Day Club
Introduction
The Day Club at Dodge Park Rest Home centers, also known as adult day services or assisted living, have been providing a form of respite for caregivers in the past few years. In 1978 there were only 300 centers nationwide. By the 1980s there were 2,100 centers, and today there are about 4,000 centers nationwide, according to the National Adult Day Services Association (NADSA). NADSA reports that the need for such centers has “jumped sharply to keep pace with the mushrooming demand for home and community based services.”
The Day Club at Dodge Park Rest Home, provide a break (respite) to the caregiver while providing some health services, therapeutic services, and social activities for people with Alzheimer’s disease and related dementia, chronic illnesses, traumatic brain injuries, developmental disabilities, and other problems that increase their care needs. The Day Club at Dodge Park Rest Home, is a memory-impairment specific, providing social services exclusively to that population. Other centers in town serve the broader population.
One difference between traditional adult respite, both group and in-home care, and The Day Club at Dodge Park Rest Home is that adult day centers not only provide respite to family caregivers but also therapeutic care and mental stimulation for cognitively and physically impaired older adults which many in-home care program failed to do.
Benefits of The Day Club at Dodge Park Rest Home
The Day Club at Dodge Park Rest Home allows caregivers to continue working outside the home, receive help with the physical care of a loved one, avoid the guilt by delaying placing a loved one in institutional care, and have respite from what can be a “24/7″ responsibility.
The care receiver can also benefit from The Day Club at Dodge Park Rest Home. He or she is able to remain at home with family but does not require 24-hour care from the primary caregiver. The Day Club at Dodge Park Rest Home participants also have an opportunity to interact socially with peers, share in stimulating activities, receive physical or speech therapy if needed, and receive assistance with the activities of daily living with dignity, but most importantly, being still part of the community through outing to movies, sports events and restaurants.
A day at an The Day Club at Dodge Park Rest Home center could include: supervision; small group and individual activities such as reminiscence, sensory stimulation, music, art, and intergenerational activities; nutritious meals; transportation; case management; recreation and exercise; limited nursing care; education; family counseling; assistance with activities of daily living; and occupational, speech and physical therapies that can provided by a third party provider (home health agency). These services are customized to each participant’s needs.
Who Uses The Day Club at Dodge Park Rest Home?
Many caregivers who work outside the home are unable to stay home to care for loved ones. In addition, caregivers who do not work outside the home may wish a break from care giving to run errands, socialize, or simply to rest.
How Long Do Participants Stay at Day Care?
Generally, although programs vary, participants attend the program for several hours a day to a full day (ten to twelve hours), up to five days a week. Most programs do not offer weekend services, although Dodge Park offer an extended hours as well during Saturday and Sunday. (Participants who signed for the whole week are getting the weekend hours for free!!!)
How Do I Choose The Right Adult Day Care Center Center?
Family members must do some research to determine whether the The Day Club at Dodge Park Rest Home center is right for their loved ones. The components of a quality adult day care program should include the following:
• Conducts an individual needs assessment before admission to determine the person’s range of abilities and needs;
• Provides an active program that meets the daily social, recreational, and rehabilitative needs of the person in care;
• Develops an individualized treatment plan for participants and monitors it regularly, adjusting the plan as necessary;
• Provides referrals to other needed community services;
• Has clear criteria for service and guidelines for termination based on the functional status of the person in care;
• Provides a full range of in-house services, which may include personal care, transportation, meals, health screening and monitoring, educational programs, counseling, and rehabilitative services;
• Provides a safe, secure environment;
• Uses qualified and well-trained volunteers;
• Adheres to or exceeds existing State and national standards and guidelines.
A good place to begin searching for a program is the Yellow Pages, which will list possible options under “Day Care Centers-Adult.” The Better Business Bureau may have information on for-profit adult day care centers. At the national level, contact the National Council on Aging (NCOA), National Adult Day Services Association (NADSA) for a set of guidelines for adult day service programs (see Resources). Local Area Agencies on Aging can also direct you to adult day care centers in your area. Ultimately, word of mouth is often one of the best ways of finding quality adult day center like the Day Club at Dodge Park Rest Home.
For a detailed checklist on what to consider in selecting an adult day care center, visit the National Aging Information Center at www.aoa.dhhs.gov/NAIC. Click on adult day care, then on “Consumer Guides.”
Funding for The Day Club at Dodge Park Rest Home
Medicare does not cover day care costs. Long-term care insurance may also pay for adult day services, depending upon the policy. Dependent care tax credits may be available to the caregiver as well.
Conclusion
The Day Club at Dodge Park Rest Home services are a welcome respite opportunity for individuals who work or who need stretches of time away from their loved one to complete tasks, socialize, or just refresh. Additionally, The Day Club at Dodge Park Rest Home can be beneficial to the participant when he or she is willing and able to be part of the The Day Club at Dodge Park Rest Home experience.
Resources
Administration on Aging, National Aging Information Center at.
National Council on Aging, National Adult Day Services Association at www.ncoa.org or call (202) 479-6682 or e-mail.
About the Author
Micha Shalev MHA is a license long term care administrator and a co-owner and director of Dodge Park Rest Home and The Day Club at Dodge Park Rest home. Mr. Shalev has extensive experience in the field of gerontology and long-term care issues, including home health and hospice, home and community based services for seniors, and Medicare and Medicaid rules and regulations. He has held positions in management, program development, staff development and training on a national level, community resource development and known speaker in the field of Long Term Care. Mr. Shalev holds a Master’s degree in health care management as well as an engineering degree.
