Alzheimer’s disease and dementia are devastating conditions that affect not only those afflicted but those who care for them as well. They require a special kind of care, often involving 24-hour supervision, and placing a loved one with cognitive impairment in long-term care is not always an easy choice. Luckily, adult day care offers a solution that is beneficial to both family members and the loved ones for which they care.
The Haven, Inland Christian Home’s memory care unit, is well known as a safe, long-term placement option for those with dementia or Alzheimer’s disease. Many are unaware that Inland Christian Home also offers day care services and the many benefits of this program.
Adult day care is an extension of the Haven, allowing members of the community who require supervision due to dementia or Alzheimer’s disease to benefit from the many advantages of a memory care unit without having to live there full-time. If someone is diagnosed with one of these illnesses, they can be enrolled in day care services at ICH and visit the memory care unit as needed. While there, they receive all the services that a full-time resident would, such as meals, medication management, and activities. They can even receive personal care including showers, and benefit from the same infection control protocols that are paramount to keeping residents safe and healthy.
Day care participants can attend during regular daytime hours, which makes it convenient for their family members who care for them at home to maintain a full-time or part-time job. This also allows family members to attend to other personal needs like family emergencies or out-of-town trips by offering flexible hours and overnight respite stays.
People diagnosed with Alzheimer’s or dementia are often resistant to going into a community for a variety of understandable reasons. They are afraid of change, afraid of losing their independence and afraid they won’t know anyone. Family members are also resistant for different reasons. They often struggle with the anxiety and guilt that comes from placing a loved one in a care facility.
Not only is day care an ideal solution for these concerns, but it also helps pave the way for the possibility that your loved one may eventually need a full-time placement. Although moving into memory care can offer safety, security, and supervision, it is a drastic change and a big commitment. That commitment comes in the form of furnishing a room, paying for care, and sometimes even giving up a home or apartment before moving. But what happens if it doesn’t work out? A failed placement benefits no one and creates even more confusion and frustration for someone already suffering from a cognitive deficit. Through attending day care, clients gradually become acclimated to the campus, the other residents, and the staff. It alleviates having to commit to a memory care community, moving in furniture, and putting your loved one through the stress of moving, only to find out that the placement isn’t a good fit.
If or when the time eventually comes to transition to long-term memory care, attending day care helps smooth the transition. Day care participants will already have connections at the community, both with staff and peers, and will already be familiar with the surroundings and the programming.
With an estimated 1 in 9 Americans over the age of 65 diagnosed with Alzheimer’s or other dementias, and those numbers on the rise, day care and memory care are becoming increasingly pressing needs. Inland Christian Home is proud to offer both types of care to give the local community options for dealing with this growing need.
