Clara Chilson is a different woman, according to her daughters.

Pat Welsh has changed for the better, too.

James Mork just points to his mother, Gladys, as evidence of a happy woman.

And, Gayle Childs? See for yourself. The new 'do' -- a close-cropped hairstyle -- looks great and she is still among the most active volunteers anywhere.

They are among the clients of the Adult Day Care Program at Sacred Heart Care Center, who have been empowered by the oldest and most successful service of its kind.

Others have started and failed and the handful that still exist are as far away as Rochester and Owatonna, but Sacred Heart's program remains a strong and viable option for its clients.

On Thursday, the program celebrated its 19th anniversary with a dinner and program, plus entertainment, for its clients and their guests.

Gayle Childs, the youngest client has been coming to the Adult Day Care Program for 18 years, or since she was 29 years old.

"I highly recommend it," said Childs, "There's always something different going on and something to do and it gets you out of the house. It's great."

Gladys Mork, a 12-year regular of the program, has been widowed since 1969. "I like the people I meet," said Mork. "They make it fun to come here."

Sue Hanson and Mary Holtorf celebrated the anniversary with their mother, Clara Welsh.

Welsh's husband, Myrle, 75, is an inspiration in his own right, still working at Cedar Valley Services, Inc. For the last three years, Welsh has found inspiration in the Adult Day care program.

Hanson, activities director at Cedar View Care Center, Owatonna, has the expertise to tell a good care center program from an ineffective one. "Most day care programs have failed because they are just not profitable. This one succeeds where the others fail. Definitely, we can see how it is helping mother."

Her sister, Queen of Angels Catholic Elementary School teacher Mary Holtorf, agreed. "It's just a very good program in all that it does," said Holtorf. "It helps keep our mother's mind and body active and that helps her remain independent longer."

Their mother,Welsh said, "I enjoy my new friends and the things we do here each week."

Mork said she enjoys the socialization with others and the attention she receives at the Adult Day Care Program.

Joan Franklin, who oversees the program at Sacred Heart Care Center, spoke to the noontime anniversary luncheon crowd Thursday. The program's supervisor, Pitzen, also addressed the clients and special guests.

Pitzen said the program is successful because its staff and volunteers "work so hard to help these people remain independent." She singled out Kathleen Wiste, a nurse's aide, as an example of one of the Sacred Heart employees who "truly enjoy" what they do for a living.

"The staff are always bringing new ideas and new energies to the program to keep it fresh," she said. "Most of all, our staff really care about the people they serve."

Pitzen said being a part of a care center allows the Adult Day Care Program

to have access to other programs and services at Sacred Heart Care Center and they also keep the program viable.

The program was created almost two decades ago by registered nurse Donna Brody and, according to Pitzen, has never wavered from its original mission: "To help people remain independent or to help them make the transition from their own homes

to a nursing home."

What does the future hold for the Adult Day care Program? "We have to continue serving the community and doing whatever we can to help people remain active and to stay independent longer," she said.

Eighty percent of the program's clients are female and the age range is 47 to 95.

Somewhere among the participants is Clara Chilson, 86 and a 1 1/2 year-long participant in the activities.

A retired country school teacher, Chilson lives with a daughter, Marlene Evenson. On Tuesday, she was sharing her mother with another sister, Karen McCarty, visiting from the Twin Cities.

Known as the "Domino Queen" and fond of recalling her childhood pranks of tying cats' tails together, Chilson, the mother of six children, and 18 grandchildren, is another endorsement for the Adult Day Care Program.

"When she comes from, she's in a good, happy mood. It just means so much to her," said daughter Marlene.

Chilson's smile was radiant at that moment.

Lee Bonorden can be contacted at 434-2232 or by e-mail at

lee.bonorden@austindailyherald.com