LAKE COUNTY — This Sunday begins National Adult Day Services Week. This year marks 25 years since former President Ronald Reagan proclaimed the first such recognition, which is aimed at raising awareness to the availability and accessibility of adult day programs nationwide.
In Lake County, adult day services and respite care are provided in Clearlake and Lucerne. Adult Day Care/Respite Program of Clearlake operates under the supervision of Director Eva Johnson while Northlake Adult Day Center in Lucerne is led by Executive Director Caroline Denny.
“The purpose of adult day care is to prevent long-term placement,” Johnson said. Denny added, “A caregiver living with somebody with Alzheimer”s can get exhausted. If they can get a break, that helps.”
Together, the sites provide three days of care each week. “The reason we have programs in two places is because of the distance around the lake that people have to travel. Having two sites makes our programs more accessible,” Johnson said. “Some participants enjoy the programs so much that they attend all three days.”
There are several benefits for participants of the programs. Activities are developed around interest and physical benefit. Participants engage in fun activities such as arts and crafts and games such as dominos, bingo and even poker. They also play original games that help strengthen hand/eye coordination and mobility and physical exercises designed for people with arthritis.
Another important benefit is the social aspects of the programs. “There is a lot of depression associated with in home placement,” Denny said. “They need to develop other social outlets and the definitely get that here. We maintain a very accepting environment that gets them active. Then they have more to talk about with their families when they get home.”
Denny added, “What I”ve found with the volunteers who work in our programs, they are getting something from it, too. The volunteers feel good about what they are doing. They know that they are needed and appreciated.”
Teresita Chapman, whose mother has been in the program for the past six months, wholeheartedly agrees. “They are all such good people ? all of them. Their hearts are so warm and thanks to them my mother is leading a happier more productive life,” she said.
Chapman said participation in the programs has allowed her mother to remain at home. “We were looking at possible placement in a rest home but they changed all that,” Chapman said. “In the beginning, my mom was depressed and kind of confused.
Then she started going to the program and they got her involved in activities like walking and dancing and socializing. Her conversations make sense now and we are able to keep her in our home with us. They have given my mother the opportunity to enjoy life again.” Chapman said she is personally grateful for the support and confidence she has received from Johnson. She said Johnson”s testimony contributed to the court”s decision, which has allowed her mother to avoid placement in a long-term care facility.
“I can honestly say that my mother has not been to the hospital since she started the program. She was going to the hospital at least twice a month before that,” Chapman added.
The Adult Day Care/Respite of Clearlake, located at St. John”s Lutheran Church on Memory Lane offers programs from 9:30 a.m. to 2:30 p.m. on Tuesdays and Wednesdays. Northlake Adult Day Center, located at the First Lutheran Church of Lake County, 3863 Country Club Drive in Lucerne, offers respite care from 9:30 a.m. to 2:30 p.m. every Thursday.
The Clearlake site also provides support group for the caregivers. “It”s so good to attend the support groups so the caregivers can get ideas from other people on how to deal with a person with Alzheimer”s,” Johnson said.
For more information about programs and support groups in Clearlake, call Eva Johnson at 279-4836 and in Lucerne, call Caroline Denny at 263-9481.
Contact Denise Rockenstein at drockenstein@clearlakeobserver.com.
