Choosing an adult day center
As a youth we probably all dreamed of the day when we could stop working and enjoy retirement. Now that life spans have increased it is not rare to find people living into the 80's, 90's and beyond. Some seniors are fortunate to stay active with friends, hobbies, sports or other activities, but this is not always the case. As life changes, friends die or move away, sports or other activities may become harder to enjoy and other life changes take their toll on everyday life.
There are excellent programs for seniors, such as town recreation centers and local groups to provide programs and activities as well as providing opportunities for learning and making new friends. Some seniors, however, have difficulty keeping up with the pace because of medical issues or disabilities that make such programs uncomfortable or even unsafe.
That is where adult day centers, which are designed for the senior who can succeed in a supportive environment, become a good resource. Usually nursing care, a structured activity program, social services and personal care are provided. Such an environment helps overcome common phrases such as:
- "Dad cannot sit home alone all day."
- "Mom's friends are gone or moved away. She used to be so active."
- "Dad does not eat properly and I am not sure he is taking his medicine."
- "All Mom does is stare at the TV all day."
Choosing an adult day center is easier than it sounds. Each one has its own culture and some are designed for disabled adults while others are specifically designed for seniors with cognitive problems, such as Alzheimer's disease. The key is to be honest with the staff and administration regarding care needs and behaviors since these issues may be easy for them to handle if they know about them up front.
Observing and questioning the operations is an important first step. Among the things to look for, or ask about, are:
- The physical environment should be clean and cheerful, but not juvenile.
- See if the seniors are actively engaged, which can include quiet but attentive.
- What meals are served and can special dietary issues be handled?
- How are seniors acting and reacting to the staff?
- Is there a calendar of activities and does this seem to include a range of abilities and interests?
Any day center should offer a free trial time to try out the programs. Centers should be open to tours at any time and visitors should be welcome to stay for quiet observation of the program. Often the seniors behave differently at day centers than they do at home and sense they should be on their best behavior when they are "out and about". Many times those that are quiet and withdrawn at home may be more sociable when with a group of their peers. It is typical for meals to be taken regularly because eating is what everyone else is doing.
