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Newaygo County Commission on Aging - Services | |||
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Adult Day Care
The
Newaygo County Commission on Aging’s Activity Group has been designed
to address the needs of the client as well as the needs of the
caregiver. With this
design, we are able to address some of the social and financial factors
that concern the caregivers while addressing the intellectual, social,
and physical impairments of the clients.
By addressing the entire scope of needs, we accomplish two goals:
1) we are able to assist the clients in achieving and maintaining
the highest level of functioning and the best quality of life possible
and 2) we are able to ease the caregiving burdens placed on family
members which then allows them to be able to care for their loved ones
at home longer. For Adult Day Care services, we are required to request donations for services as well as to have a cost share policy. Cost sharing is a policy that requires a co-payment for services provided. The co-payment is based on client income and unit rate cost. At this time we have no clients who meet the criteria for making co-payments under the cost sharing policy. We do have a suggested donation rate for clients/caregivers to consider if they can afford to do so. Our suggested donation on for day programming is $1.50 per hour of
service. Group attendance
averages 4 to 6 hours per service day.
The
COA Activity Group operates five days per week, from 10:00 a.m. until
3:00 p.m. We utilize the
COA bus for client transportation four days per week, thereby saving
time and money by not having to use volunteer drivers and allowing the
caregivers a break from having to transport their loved ones, which can
be very difficult if the client is wheelchair-bound. The
three programs (dementia-related, medically frail, and developmentally
disabled) run side-by-side, sharing administrative costs, thereby
allowing more dollars for direct service.
The Alzheimer’s/ADC/Day Activity program also shares a
full-time coordinator with the Older Adult Respite Services (OARS)
program. The
Alzheimer’s/dementia program employs one part-time aide; the ADC
component of the activity group employs two part-time aides. The
program provides nutrition, socialization, and recreational activities
for the group participants and respite for the caregivers as described
previously. The program is currently based at the Senior Center in White
Cloud, but maintains the flexibility to operate from other sites when
the need arises. A
certified exercise instructor, who is also a registered physical therapy
assistant, directs an exercise group on Mondays and Wednesdays from 11
a.m. until noon. The
program's objectives are to improve strength and muscle flexibility,
posture, endurance, and walking ability (to lessen the likelihood of
falls). Exercises are
designed so that even those in wheelchairs with limited physical
abilities are able to participate. We
continue to emphasize the social model of programming, mainstreaming
clients with the general senior population.
The program coordinator plans and schedules daily activities
which are designed to meet the variety of needs of the identified
clients. Everyone, regardless of their ability to function, is
encouraged to participate in all activities, if they choose, to the best
of their abilities. Community
members are invited to participate in the activities along with the
clients. We have found that
the community members enjoy the activities and gain a better
understanding of and respect for the clients, and the clients enjoy the
activities and become more comfortable interacting with people. The
addition of the younger persons with developmental disabilities has
worked to the advantage of all clients as well as community members.
The younger individuals voluntarily help the elders with tasks,
and the elders provide a nurturing and caring environment for the
younger people. This intergenerational contact has proven to be valuable
to all populations.
For more information please call 231-689-2100 or 1-800-689-2100 |
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