Dusk To Dawn At Dodge Park
Adult Day Care Program through The Night
Dodge Park Rest Home is proud to announce that we will be starting a unique program at our facility on September 1, 2009. Based on a similar program at the world-renowned Hebrew Home at Riverdale, NY, Dodge Park will be operating the Dusk to Dawn at Dodge Park program. This program is a social model adult day care program that operates through the night. This is the first program in the State of Massachusetts, and the second in the country. The program allows seniors who have memory impairment or are frail and have sleeping problems or would like to socialize and enjoy a wide variety of activities in a safe and home-like environment during nighttime.
Often you hear from seniors, “I want to be independent and stay in my own home as long as I can. And I don’t want to go to a nursing home!” The wish to be independent is expressed by people who are aging and experience chronic conditions and changes in functional abilities. Aging in place is a concept that provides support services to seniors, so they are able to continue living independently at home.
One of the most difficult decisions an adult child of an aging parent has to make is whether or not to place the parent in long-term care. Luckily, more options exist nowadays that allow seniors to “age in place”. It means that seniors can live at home with the appropriate care, modifications, and services such as Dusk to Dawn at Dodge Park. There are numerous communities and agencies that recognize both the social and the economic benefits of allowing aging parents to remain in their homes.
The advantage for the seniors is that aging in place allows them to remain more independent, remain in a home they may have been residing in for most of their adult life, and remain in the community. With the annual cost of nursing home going up yearly, aging in place solutions are not just beneficial for seniors, but are also more affordable. The Dusk to Dawn program at Dodge Park offers a solution that allows seniors to stay longer at home.
Certain individuals, such as those who suffer from advanced Alzheimer’s disease or other advanced types of memory loss, and those who require 24-hour care or supervision may not benefit from the concept of aging in place. However, for many seniors and their family members, it is the best solution to delay placement in long term care facility.
According to the AARP, over 80 million Americans will reach retirement age within the next 15 years, and over 80% of those retirees would like to stay in their present home as long as possible rather than moving into a retirement community and/or assisted living facility.
Adult day care allows caregivers to continue working outside the home, receive help with the physical care of a loved one, avoid the guilt of placing a loved one in institutional care, and have respite from what can be a “24/7” responsibility.
The care receiver can benefit from adult day care by having the ability to remain at home with family but does not require 24-hour care from the primary caregiver. Adult day care 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.
Dusk to Dawn at Dodge Park program will follow the principles of aging in place by helping and supporting seniors and their families in their efforts to keep older adults longer at their homes. While most families are able to care for seniors at home, many struggle with seniors who suffer from sleep disorders due to memory impairments. Providing this service to the community will allow families to keep their loved ones longer at home. The program also gives caregivers respite time if they would like to spend few hours at night outside the home for and for a very reasonable price.
One-on-one care is expensive. The Dusk to Dawn program at Dodge Park will allow caregivers with limited funds to stretch their budget and enjoy restful nights while knowing that their loved ones are cared for in a safe and home-like environment. Families have the option to use funds provided by VA benefits and State of MA Care Giver Homes program to pay for this service.
Dusk to Dawn at Dodge Park operates 7 days a week from 7 pm to 7 am; it is closed on major holidays (special arrangements can be made for participants who need help with supervision during the holidays). The program’s participants can attend two to seven nights a week. Dodge Park will provide transportation free of charge to the residents of Worcester and surrounding towns. The program will provide the clients with supper, snacks throughout the night, and breakfast before they leave for the day. In addition, for an extra nominal fee, we will provide showers for those who are interested in this service.
The participants of the program will enjoy a wide variety of activities throughout
the night such as art, exercise, music, reminiscence groups, morning stretching exercises, yoga, and more. Participants that would like to nap or sleep could use the beautiful quiet room, in which they will be able to recline using our comfortable easy chairs and relax while supervised by our staff members. Others who would like to walk will be able to utilize out lower level for walking while supervised by staff. The facility will provide a safe environment for participants who are at risk of wandering.
The Dusk to Dawn at Dodge Park program has hired experienced, compassionate staff that will be continuously trained on the needs of the elderly population in order to better serve the needs of our participants.
For more information and to receive a copy of our media kit, please contact the Dusk To Dawn at Dodge Park at (508) 853-8180 or via email at m.shalev@dodgepark.com.
