Community Highlights: Meet Ann Muraya of Truman Ridge Adult Day Center

Today we’d like to introduce you to Ann Muraya.

Hi Ann, I’m so excited to have you on the platform. So before we get into questions about your work life, how can you bring our readers up to speed on your story and how you got to where you are today?
My name is Ann Muraya, a child of God, born and raised in Kenya, a beautiful country in East Africa. I came to the US in 2007 to attend college. This was my dream throughout my high school years at Naivasha Girls Secondary School. I became an RN through Penn Valley Metropolitan College in Kansas City MO and then obtained a bachelor’s degree in Nursing from Northwest Missouri State University in Maryville. Caring for humanity is my ultimate fulfillment.

I got exposure to the adult daycare world in 2015 when I was looking to find a flexible nursing role that would fit my needs. In retrospect, I was unknowingly walking into the wide doors of my passion. The more I understood my role as a Community Nurse, the more I fell in love with it and its impact on the community. My boss at the time lived in Phoenix, Arizona. She was going through some personal struggles, so my husband, Dr. Patrick, and I took total ownership of the business in 2018. It has been an exciting, challenging, and enriching adventure! We have since owned, renovated, and expanded the building space to approximately 10,000 sqft, grown to 70 plus enrolled participants with a capacity of 90 participants daily.

It wasn’t obstacle-free, but would you say the journey has been fairly smooth so far?
Nothing worth having comes easy. I have, however, enjoyed all highs and lows as they have chiseled and sharpened my skills and abilities. I count it all joy. Having said that:

First, the expenses we had to cover before breaking even were tough to sustain. This is a challenge for many businesses.

Second, whenever we have to add a team member to our team, the process of finding and vetting those individuals can be a daunting task as we strive to maintain a strong, mentally intelligent team.

Third, the process of empowering and educating our participants and their families regarding their health, especially when it comes to lifestyle diseases such as diabetes and cardiovascular diseases, comes with its own set of challenges. Sometimes, the population we serve is mentally challenged with limited access to healthy food alternatives at home due to multiple barriers. We wake up and do our best, nevertheless!

Thanks – so, what else should our readers know about Truman Ridge Adult Day Center?
Truman Ridge Adult Day Program is a state-licensed day facility that provides individualized care to our adult and elderly population with different types of disabilities. We are open Monday through Friday from 7 am to 5 pm. Our team of staff and volunteers cares deeply about the well-being of others. Our goal is to keep the community out of the ER, avoid/delay institutionalization, and provide resources that will help the individuals we serve thrive comfortably in their own homes. We do this with passion and compassion. We offer hearty-healthy breakfast, lunch and snacks, transportation, health care management, health monitoring services, and an array of planned group activities, both indoors and outdoors. Truman Ridge Adult Day Program is easily the best in the Kansas City metro. It is all deep-rooted in the well-established culture of treating others with the kindness, grace, and gentleness that you would like extended to you.

Who else deserves credit for your story?
My grandmother in Kenya is my rock. She is wise, sweet, and very prayerful. My mother taught me the value of sheer hard work. The terrific center team that patiently puts their best foot forward daily for our participants is worth applause. A big shout out to our diverse group of participants who embrace and, with little resistance, conform to the set culture. They have allowed me to grow through service to them while pouring into me in ways they may never know! My lovely husband, Dr.Patrick, and our entire family are all incredibly strong support pillars. I’m so grateful to my friends, teachers, and anyone in my sphere for richly enhancing my life in one way or the other. Lastly, I give God the glory- He makes everything beautiful in His time.

Pricing:

• Medicaid Funded through the state of Missouri

Contact Info:

• Website: www.trumanridgekc.com
• Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/truman.ridge.77?mibextid=ZbWKwL
• Other: Truman Ridge Adult Day Center on Google