**Adult Day Center Award

Charlie's Place, Baton Rouge, LA

This award recognizes outstanding and innovative adult day centers.  The day center is recognized as a model on which others can learn from as "best practice."

Charlie's Place staff members Ed Picard and Dana Territo receive the Adult Day Center Award. _________________

Music is a mainstay and dancing inevitable. Coffee and conversation are now a morning routine. In a recent activity, "shucking corn" became more than a task: an opportunity to reminisce about Farm Days. Pumpkin seeds have been planted in the Memory Garden so there will be pumpkins to carve in the fall. Fresh herbs almost overtake the garden. A bumper tomato crop meant fresh tomatoes for lunch salad recently. And a new soft serve ice cream machine enabled everyone to enjoy an afternoon snack in honor of National Ice Cream Month in July.

This is just a sampling of the atmosphere and activities at the Alzheimer's Service Respite Center, "Charlie's Place," a program designed exclusively for individuals with early stage Alzheimer's and related disorders, intended to provide cognitive stimulation and interaction.

Opened in Baton Rouge, Louisiana, in October 2007, the concept of Charlie's Place began as a solution to a recurring request from families that there be "a place" that they could feel comfortable leaving their loved one with dementia for a few hours a week. Ideally, these few hours of respite from day-to-day responsibilities of caregiving would provide families both the opportunity and peace of mind needed to take care of simple things like grocery shopping, going to the doctors, or sharing a few hours of fun with friends. So far, the program—one of its kind in the State of Louisiana—has offered caregivers just that, in addition to allowing them to keep their loved ones at home longer and delaying the overwhelming expenses associated with long-term care. And, when a caregiver has the opportunity to take care of running necessary errands or catching up on needed rest without worrying about their loved one's safety or well-being, the results are a better, less-stressed caregiver.

Charlie's Place is designed to look like a home, with living, dining and kitchen areas and 3,000 square feet of living area. Clients enter through a "homelike" door and are greeted by staff and volunteers. Once all are inside, the doors are closed so there is no evidence of a parking lot or busy street. Two large multipurpose areas offer comfortable seating opportunities for clients to engage in conversation or reminiscing, activities, word games, puzzles, or participate in sing-a-longs. The completely functional kitchen remains the hub of various cooking activities, lunch meals, and arts and crafts. Working appliances include a refrigerator, cooking range, and washer and dryer, and purposeful activity is promoted through sorting socks and/or folding towels. Clients assist in meal preparation and setting the lunch table and enjoy the delicious hot meals, presented homestyle on dinnerware, that are served by Meals on Wheels by the East Baton Rouge Parish Council on Aging.

Two handicapped restrooms mesh with the homelike décor, with one of the bathrooms having a shower and a shampoo bowl...for those "beauty days" with clients. A "quiet room" features a rocking chair, twin bed, warm lighting and soft music for clients who may need rest or become agitated.

Possibly the hallmark attribute of Charlie's Place is the therapeutic Memory Garden, which can be viewed from the large windows in the living room and kitchen areas. The secured, peaceful, enclosed space contains raised planter beds, continuous pathways for exercising, and comfortable seating. A water fountain adds to the relaxing atmosphere, whether the clients are just sitting and talking or planting and harvesting herbs and vegetables.

The center receives constant positive feedback from caregivers. "My mom talks about how much she enjoyed her day," remarks one caregiver. Another caregiver adds, "Charlie's Place has been a godsend for me and my family. For me having this place for my husband, it has simply been a blessing."

At Charlie's Place, not only do the clients enjoy feeling useful and participating in activities, but, also, and more importantly, they have bonded with each other and made friends. The program allows a quality of life deserving of these individuals, while giving the caregiver a few hours of needed respite. It's a win-win situation all around.

Written by Gloria LeBlanc, Caregiver