti said the groups enjoy the fruit of their labor at the end of the growing season. One year they picked their produce and made salsa. Another year they made zucchini bread and homemade butter.
Walls and hallways are decorated with historical photos of the Akron area and Catholic Charities’ programs, as well as artwork from the adult day services participants.
Bishop Perez asked about the spiritual component of the program. Mazzagatti and Their said extraordinary ministers of the Eucharist and Legion of Mary members visit regularly, as well as lay ministers from other denominations. The day services program is open to people of all faiths, nationalities, income levels and backgrounds. Mazzagatti said there have been diverse groups of individuals in the day services program. Regarding the advanced care program, he noted that “dementia is the great equalizer. It can affect anyone.”
“It is important that we accompany them and help prepare them for the next step in their journey, the end of life,” the bishop said.
“This is a cheerful place,” Mazzagatti said. He noted that staff turnover is very low. “People just love their work and participants look forward to coming.”
Gareau said although there are other services offered by Catholic Charities for senior citizens, this is the only adult day services program.
After visiting the adult day services and Catholic Charities offices and meeting staff and participants, the group headed over to nearby Blessed Trinity Parish on Tallmadge Avenue in Akron’s North Hill neighborhood. That site hosts a variety of additional Catholic Charities programs, including a large hunger center, meals programs, assistance for immigrants, Help Me Grow, a support program for parents of children up to age 3, emergency assistance programs and more. Caseworkers to help those impacted by substance abuse also will occupy space at the newly renovated Blessed Trinity site. The facility is undergoing renovation and some of the programs relocated temporarily to the Biruta Street site until construction is completed.
Bishop Perez pointed out that Catholic Charities impacts the lives of hundreds of thousands of people. “If you want to see the real footprint of Catholic Charities, stop one of the programs for just an hour,” he said.
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