“The goal of the Memorial Adult Day Care Center is to help keep adults at home as long as possible by offering companionship and care for our participants and relief for their caregivers during the day,” said Vilma McKay, director of the center. “We are dedicated to maintaining – and often improving – the functional levels of our participants to help make life more enjoyable for everyone involved.”

 

She explained that the Center is available to those individuals who should not be left alone during the day because they are confused, suffer memory loss, have a physical handicap or have a medical condition which requires supervision.

 

As part of the registration process, potential Adult Day Care Center participants go through a personal interview, conducted by a registered nurse, which evaluates the functional, emotional and mental status of the individual to determine if the program is appropriate.

 

Once the individual begins attending the center, programs are designed to meet his or her specific needs. The safe, pleasant environment promotes a feeling of belonging and encourages participation. A hot noon meal is served in a social dining atmosphere, often improving appetites.

 

A typical day’s activities might include:

• Adult education

• Community outings

• Discussion groups

• Exercise therapy

• Music and dancing

• Pet therapy

• Recreational activities

• Relaxation therapy

 

There are some additional benefits to participating, according to McKay. While each program participant must continue to be seen by his or her personal physician, the Memorial Adult Day Care Center offers select health services, including:

• Blood pressure monitoring

• Exercise classes

• Individual/family information and referrals

• Individual nursing assessment

• Medication supervision

• Nutrition monitoring and counseling

• Personal care assistance and classes