Dementia Adult Day Care Program offers activities and companionship
Providing care and companionship for adults with Alzheimer’s disease or other forms of dementia is the goal of the Dementia Adult Day Care Program.
The facility is the only nonprofit adult day care center in Monroe County. Located at the Frenchtown Senior Citizens Center, 2786 Vivian Road, the program is operated through funding provided by the Area Agency on Aging 1B and the United Way. It was started in 1998 and is in the same building as the Frenchtown Center for Active Adults.
Open from 8 a.m. to 4 p.m. Monday through Friday, the center offers a program which includes a variety of activities, and lunch is provided. Those participating in the program must have been diagnosed with dementia or Alzheimer’s disease.
The number of participants, whose ages vary, changes from day to day. Due to the coronavirus pandemic, the program witnessed a decline in clients coming to the center, but families are beginning to bring their loved ones back for day care.
Program director Jean Siemik said the program provides respite care for caregivers while offering adults with dementia or Alzheimer’s a chance to socialize with their peers.
According to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, dementia is a disease that affects the ability to remember, think and make decisions when it comes to doing everyday activities. It affects older adults but it’s not part of normal aging. Alzheimer’s is considered the most common type of dementia.
Typically, adult day care is needed when an individual can no longer be safely left alone and requires supervision.
“We have a structured program with the activities we do. Every day, we have certain things we do like exercise lead by a person, or we’ll watch DVDs. We also do Xbox bowling, bingo and singalongs,” Siemik said. “Every day, we do current events and we read the newspaper to them. We also do crafts, cards, bingo, trivia and, one day a week, we’ll watch a movie.”
Balloon bash is one of the most popular activities at the center.
“We blow up a balloon and we toss it back and forth to the clients and the staff,” she said. “It’s pretty enjoyable, and the seniors really light up when they play it.”
Research suggests increased physical exercise not only improves physical wellness but may also boost mood and slow down the progression of cognitive decline.
For more than 10 years, Siemik has worked at the day care program. In April 2021, she became the director. During her career, she’s noticed many seniors with dementia are able to function better with interaction and appear to be more sociable.
“They are more invested in the program,” she said. “When they come here, they like to participate more.”
To find out more about the program, contact Siemik at jsiemik@frenchtownsenior.com or call the center at 734-243-6210.
This article originally appeared on The Monroe News: Dementia Adult Day Care Program offers activities and companionship
