Many of us have jobs and other life activities that keep us busy and social. For your loved one with Alzheimer’s it is also important for them to stay connected and feel like they have events and activities to look forward to. Adult daycare centers give them the opportunity to interact with others and form friendships with other individuals like themselves. Even if you feel like you are giving them enough attention and stimuli at home it can always be nice for them to have somewhere that is just for them.
Once you’ve decided that you would like to look into an adult daycare center there are a number of questions you should ask the staff before choosing one in particular.
What should you ask?
These are a few of the basic questions that will get you started. If you feel that there are any special needs you would like to discuss, this meeting would be the time to bring those up as well.
- What are your hours? – The hours they are open will make a difference with your schedule and could potentially cause problems if they enforce minimum attendance. If it is difficult for your loved one to make it regularly they may not be allowed to continue attending. In addition to asking about the hours, you will also want to ask about their fees and what type of services they offer.
- Ask about the programs – Adult day centers are used to providing specific programs and activities for their visitors. Some Alzheimer’s sufferers will need extra care when it comes to activities and will need to avoid some altogether, knowing ahead of time about what they will or will not be able to do is helpful for planning.
- Are some individuals separated? – This can be important whether your loved one has dementia or not. In some cases, dementia can be disturbing, or even dangerous to those living with it and those around them. Knowing what to expect can help you determine if this is the right care facility for you.
- Is the staff trained? – The adult day care you select should have staff that has been specially trained to handle the variety of illnesses they come in contact with on a daily basis. If they do not have special training or are not trained in dealing with hallucinations and dementia then you will want to select somewhere else.
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