Adult day care centers meet critical need

Jim Lippold calls Holy Family Adult Day Centers “a best-kept secret kind of thing.” The executive director of the 31-year-old program is eager to spill the beans.

The nonprofit organization, affiliated with Providence Health Care, operates in two locations in north and south Spokane. The centers provide a secure daytime environment for elderly and impaired adults. They offer rehabilitation, socialization and skilled nursing care.

Sounds of a duck quacking echoed in the activity room of the North Side facility on a recent morning. “Can you name this sound?” a staff member asked.

Some participants shouted out the answer, while others just smiled. Memory activities like this are an important part of client care. Lippold estimates that half of their clients have some level of dementia. “We try to provide cognitive stimulation,” he said.

Another way the centers accomplish this is through weekly reminiscence groups. Activities director, Trish O’Shea, said a staff member will often bring a prop like a wooden spoon or an apron to prompt discussion.

“Each Thursday we have a men’s group so they can talk about whatever guys talk about,” said program coordinator Linda Fairhurst. Lippold added that these conversations often turn to war memories, as many of the men are military veterans.

In addition to cognitive stimulation, the centers provide activities designed to improve balance, range of motion and physical strength.

“About half of our attendees are in wheelchairs,” Lippold said. At the north location a client spent time in a standing frame, a wooden frame designed for those in wheelchairs to take the weight off their bottoms and strengthen their legs. She leaned on a pillow and listened to soft music playing from a nearby radio.

Lippold said, “Our goal is to maintain functional mobility.” Other participants used walkers as they navigated a long, wide hallway equipped with sturdy handrails. The centers incorporate a fall-prevention program as part of the activities.

Mary Absalonson appreciates that focused help. She began bringing her 84-year-old husband, Lloyd, to the center because he was falling so much. “At first he said, ‘I’ll just stay a little while,’ ” Absalonson recalled. Now he attends twice a week. “They’re very good to him there,” she said.

Another key component to client care is the skilled nursing staff. Nurses can distribute medication, monitor blood pressure, and be aware of ongoing health concerns.

The day centers meet a critical need in the community. As people face the challenges of aging, Lippold said, “They get isolated. They lose their friends and their ability to get around. The centers become a community and an extended family.”

They also become a crucial outlet for caregivers. “While our main focus is providing stimulating, therapeutic activity for the client, a large part of it ends up being a respite for caregivers,” said Lippold.

The centers offer support groups for those who provide care for elderly and disabled. These are open to the community, not just those with family members, enrolled in the program. “It’s very moving to attend these groups,” Lippold said. “The stories are compelling.”

An increasing number of men are now taking care of their spouses. The north center offers a support group especially for this demographic. “It’s not a role many men are comfortable with,” said Lippold. “They need to do the cooking and laundry as well personal care of their wives” He is encouraged by the practical help and support the men offer each other.

Allan Cory, the social worker who leads the support groups arrived at the center with his dog, Mojo. The handsome malamute mix is very popular with the clients. Mojo wandered through the dining room as participants enjoyed a hot lunch. “Here Mojo, here boy,” called a gentleman. Cory said many of the clients with dementia remember Mojo and ask when he’ll be visiting again.

Seventy-year-old Harold May gave the dog a friendly pat as he sat down to talk about his experience at the day center. “I need to do all the physical therapy,” he said. “I’ve got rheumatoid arthritis.” He enjoys the woodworking activities. “So far, I’ve managed a birdhouse,” he said with a smile.

Smiles like this are significant to O’ Shea. “Bringing joy to the clients is important,” she said.

El Wilson began bringing her mother, Virginia, to the center several months ago. “She was new to the area and I wanted her to be with people her own age,” she said. “The staff is wonderful. They greet every client by name.” Wilson said the center provides socialization for her mother and respite for herself.

As a staff member gathered clients in a circle and began to gently toss a balloon through the air, Harold May said, “All I can say is this is a very good place to be.”