LAKE COUNTY – Ophelia Chatman and her family have much to be thankful for this Thanksgiving holiday. Much of their gratitude can be attributed to the loving care that Chatman receives as a participant of the Adult Day Care/Respite Program of Clearlake. Chatman has been diagnosed with Alzheimer”s disease, which is a progressive condition that erodes cognitive and functional abilities and leads to incapacitation and total dependency.
The disease afflicts more than 500,000 older Californians and can cause severe emotional, medical and financial stress on families. Chatman”s participation in the Adult Day Care/Respite Program has given her the ability to remain in her home with her loving family.
“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,” Chatman”s daughter Teresita Chatman said. “We were looking at possible placement in a rest home but they changed all that.” Teresita Chatman”s husband, Henry Mason said the program has allowed his family to truly enjoy the holidays.
“First and foremost we are thankful that we still have her here with us. I”ve seen people go through a lot of changes with dementia and she”s not going through those yet. I think part of that has to do with the program,” Mason said.
“Thanks to the program, she will be able to go out and enjoy the holiday. She is getting ready for a trip to her other daughter”s house in Patterson and she will get to see some of her grandchildren.” Mason said participation in the program has provided his mother-in-law with the happiness that had been missing from her life.
“Being happy is the breaking point in someone”s life. Going to the day program makes her happy and she can”t wait to go. She knows what days she gets to go and looks forward to going even when she doesn”t feel well,” he said.
“It”s very easy to care for her when she”s happy especially when she”s loved by those who care for her and when she loves them too.” Chatman and Mason said they couldn”t be more thankful for the care and support they received from the staff at the day care program.
“They take really good care of everyone,” Mason said. “It”s easy to entrust our parents with them because they show them a lot of love. They communicate with us. They care.”
The Lake County Board of Supervisors presented a proclamation earlier this month designating November as Alzheimer”s Awareness Month. The proclamation was received by Eva Johnson, director of the Adult Day Care/Respite Program of Clearlake.
The proclamation recognizes the need for continued involvement for progress and improvement in patient care, education and training of professionals and volunteers. It also calls for the continued support of government-funded services for continued diagnosis, respite, day care, training, consultation and care management for those suffering from the disease and to their caregivers.
The proclamation also recognizes the benefits of support groups that continue to increase awareness and help to alleviate fears associated with the disease.
Finally, the proclamation challenges citizens to support efforts to combat Alzheimer”s and to assist families and other caregivers serving those with the disease. Adult day programs are offered in two locations within Lake County. 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 or call her directly at 994-6444, ext. 11.
