Gritman Adult Day Health of Moscow, ID has provided Dad with respite and a time to regain his own health. Because of the breaks, it has improved the quality of their time together. 
 
For the Person Receiving Care

• My mom has some new friends.
• She feels useful doing her "volunteer" work.
• She has gained an interest in what's happening in the world.
• She's less anxious about Dad being out of her sight.
• She's contributing to conversations more.
• She's being more physically active.
• She's complaining less about aches and pains.
• She has gained self-confidence in herself and her abilities.
• She still is confused sometimes and forgets/repeats things, but she's happier overall.

Gritman Adult Day Health has a wonderful staff providing a caring, stimulating, inviting program, and we consider them a big blessing in our lives." 

Non-Medicinal Anti-Depressant Promotes Sleeping Through the Night

—Elsie’s daughter, Susan, Issaquah, WA 

"My mother has always been a loner. She has become content and very pleased with attending Eastside Adult Day Services in Issaquah, WA and thoroughly enjoys interacting. She also sleeps through the night now that she is active and stimulated during the day. She has minimal depression and tells me she never believed it could be this good at the end of her life. All this relieves a lot of stress on her caregivers."
 
It's Hard to Say Who Benefits More—the Participant or the Family Caregiver

—Cora, Daughter, Burlington, WA

"My mother broke her hip two years ago and was in a nursing home for six weeks. She was very unhappy and, due to financial reasons, my husband and I decided to care for her in our home. She was so happy to live with us. However, she thinks this is her home, and it lasted about a week. When the newness wore off, she became a different person. 
 
Both my husband and I are retired and thought we would enjoy doing some traveling, etc. on our golden years, but we were in for a surprise. We brought an unhappy woman into our home who didn't like anything. She was very depressed and cried a lot because she couldn't do what she used to. She couldn't be left alone and had around-the-clock care. Being her daughter, we kind of had a few problems. She calls me her mother and thinks I don't do enough for her. Now she has Alzheimer's and we are all learning to cope with this disease.
 
On top of this, I am homeschooling an ADD grandson who loves to get Great-Grandma's goat. Well, after a yearly physical at my doctor and my blood pressure above normal, something had to be done. I had heard about adult day care but never really looked into it. I called and got a place for her for one day a week. However, it has gone to four days a week, and I love it.
 
When I drop my mother off, I turn up the music in my car, relax and give a sigh of relief knowing that she is well cared for.  Now I can:

• go shopping
• get groceries
• do my homeschooling with my grandson
• do the paper route with my grandsons
• play with my granddaughter
• put the music on at home
• play with my computer and write e-mails
• go out to lunch with my husband, etc.

By the way, my husband got a job at a grocery store for four hours a day because of the strife at home. My mother wouldn't go to the center at first, but we put our foot down and took her anyway. It wasn't long before she loved it and enjoyed the company. Her life is pretty limited at home because all she can do is watch TV. She has a problem getting her words out and always comes home with some strange stories, but I am learning to listen and shut up! 
 
The staff at day care are wonderful. It is very plain they love each and every one of the people who is under their care. Without day care, I would be a basket case going to the nursing home instead of my mother. I thank each and every one of the staff who work with these cleints."
 
Extended Family Also Benefit

—Bobby & Diane, Clinton, NC

"The staff at Sampson Adult Day Care Center are the most caring, competent folks! They treat each client, regardless of mental or physical abilities, as though they were family. Each client is observed carefully and any differences in behavior or health are noted...Our mother and grandmother, Mrs. Morrison, has a quality of life that we would be unable to provide for her if she had to stay at home every day. She is afraid of a nursing home, and if we can keep her at home until she dies, we want to do that. The adult day care center provides us that opportunity....By the way, Mrs. Morrison is 95 years old, and because she is able to go to the Center every day, she is still very active and on her feet!"

Marketing doesn't just happen! You have to consciously and actively tell people about adult day services.  Check out the National Adult Day Services Week Tool Kit on the NADSA website for ideas on celebrating National Adult Day Services Week! Share your National Adult Day Services Week plans with us! Contact Teresa Johnson, NADSA Director of Communications, at tj.ccadc@mindspring.com.