2017 Northeast Wisconsin Senior Resources Directory

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A DULT D AY S ERVICES purpose. Studies are finding that physical and mental health improves in people attending adult day services on a regular basis. Most programs operate as non- profit centers and rely on additional support from their community in order to maintain the operation. A 2012 study conducted by Metropolitan Life Insurance Company found that the national average cost for adult day care is about $70 a day. This is very cost effective when compared to nursing home, assisted living or in-home care. Most adult day centers find ways to subsidize the cost through local community support, grants, fundraisers etc. Some funding is also available through Medicaid Waiver programs, Family Care, Veterans Administration and Long Term Care Insurance. Some pro- grams even operate on a donation basis. For information on help in paying for adult day services, people should contact their local Aging & Disability Resource Center or local Human Services Department. What to look for in selecting an adult day center: • A safe, secure environment • Qualified and well-trained staff and volunteers • Adheres to or exceeds State Standards • Assesses individuals abilities and needs prior to admission • Provides an active day program meeting social, recreational and rehabilitative needs.

• Develops an individualized treat- ment plan (what does the individ- ual like to do or not like. What are they able to do on their own? Where do they need assistance?). All care should be Person Centered. • Provides a full range of services including personal care, trans- portation, meals, health screening and monitoring, and rehabilitative services. • Offers free trials and welcome family members and caregivers to drop in at anytime during the day. What can a person expect when they start at a well run Adult Day Program? A participant’s first day should be all about getting to know the environ- ment, the people, and the routine/schedule. Spouses and care- givers often feel a sense of anxiety about reaching out for help with their caregiving. For the spouse or caregiv- er they might feel a sense of guilt for not being with their parent or spouse 24/7. However, the people who understand the value of having this respite time for themselves and other experiences for their loved ones truly understand the value of these day programs. Submitted by Diana Brown Vice President of Program Services for Curative Connections. Diana devel- oped the Adult Day Programs at Curative and has assisted many agencies from across the county. Diana is a past recipient of the Ruth Von Behren Award from the National Adult Day Services Association recognizing the person- al achievements and commitment of individuals in the field of Adult Day Services who have had a national impact on Adult Day Services.

dult Day Services are unique because they improve people’s quality of life and allow them to stay where they live. Many people using adult day services are at risk of needing nursing home care, but choose to receive their care in this lower-cost, community based setting. This allows their caregivers/family members the ability to work or take care of them- selves while the person who uses the adult day services attends the pro- gram. These community based group pro- grams are designed to meet the needs of adults who may have functional and/or cognitive impairments. According to the National Adult Day Services Association, (NADSA) nearly half of all participants nationally have some level of dementia, other com- mon chronic diseases among partici- pants include chronic hypertension, physical disability, cardiovascular dis- ease, diabetes, mental illness and developmental disability. These struc- tured comprehensive programs pro- vide a variety of health, social and other related support services in a protective setting during the day. Adult day centers generally operate programs during normal business hours, five days per week. Some oper- ate on evenings and weekends. Also according to the NADSA, there were more than 5,685 adult day cen- ters operating in the United States in 2014. The growth trend continues from previous censuses of 4,601 in 2010 (NADSA) and 3,407 programs counted in the research by Partners in Caregiving (funded through the Robert Wood Johnson Foundation). Everyday, more is being learned about the benefits of having a daily social outlet, and having a place to go, a

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