By LORI BERGLUND

They are all “golden” — the men and women who three days every week congregate at the Golden Day Adult Day Program in downtown Fort Dodge.

Beth Plautz is too humble to take much credit for the program herself and quickly shines the light on fellow board members, staff and volunteers who make this program such a unique and engaging place for community members.

“We have three paid staff, and we have a wonderful group of volunteers,” Plautz said. “That really helps us out.”

Plautz was one of a team of community members who came together just a few years ago to create a day program for adults with special needs who might otherwise be facing long lives very much alone.

Many of the young adults who take part in Golden Day activities on a regular basis are big fans of “The Golden Girls.” Here in this place, they have found their own niche in the world, a wonderful group of friends to call their own, so Golden Day seems to be a most appropriate name.

The days here really are golden. Ask any of the regular participants.

“I’ve made lots of friends and I love the games,” said Morgan Cox. “It’s all fun here.”

Danielle Jessen has been coming since the program launched in 2022 and can’t imagine going back to a time where she didn’t have this program to look forward to.

“I like hanging out with my friends; I just like everybody here,” Jessen said.

Jessen’s mother, Angie Jessen, is equally grateful.

“Danielle just loves it,” Angie Jessen said. “While she’s here, I can go to work, or do whatever else I need to do, and I know that she’s not just sitting around.”

Jordan Potratz comes to the program three days every week and spends his off days looking forward to coming again.

“This is like my family,” Potratz said.

Ranging in age from 19 to 82, the golden folks here face such challenges in their lives as autism, Down syndrome, spina bifida, cystic fibrosis, and dementia. The small budget of only about $70,000 is vitally dependent on Medicaid funding.

The process of gaining Medicaid certification took approximately 18 months, according to Plautz. That budget is miniscule compared to many forms of alternative care.

“About 90 percent of our funds come from Medicaid,” Plautz said.

Even so, she agreed that it’s an overall cost-saver, as it helps families keep their dependent adult children at home, and in the best possible quality of care.

“We have worked with Rep. Ann Meyer and she helped us get approval,” Plautz said. “She certainly sees the value of the program. She knows that Adam (Plautz’s son), if he had to go to a nursing home, it would be so much more expensive.

Adam Plautz is in his 20s, and Golden Day helps him enjoy the fullest quality of life.

“Adam has Angelman’s syndrome, which is the same as what the actor Colin Farrell’s son has,” Plautz said.

He is non-verbal, but his smiles tell his mother that Golden Day is making a difference in his life.

“For me, this is just a total game-changer,” Plautz said. “He has a place to go, and he loves all the people here. He loves the activities. It’s been phenomenal.”

Happy to see a visitor, the friends at Golden Day gather around to say how much they enjoy the crafts, and having a chance to make something for their friends and family. They are happy to make new friends, and eagerly present gifts they have made, such as a friendship bracelet.

They also learn in the hours they spend at Golden Day. A recent favorite was a book about “The Golden Girls,” but they have also learned about the national parks, the states, and other fun topics in books tailor-made to be shared by such great friends.

Plautz explained that Medicaid funding helps with the basics of the program, while local donations help enrich the activities.

“We got a grant from First Presbyterian Church and we’re excited because we’re going to get a Cricut machine and they can start making cards and more crafts,” she said.

The Fort Dodge group known as 100 Women Who Care has also been generous in their support of the Golden Day Adult Day program.

“The 100 Women Who Care is a wonderful group that meets quarterly,” Plautz said. “They each put in $100, and then end up with $10,000 to give. It’s gone on for years and it’s a wonderful group.”

For Plautz, the creation of a program such as Golden Day is just one step in helping build a better future for her son and all of the young adults like him in the community.

“My mother is still alive and she’s 90,” she said. “My husband’s mother lived to 94, so here’s Adam. When he started this he was 22. Is he going to be doing nothing for 70 years? We’re older parents, so we have to figure this out.”

Golden Day gives purpose and joy to those who come here — it’s what every parent wishes for on behalf of their children.

Angie Jessen is a devoted mom who sees the value of this program to improve the quality of life, not just for her daughter, but for so many more. As much as mother and daughter enjoy spending time together, Angie Jessen knows that young people need friends and interaction with people their own age.

“My daughter deserves to be out with other people and having fun,” Angie Jessen said. “It means the world to me to have this, and if it went away, I would be lost. The people here are family.”