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Mom Would Never Go to Adult Day Care!
April 4, 2008
Alex Au
Q. Our mother is widowed, and lives alone. She says she is fine, but my brother and I think she is becoming lonely, maybe a little depressed. I know there are some day care programs nearby, but she insists that she doesn’t want to go! What should we do, we worry about her but are working during the day.
Frustrated in Kaimuki
A. In several decades of working with older adults, I have never run into anyone who planned to attend an adult day care program after retirement! Most of us have no idea what adult day programs are like but the mention of “day care” stirs up images of a geriatric kindergarten. After a dozen years in the day care business, and after hundreds of senior clients, I have found quite the opposite to be true!
While most participants are very reluctant to attend at first, the center quickly becomes a comfortable place to go where there is assistance and reassurance, and nearly a zero chance of failure. Most of them come to think of themselves as members of a “class” or a “club,” something they can related to. The staff is trained to provide discreet assistance while activities are geared to provide a satisfactory outcome in spite of physical and mental deficits.
Just like “Cheers,” everyone has their own regular place to sit and everyone “knows their name.” The predictable routine and familiar faces create a satisfying, normal day even for individuals with memory loss.
Remember, as providers of adult day services, our primary goal is to improve quality of life for seniors and their families. We strive to help older adults maintain their functional abilities and stay safely at home as long as possible. We have found that there is much joy and value that can be found in each day even when there are declines in memory or mobility.
Share this article with your mother, and see if she will try it out for a day.
Read these past Questions & Answers, just click on the title.
