Janice Rodgers loves her job because she believes in the mission of LIFE Butler County.

She's been with the program since its inception in July 2008 and is one of the original employees at the office on West Diamond Street that opened in September of that year.

The program started with three participants. It now has 96.

LIFE means Living Independence for the Elderly, and LIFE Butler County serves as an alternative to nursing home care by restoring and preserving adult independence.

The program helps eligible older adults who are living at home remain there by managing their medical, functional and social needs.

Participants have a range of medical, social and rehabilitation services available to them at no cost if they meet certain criteria. Others can receive services at some cost.

LIFE Butler County enrollees agree to receive all needed health care, including primary care and specialty physician services, other than emergency services, from LIFE Butler County and its providers.

The facility provides services such as comprehensive medical care, adult day care and support care in the person's home. It also offers meals, recreational programs and transportation to and from the LIFE Center.

“I like what I do because I know this program helps individuals have a better life. I can personally see how it makes a difference,” said Rodgers, who is the program's enrollment manager.

She gave an example of a man who returned home from a nursing facility. He had a feeding tube and was barely able to walk.

Within three months of being enrolled in the LIFE program, he had no feeding tube and was in the facility's therapy room each week.

“He's a totally different person and has made such improvements physically,” she said.

Another example is a man who had been in a nursing home, but came back to his residence. His wife had to continue to work and leave him on his own. So, he was enrolled in the program, and his wife was able to keep working while he got the care he needed.

“We really have a caring staff. We have extremely low employee turnover of our staff. They develop a close bond to the patients,” Rodgers said.

She described her employment background as “eclectic.” With a degree from Indiana (Pa.) University in psychology/Spanish and a master's degree from Slippery Rock University, she has worked as a program director in a residential facility. She also has worked in marketing/programming for a personal care/assisted living facility.

And she worked in the office of a physician.

“All the jobs I've had provided the skill sets I have now. They blended together for working in my current position as enrollment manager,” said Rodgers.

She explained that the people who LIFE Butler County serves come from medical and personal referrals, church pastors, social workers, and home health care agencies.

“We're easy as a phone call away,” said Rodgers, who added that because the program is relatively new to the county, there are still people who don't know that it is available to residents 60 or older.

To provide the proper services, the physician, nurse, social worker, dietitian, physical therapist, recreation manager and transportation manager do their own assessments on what an individual can do independently and what services are needed.

The LIFE program takes a different path than traditional health care, she said.

Once enrolled, the LIFE Butler County physician becomes the person's primary doctor. That doctor coordinates all care.

If someone can't fit into this program, Rodgers still may be able to help by referring him or her to other agencies.

She learned more about other services when she was a member of the Leadership Butler County Class of 2011.

Rodgers said as she went through the program, she learned of other health care providers. Because of that, Rodgers is able to refer people to those providers if they do not fit into the LIFE Butler County.

However, Rodgers continues to work to expand LIFE Butler County.

With the current staffing, the program can take 125 people, but Rodgers said the program is always looking for additional staff and is hiring certified nurses and social workers.

“We have small staff increases at a time, but they're steady increases” she said.

Rodgers wants to expand the client base: “My personal goal is to get into three digit enrollment in April.”

She added, “We started with two transportation vans. Now, we have four and were just approved to buy a fifth.”

In addition to her work, Rodgers contributes to the community in other ways.

She is a member of the Mental Health/Intellectual Disabilities/Early Intervention advisory board and a member of the Grace@Calvary Lutheran Church.

Previously, she has served as vice president of ARC Armstrong County, a council member at Christ Rupp Lutheran Church, secretary for the Slippery Rock University curriculum committee and an assistant Sunday school teacher at the Grace@Calvary Lutheran Church.

<B>Age: </B>54<B>Address: </B>Butler<B>Family: </B>Daughter, Emily<B>Job Title:</B> Enrollment manager<B>Company: </B>LIFE Butler County, Lutheran SeniorLife<B>Company address: </B>231 W. Diamond St.<B>What it does:</B> LIFE means Living Independence for the Elderly. It helps older adults who are living at home remain there by managing their medical, functional and social needs.<B>Employees: </B>42<B>Community leadership: </B>Member of the Mental Health/Intellectual Disabilities/Early Intervention advisory board<B>LEADERSHIP IS:</B>“Leadership is the ability to guide a group to a solution or resolution of a given issue while including everyone’s ideas and concerns and utilizing their talents.”<B>INSPIRATION:</B>“Toni Hively, executive director of Lutheran SeniorLife’s LIFE Program. She is very approachable. She’s very perceptive. I am amazed at what she can pick up from what is not said. She’s very good at communicating and following through.”