Caring for an elderly, infirm relative can be a stressful, time-consuming task. Adult day-care programs, such as the one offered by McHenry County`s Family Alliance Inc., give caregivers a break and help improve the quality of life for those they care for.
Based in Woodstock, the not-for-profit alliance opened in 1982, a year after a survey of McHenry residents reported a need for adult day-care services. Three years ago, Alliance opened a satellite center in Crystal Lake. Currently, the two centers have a total of 50 people in adult day programs.
The programs serve both those with physical infirmities and those suffering from Alzheimer`s and related disorders. More than just a place a caregiver can drop off a relative for a few hours, the programs provide participants with therapy and professional care to help them deal with their disabilities, whether physical or mental.
”Our goal is to have everyone participate and respond on the level that they can,” said senior counselor Lynda Markut.
Discussions of current events help keep the seniors, who may feel isolated at home, in touch with their community and the world at large.
”Maintaining contact with the community is a very positive thing,” said Markut. ”It helps their self-esteem, provides socialization and a feeling of purpose.” Meanwhile, adult day care gives caregivers a break from their responsibilities and provides them an emotional boost as well.
”What our day care does for the caregiver is to reaffirm the incredible job that they are doing with that senior,” Markut added.
Carol Louise, the alliance`s executive director, added, ”We would like to help both parties have a better quality of life.”
Averaging about $35 a day, adult day care is usually less expensive than hiring a housekeeper or someone similar to come into the home and care for an elderly person. Day-care staff members also are trained specifically to deal with the needs of the elderly program participants, and patient-to-staff ratios are low.
”The majority of these people are being cared for in private homes, retirement homes and even nursing homes, but much of the time, they don`t have the level of activities and care we have here,” Louise said.
The Family Alliance also provides counseling and resource and referral services to help caregivers and their family members deal with elder-care issues. ”We want them to know that there is help available,” Markut said.
”They don`t have to do this all alone.”
———-
A caregivers support group meets at the Woodstock center, 670 E. Wood Dr., on the third Monday of every month. An Alzheimer`s support group meets on the fourth Wednesday of each month. Participation in both groups is free. For information, contact the center at 815-338-3590.
