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If you think that a nursing home
is the logical next step in your care (or in the care of your parent or
other loved one), you might consider another option: adult day-care centers.
These centers' popularity is growing for a number of reasons, according to a
December 19, 2002 column in the Wall Street Journal by Sue Shellenbarger.
For many who are frail or have
dementia, adult day-care centers are not only much less expensive than
nursing homes, but they also satisfy unmet social needs. In these settings,
similar in some respects to a day-care facility for children, senior adults
will usually spend most or all of the day there and then return home. While
at the center, they engage in activities like watercolor painting and
cooking classes. Some centers even have pets that seniors can spend time
with. Most centers serve warm lunches and have morning and afternoon snack
breaks.
Shellenbarger's column includes
stories of senior adults who initially resisted spending many of their days
in adult day-care centers, only to be won over as they visited the centers,
developed friendships and took part the activities there. And, adult
children who have jobs have found these centers a way for them to know their
parents are being well cared for during the day.
According to the Wall Street
Journal column, there is unfortunately a shortage of these centers - almost
one-third of the counties nationally do not have enough vacancies to meet
the needs. The column suggests that best way to find adult day-care centers in your area* is
through your local Area Agency on Aging - these agencies and their contact
numbers can be found at the federal government's eldercare locator service
at http://www.eldercare.gov (or by calling 800-677-1116).
Link to the Wall
Street Journal column (time-sensitive)
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