Adult Day Care – Comfort For The Senior & The Caregiver
Handwriting analysis, floral design, a trip to Manhattan, or a demonstration by a gourmet chef- what do all these activities have in common?
Once a month the senior ladies in our retirement community are invited to a lunch and recreational afternoon at a volunteer’s home. They call it “Ladies and Latte”. Each month there is a photo and an article with a description of the monthly event in the local newspaper. When these ladies open the paper on the week after their event they are thrilled to see their picture in the newspaper. What a comfort this is for these special senior citizen.
Senior women are often left alone in their homes. They are capable of taking care of themselves at home, showering, doing laundry and cooking. However, leaving the house for social visits presents more difficulties. Some of them do not know how to drive or have given up driving for safety reasons. Probably the only outings some of these women take part in during the week are trips to the doctor’s office or therapist. These monthly lunches could possibly be the only time that they actually get dressed to go somewhere enjoyable. There are several younger women who serve as hostesses making sure each lady feels pampered.
Imagine the excitement of a “latte lady” waking up on the day of the big event. No staying late in bed because there is nothing better to do. No waiting for children or friends to call or making calls only to get an answering machine. How depressing is that? Up and out of bed she goes, into the shower and to her rarely used makeup case. What should she wear? This was decided the night before in case her outfit needs ironing or her shoes polishing. A coffee and a granola bar will do just fine for breakfast since the anticipation of the glorious lunch is so exciting. Even a woman who does not usually eat that much can’t help but be tempted by the array of delectable dishes that are placed so strategically before her on the well-dressed table.
Impressive surprises are always waiting for these special ladies. Once it was a trip to a museum, or a makeover from a professional makeup artist or a manicure and pedicure from a professional manicurist. One time it was a renowned speak that no one could figure out how their hosts were able to reserve. Each lady always leaves with a small gift. Sometimes there is a theme and the gift matches the theme.
About 11:45 our lady in waiting is picked up either by another attendee or one of the hostesses. Each hostess makes sure that every lady has a ride back and forth, door to door to their home. Even a lady who is not feeling that great tries to come because if she misses the gathering she will have to wait another month for the next one.
Here are some examples of these monthly activities.
1) Cooking and Dining – A renowned chef was hired to make a special and healthful dish for the ladies to watch as it developed into their lunch. They admired the beautiful way the chef presented the dish and marveled at just how delicious Brussel sprouts and farro could actually be when sprinkled with pomegranate seeds. Their dessert was a “naked cake” which was decorated in front with them with whipped cream strawberries raspberries and blueberries. How magnificent is that?
2) Handwriting Analyser – A handwriting analyser came as their entertainment to scrutinize the ladies handwriting. The women were amazed that from a few sentences the analyst could determine the personality of each person. Each lady filled out a prewritten application and as the ladies ate their lunches their analyzer was busy making notes. Getting back their results made them feel as if they were youngsters in school waiting for their test scores. The ladies laughed at how well the analyst knew them and shared their comments with each other.
3) Floral Designer – One month the ladies were treated to a hands-on presentation by a professional floral designer. Besides learning about centerpiece design, they were educated in conditioning and trimming the flowers. Of course, they left with a gift as usual, this time it was their own unique floral arrangement.
4) Gulliver’s Gate – One of the most exciting monthly events was a trip to the newest hotspot in town, Gulliver’s Gate. For those not familiar yet with this incredible museum, it is a New York City based miniature version of the countries of the world. The ladies were enthralled with the fantastic details of the Great Wall of China, The Taj Mahal of India, and the Eiffel Tower of Paris, among many other scenes.
Of course, their hostesses left no details behind. Even though the destination was a surprise, the ladies were forewarned to come in sneakers and their hosts prepared delicious muffins as they rode in their van to Manhattan. What incredible comfort these women felt.
Children of seniors living at home have a quandary. Working or not the caregiver needs a break. Getting older can be so lonely. Enter the establishment of Adult Day Care Centers. Adult Day Care centers differ from senior care centers because senior centers (somewhat like the Ladies and Latte mentioned above) are geared to healthy older adults and seniors with physical limitations and/or memory loss issues belong in an Adult Day Care Center. At a typical Senior Center, your parent can socialize with similar senior citizens and even exercise daily. These Senior Centers often offer transportation and meals as do the Adult Day Care Centers. Your parents or loved one who are living with you at home find a safe and familiar place to spend their day. Some centers provide health services as well. Even if the senior has memory loss, he or she can still enjoy recreational services such as music, arts and crafts and spending the day with friends.
Caregivers can receive a much-needed break from the full-time occupation of taking care of a loved one and at the same time preventing or at least delaying the necessity of placing him or her in a long-term nursing home.
There are various types of places with the generic name of Adult Day Care. For example there are centers that are for socialization and recreation, centers with therapy and medical care in addition to socialization and dementia and Alzheimer facilities. If the word, “health” is included in the title of the institution then it will offer some type of health care. When the center is licensed by the state with the abbreviation of ADHC, health and medical care will be provided. If the place does not have a social worker or psychologist on the premises it will be simply called Adult Day Care without the word health. The state licenses and regulates ADHC institutions. If the center is not licensed there is a decreased chance that Medicaid and Medicare will cover the care. ADHC operations in most states have detailed procedure regulations for licensing. Don’t be surprised if there is a waiting list for the center of your choice, so it is prudent to prepare in advance for the advent of your parent’s decreased independence. Visit the center that you are considering to see if the residents are being treated with dignity. Check on the activities to see if they offer cognitive stimulation Adult Day Care for Seniors. It’s very helpful to speak with people who are in the center to hear their overall opinion of their day at the facility.
Costs of the services vary from facility to facility. If you do not require specialized care services the cost can be as low as twenty-five dollars per day. For more extended care the price can be more than one hundred dollars per day.
Please realize that your parent may be hesitant to go to the Adult Day Care Center at the beginning. He or she is used to being alone and it may be intimidating for them to become sociable again. By attending an Adult Day Care Center, older adults can find relief from loneliness, depression and decreased brain function. They are cared for by professionals with daily routines of exercise when possible, board games, creative projects and even puzzles. The daily attendance in these centers offers both the caregiver and the senior a win- win situation. Seniors can be stimulated during the day and go back to the comfort of their homes in the evening. Their caregiver who have the awesome responsibility of taking care of their parent can have a much-needed respite.
To locate an adult day care center in Northeast Ohio, go to the Adult Day Care directory on the Senior Comfort Guide. There you will find contact information for local Adult Day Care facilities.
