Staff and volunteers at the Desert Mission Adult Day Health Care celebrated the new year with program participants – just one of the many activities and celebrations held at the John C. Lincoln Medical Center campus facility (photo courtesy of HonorHealth).
Caring for a loved one who is not safe at home alone is exhausting. Just ask Diane (no last name to protect her husband’s privacy), whose husband is increasingly frail and often confused. The one-time CEO of a global company is the “love of my life, but he is wearing me out,” said his wife of 50 years. She is an RN and said, “I need to work and I want to work, to keep my sanity. But I can’t leave him alone.”
Diane spoke with a North Central neighbor and learned about Desert Mission Adult Day Health Care at the HonorHealth John C. Lincoln Medical Center campus – and called to set up a visit.
“I want him to live at home with his family, but we are needing some help,” she said.
Adult day care was a novel concept back in the mid-80s, when it was set up to offer respite care to employees’ family members. It was so successful that John C. Lincoln Hospital (now HonorHealth) leadership expanded its mission to offer care to the community, and it was the first state-licensed adult day care program in Arizona.
Since then, its staff and volunteers have offered respite care to hundreds of participants so their caregivers can take care of themselves as well as their loved ones as they live longer and want or need to stay in their own homes.
“Caregiving is exhausting, and, without a break, even the most loving of family members and friends burn out,” said director Leslie Moore. “Our goal is to care for the participant AND their caregivers. We offer the gift of security – knowing their loved one is safe and happy while they are with us. The caregiver can sit and read a book, take an uninterrupted nap, have coffee with friends, get their hair cut, see their own doctor or do whatever they want and need to do.”
The adult day care is a hoppin’ place, with non-stop activities to celebrate birthdays, holidays and plain old ordinary days. They serve nutritious meals, and staff and volunteers lead games that sneak in a bit of movement to help keep participants interested and healthy.
There is no sales pitch to family and friends who inquire about adult day care at Desert Mission.
“We want this to be the right fit,” she emphasized. “We ask that they tour our program with their loved one. Then, if it feels right, we offer a four-hour guest visit so they can experience a morning or afternoon here, with a meal and activities. We realize it’s a big first step, but it’s an important one.”
The majority of participants are experiencing some degree of dementia, and Moore says that the staff and volunteers are trained and experienced at interacting with them in positive ways “that make them feel safe, secure and happy.” The program is open weekdays, and staffed by a full-time RN and social worker as well as experienced caregivers.
The best part? The adult day program shares a building with Lincoln Learning Center, and weekly visits from the little ones mean craft day, with the guidance of a member of Young Artists of Arizona.
“The littles and our members work together on crafts like Valentines, holiday decorations and more. It’s a delight to watch the littles engage with the older people. Everybody smiles,” said Moore.
“Caring for aging family members is increasingly a challenge, as we all are living longer,” she noted. “Finding resources that fit your needs can be overwhelming, so our social worker, Jeannette Vazquez, is available to work with anyone to find services for their loved ones.”
The program’s cash pay cost is $85 a day, with a minimum of two days per week. Some insurance companies pay the costs, and there is financial assistance through some organizations and agencies. Many of the participants are veterans, and there is some assistance available through the Veterans Administration.
“We strongly recommend that caregivers explore resources for respite care before you really need them,” said Moore. “Families tell us it is comforting to know we are here and can help when it’s time.”
The program is located at 303 E. Eva St. For additional information, call 602-786-1060 or visit www.desertmission.com/adult-day-health-care.
Editor’s Note: This story has been updated to reflect the correct spelling of Leslie Moore. We regret the error.
