The board of directors of The Caring Place of Hot Springs, which offers adult respite programs for seniors diagnosed with some form of dementia, recently named Nina Alter as the new director of the facility.
Alter’s first day at The Caring Place was Monday, but the Hot Springs native has been involved in senior health care for more than 30 years.
“I started in the nursing home business,” Alter said. “I was looking for a job out of high school. I began working for a gentleman who owned a nursing home, and I just progressed and stayed in the industry.”
She served as the executive director for West Shores Senior Living and as administrator for Garrett Woods Senior Living.
“It’s been a wonderful part of my life,” Alter said. “Spent a great portion of my life in that industry. I’ve seen some amazing changes in how we offer different programs to our seniors.
“When I first began my career, we really only offered nursing homes as an option for individuals who could no longer care for themselves or the families became unable to take care of them in the home,” she said.
“So, I have seen through these years (the development of) programs like The Caring Place where those families, who are trying to care for their loved one at home with Alzheimer’s and dementia, can bring them to respite care programs.”
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“We are thrilled to have Nina Alter, such a strong and knowledgeable senior care professional, leading our mission of providing excellent care for our families’ loved ones. Our service allows the family members and caregivers much-needed time off to care for themselves. Nina will be able to grow our outreach to more families and individuals who need our services,” Joyce Whitfield, board chairman, said in a news release.
As a ministry of First United Methodist Church, The Caring Place was started in 1992 out of the basement of the church with “one paid staff member and a handful of volunteers,” the release said. The facility has been located at 101 Quapaw Ave. since 2005 after Sam and Lucille Clark purchased the building and donated it to the church.
The center is licensed and regulated by the state of Arkansas and registered as a nonprofit corporation.
According to former vice chairperson for The Caring Place Board of Directors, Frances C. Dalme’s book, “The Caring Place; Making the Most of the Long Goodbye,” it was the first facility in Arkansas to provide day care services designed for people diagnosed with some form of dementia. It is still the only facility to offer those services in Hot Springs.
The Caring Place had to close for 18 months due to the COVID-19 pandemic, but was able to reopen in July 2021. Alter said it has been a challenge to thrive after reopening because people may not know the facility is open or they may still have fear associated with COVID-19.
“Anyone that comes inside the building and especially around the employees and participants must be fully vaccinated,” Alter said.
During the closing, the building was updated and a GPS Needlepoint Bipolar Ionization System, which clears the air of pollutants, dust, allergens, mold, bacteria and viruses was installed, the release said.
“I know how important (The Caring Place) is to so many people and just feel like I could bring my years of experience in and maybe help get it back up and thriving,” Alter said.
The facility is in need of volunteers, who, along with professional staff, receive year-round training and certification, she said, noting they are also offered continuing education programs through The Caring Place.
“The biggest requirement is that (the volunteer has) a big heart and they come in with the attitude that they want to share themselves with our participants,” she said.
More information about services The Caring Place offers and enrollment options can be found at https://www.thecaringplacehotsprings.com/.
