Administrator Award
in NADSA Awards
This award recognizes adult day center administrators or directors who have demonstrated outstanding leadership within their centers and their communities. This award is given to an administrator or director who has given at least five years of service to an adult day services center.
Lesley Bess
Active Day Grand Strand, Myrtle Beach, SC
| Lesley Bess |
Oftentimes, it takes an outsider to impress upon us the real impact a center director has on her community. Never was that fact so clearly expressed than at a memorial service for a 39 year old client recently held at Grand Strand Active Day. Center Director Lesley Bess welcomed the opportunity to host the service for her friend Shera, and the facility was filled with people who had never been in an adult day care.
When Shera came to the center 10 years ago, the staff was profoundly saddened by her circumstances. Stricken 20 years ago by an onslaught of puzzling symptoms, this young adult's disability was a mystery of sorts. While attending the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill and working towards a degree in mathematics, Shera suddenly began experiencing unusual muscle aches and within two years, she was completely paralyzed. She was diagnosed with a rare and progressive form of Multiple Sclerosis, returned to her hometown and began attending the Active Day center in Myrtle Beach, SC, three days a week.
Center Director Lesley Bess grew close to Shera and despite Shera's inability to speak, they communicated in other ways. Shera's family knew that she was happy being at the center and enjoyed Lesley's company. Upon her death, they asked Lesley if she would mind inviting the community to the adult day center for the memorial. Not only did she rearrange the facility to suffice as a chapel, but she also gave the eulogy. There was not a dry eye in the place. However, beyond the sadness that came from losing Shera, was a deep inspiration, a kindred connection, a greater understanding of life itself and a new attitude to never assume anything stays the same.
Lesley shares that zest for life with all of her clients and staff. She was hired by Active Day in 2000 as a registered nurse. Her hard work and skills resulted in her promotion to Director in 2003. Over the years, Lesley has demonstrated she is an effective manager by leading a committed and well-tenured staff to provide excellent client care and exceptional activity programming. Her work with local teachers of students with developmental disabilities and special needs led to the development of a Transitions Guide for teachers, parents, social workers and co-workers who assist with the transition process for students from high school to adult day care. The Guide is being finalized and scheduled for distribution this fall in Active Day markets across the country.
In addition to teaching weekly classes at the local senior center, working closely with the Horry County Council on Aging and supporting Special Olympics, Lesley has served as Chairperson of the Alzheimer's Association Forget Me Not Ball for two years. Lesley's dedication of time and effort resulted in the Ball being a huge success, providing guests with an evening of entertainment and fun. More importantly, the Forget Me Not Ball exceeded its fundraising goal both years.
A native of the Myrtle Beach area, Lesley received her registered nursing degree in 1998 from Horry-Georgetown Technical College and was a member of Phi Theta Kappa and the National Dean's List Honor Society. She specialized in mental health nursing and human relations. She has continued her relationship with the local college by mentoring and hosting nursing students during their clinical rotations. She is a member of the Palmetto Guild Association and of the Senior Advocates Growing Elder Services (S.A.G.E.) group.
Lesley Bess is a wonderful center director who is passionate about adult day services, the people she serves and educating the community. She exemplifies all the qualities of an award-winning administrator and is a deserving recipient of this year's NADSA honor.
—Kris Baldock