Warming Your Loved One Up to the Idea of an Adult Day Program
Adult day programs are an important source of respite care for both those living with memory loss and their family caregivers. They are thoughtfully designed to provide a safe, social setting for those who require supervision and assistance during the day, but warming up to the idea of going to one can sometimes come with its challenges.
Introducing the idea of an adult day program needs to be handled with dignity in order to encourage willingness to participate and attend. We strongly recommend that families approach attendance with a compassionate, person-centered focus, and avoid entering into an argumentative situation with their loved ones. For tips on a person-centered focus, we recommend learning from the Alzheimer’s Association Dementia Care Practice Recommendations, which is a great guide on approaching care from the perspectives of people living with dementia and is worth the read!
Regardless of how the day program is going to positioned to your loved one, knowing what type of assistance is needed and how your loved one wants to be helped is important. Let them voice their thoughts and use what they say to help frame your excitement and positive feedback around the benefits they’ll receive by attending a program like Pleasantries Adult Day Services. Ask them what they are and aren’t comfortable with doing on their own, what activities they like doing and what they might need help doing — and reiterate how an adult day program is a great way to provide stimulation and joy, with other guests and staff to help in moments of confusion.
Some of the key themes to keep top of mind for families approaching adult day programs are maximizing independence, creating a safe and supportive environment, providing ongoing opportunities for engagement that have meaning and purpose, and the importance of patience and practice. These key themes are also top of mind for us at Pleasantries, where unlike traditional care facilities, we serve an intimate group daily, in a residential home, providing a comfortable and familiar setting.
The combination of our unique environment and approach to personalized care allows Pleasantries to provide stimulating programs and socialization for those living with Alzheimer’s and other forms of dementia — keeping our guests as independent as possible, while also safe and cared for. One of our biggest draws is that with our residential environment, many guests feel they are attending a social club, visiting a friend’s home, or volunteering at a day program, allowing them to maintain a sense of purpose.
We’re committed to keeping our guests as engaged, connected and independent as possible, and to ensuring Pleasantries is a space that everyone feels happy and confident sending their loved ones to. Pleasantries is located at 195 Reservoir Street in Marlborough, MA and proudly serves residents of all of our surrounding communities. To learn more, give us a call at (508) 481-0809. We are always happy to speak with you about how to best position Pleasantries to your loved one, so you are faced with less resistance and more acceptance about participating in our program.