| When our parents become elderly and frail, we | | | | happiness. |
| want to assist them and keep them at home as | | | | There are many Adult Day Care Programs |
| long as possible. With the proper services, | | | | located in Palm Beach County. Most are run by |
| equipment and safety measures in place, this is | | | | government funded organizations or not-for profit |
| possible for many people. | | | | agencies. Some examples include the Division of |
| But, successfully keeping our parents safely in | | | | Senior Services, Alzheimer's Community Care |
| their home (or ours) is only half the battle. Many | | | | Alliance, Mae Volen Senior Center, Morse Adult |
| seniors are in fact living in their own home but are | | | | Day Center and New Day Adult Care Center. |
| completely isolated, lonely and sleeping the day | | | | Adult Day Care rates vary widely, depending upon |
| away. Their life is spent waiting for doctor | | | | the funding source and the participant's income. |
| appointments, waiting for someone, anyone to | | | | Many seniors who have Long Term Care |
| visit. Home care companies may advertise, | | | | Insurance are delighted to know that many |
| "There's no place like home", but not everyone | | | | policies do cover Adult Day Care. Most are |
| thrives at home. Let's face it, a senior who was | | | | partially funded by federal funds through the Older |
| once an accomplished professional or an active | | | | American's Act and county funds such as |
| social butterfly will rarely be challenged by the | | | | Community Care for the Elderly. The government |
| company of a home health aide who may speak | | | | funded Adult Day Care locations only charge the |
| limited English or who made be bored with his/her | | | | participant a small fee. This fee is usually in the |
| job. Having a warm body keep a senior company | | | | form of a tax deductible donation. Many |
| does not qualify as social interaction. Many of our | | | | government funded programs have a policy that |
| clients crave just to be touched. If you hold their | | | | no one is turned away for inability to pay. Private |
| hand, they won't let go. If you rub their tired | | | | Adult Day Care locations such as those owned by |
| shoulders, they melt in the chair. A kiss on the | | | | churches and private non- profit organizations |
| cheek goes a very long way because we all need | | | | may have a sliding scale based upon financial |
| to be touched. The touch of a home health aide | | | | status. Private Adult Day Care can cost about |
| getting them dressed in the morning does not | | | | $55/day and may charge extra if the participant |
| count. | | | | requires personal hygiene care. Whether the cost |
| Even seniors who have moderate dementia and | | | | is $5 or $55 a day, all participants receive lunch |
| who seem to not remember one moment to the | | | | and two snacks, assistance with activities of daily |
| next do better when they have social and | | | | living, specialized activities designed to stimulate |
| physical stimulation geared to their level of | | | | body, mind and soul. The goal is that every |
| understanding. Some feel social interaction does | | | | participant has a day of FUN which celebrates |
| not matter if it cannot be remembered later. The | | | | what they CAN DO. Staffing ratios average one |
| fact is, seniors with Alzheimer's or other types of | | | | staff member to every six participants. Some |
| dementia and memory loss do seem to live | | | | even have a ratio of 1:2. All Adult Day Care |
| moment to moment, but the quality of those | | | | locations should be licensed by the State of Florida |
| individual moments do matter to their overall | | | | as an Adult Day Health Care Facility. They are |
| health and happiness. If we have a six month old | | | | inspected by the state biannually. |
| baby, we try to give them wonderful experiences | | | | Some privately owned Assisted Living Facilities |
| even though they may not remember them the | | | | such as Arden Courts will allow you to bring a |
| next day. It is important to have quality of life | | | | loved one to their facility to spend the day and |
| every day because they do register at some | | | | participate in activities FOR FREE with the |
| level. | | | | understanding that the participant is considering |
| Adult Day Care Programs are designed to meet | | | | moving into the facility within a month. Other |
| the daily socialization needs of seniors and provide | | | | facilities, such as Encore Senior Living will provide |
| necessary respite for weary caregivers. Even | | | | day care at their dementia specific assisted living |
| seniors who have live-in caregivers may need | | | | facility for about $55 per day for an unlimited |
| Adult Day Care because some seniors, especially | | | | amount of days with no move-in commitment |
| those with dementia, sleep very little. Their | | | | necessary. |
| caregivers are exhausted because their sleep is | | | | Considering that the average price of a home |
| interrupted by their loved one roaming the house | | | | health aide is now $17/hour ( that is $136 per 8 |
| or watching television. The Adult Day Care helps | | | | hour day, an 8 hour day at Adult Day Care will |
| provide the caregiver with an opportunity to run | | | | cost only $55/day at the most. Adult Day Care, |
| errands and sleep. When the caregiver is a | | | | especially those which charge very little, can save |
| spouse, Adult Day Care is especially important so | | | | a family hundreds of dollars per week in home |
| the spouse can attend social functions, doctor | | | | health care costs and provided priceless respite |
| appointments, and preserve their own health and | | | | for the caregiver. |