LiveSmart: Independence, Community Provide Healthy Life for Seniors and Adults

[This piece was written by Donna Hervieux, RN-C, Manager, Adult Day Health Care, at the Eddy Village Green Cohoes.]

Research shows seniors and other adults who are physically active on a daily basis, even without exercise, had better cardiovascular health and lived longer than those who were less active. The simple act of getting out of the house and moving about and socializing kept those independent adults more active, leading to longer and better lives.

So, adults should get up and out the door for better health – sounds simple, right? Just ask any caregiver of a loved one and they will tell you it can be a bit more complicated. Physical limitations, dementia or other memory loss issues, and transportation concerns keep many seniors and other adults from venturing out of the home.

For caregivers, it can be challenging to ensure their loved one is reaping the benefits of a strong social network. Finding a balance between meeting their loved one’s needs and fulfilling their own work and personal obligations can be a struggle. That is where an adult day program can help.

Adult day programs provide unique social, physical, mental, and recreational opportunities for adults living at home, not necessarily just seniors, who, due to illness, injury or age, need a safe and secure daytime environment. Specialized day programs exist for adults who have developed dementia or memory loss, whether caused by Alzheimer’s, Parkinson’s disease, stroke, heart disease or other illness.

For more than 25 years, Eddy DayBreak has helped to improve the quality of life for adults who are living at home, yet need a safe and secure daytime environment that offers opportunities for independence, physical support and a day spent with friends.

St. Peter’s Health Partners offers adult day services – both medical and social models – through its Eddy DayBreak and Schuyler Ridge programs. The services are tailored to meet the unique needs of each individual, offering activities which help participants gain self-esteem and a sense of well-being.

For those with memory loss, DayBreak at the Marjorie Doyle Rockwell Center (18 Pasinella Way, Cohoes) offers a medical day program that fosters independence and a sense of purpose through interpersonal contact, as well as failure-free activities, exercise and a day of fun.

All of our adult day programs provide:

• Hot lunch and snacks
• Recreational, educational and social activities
• Supervision and assistance with personal care
• Transportation, if eligible
• Caregiver and referral support

Individuals needing the medical model, provided at the Eddy DayBreak medical locations, as well as at Schuyler Ridge, receive the regular adult day programming in addition to:

• Medication management
• Diabetic management
• Therapies
• Social work services
• Nursing assessments and skilled nursing care
• Pharmacy review
• Personal care

For information on medical day services for those experiencing memory loss, please call 518-238-4152. For any of the Eddy Adult Day programs throughout the Capital Region, please call our community liaison at 518-729-6523.