Even if your senior loved ones have caregivers in their own home and are aging in place, a visit a few days a week to an adult day care (ADC) program can provide them with an opportunity to socialize with peers and lessen the feeling of loneliness that many may experience at home.  Just to be clear, ADCs are not regular senior centers for healthy able-bodied seniors, but adult day care programs in Westchester County and Fairfield County that provide added services and supervision to those who have functional limitations such as cognitive and/or physical disabilities.  ADCs help older adults continue living at home or in the community as long as possible by giving them a social outlet to thrive. Not only do seniors benefit, but ADCs also play a vital role in providing respite for caregivers. 

A few years ago, I volunteered at our local Greenwich Adult Day Care Center, Riverhouse, where I ran a weekly Scrabble game. Every Wednesday, I was delighted to see my new friends, many seniors with cognitive disabilities but who were still able to engage in thoughtful conversation and create words to keep a Scrabble game going. Often, I would help with words, sometimes being sneaky and playing entire hands while giving them credit.  I had one rule which was that we needed to look up any new words we did not know, which led to some interesting discussions about the context of the word and their memories. The seniors at Riverhouse were nurtured, engaged and enjoying their time with their peers from morning to afternoon. I can not think of a happier and more nurturing place to have my aging loved one spend a day or two each week.

Here is a sample of some activities that your seniors can be engaged in at an ADC.

• Games and team activities - balloon volleyball, trivia, BINGO

• Exercise classes - chair yoga, tai chi, chair dancing

• Music, art, and animal therapy

• Memory enhancement programs

• Gardening and baking

• Trips to local cultural organizations, parks, and beaches. Below is a photo from one of our Stepping Out field trips to Island Beach in Greenwich on the town Ferry.

It is important to keep in mind the following criteria when checking out ADC centers near you:

• Ensure there are enough staff members to look after and attend the men and women at the center. The National Adult Day Services Association, a nationwide organization geared towards developing and advocating for adult day services, recommends that programs catering men and women with dementia have a one to four staff-to-participant ratio.
• Look at the activity calendar to see whether they offer events and activities that your loved one would enjoy participating in.
• Keep your nose on alert and check for odd odors or an unclean smelling facility.
• Check to see what transportation options are available to get your loved one to and from the center.
• If your loved one has specific dietary needs, be sure to inquire whether the center can accommodate them.
• Ask about the types of personal care services (e.g. toileting, eating) are offered.

Dorot

Westchester

Through in-home visits and creative programs that build vital social connections in person, over the phone and within the community, DOROT has been improving life for older adults age 60+ in Westchester County for more than a decade. A majority of our Westchester offerings take place in seniors’ homes. A member of our social work team will visit with each older adult who wishes to participate in these specific programs. Our skilled social workers are proud to also provide vital support to older adults who join our programs.

Riverhouse Adult Day Care

Greenwich

Adults who wish to remain in their community but require daytime assistance come to River House up to five days a week to participate in vibrant activities, socialize with their peers, and receive compassionate care. Individuals challenged with dementia, Alzheimer’s disease, arthritis, diabetes, stroke, depression, traumatic brain injury, cardiac or pulmonary disease, vision/hearing loss, or other age-related ailments, greatly benefit from River House’s team of nurses, health aides, and therapeutic recreation staff who are trained to support their unique needs. River House follows a medical care model where nurses work with every member, their doctors, and their family to provide a personalized plan of care that enhances the member's overall well-being. By providing this crucial daytime care, caregivers are given the respite and peace of mind needed to effectively care for themselves and their loved ones.

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