February 9, 2007

Adult day care facility offers helping hand to dementia and Alzheimer’s disease patients

Catholic Charities Program at St. Francis of Assisi also allows caregiver respite

By Carol Rosen
Staff Writer

The Evergreen community has an adult day care facility in its midst at St. Francis of Assisi parish, 5111 San Felipe Road. The program currently has open spots for older adults with early stage dementia or Alzheimer’s disease.
Called Day Break, the respite and caregiver support service has been operating since January of 2000. It offers a number of activities designed to keep functionally impaired older adults over 50 active.

“Our program is designed with a two-fold goal,” said Frances Kiernan, the site supervisor and volunteer coordinator of the St. Francis Assisi Day Break. “One goal is to provide stimulation and socialization for people that would normally spend their day at home sleeping, watching television or with behaviors that cause problems for their caregiver.”

The second goal is to give those caregivers a break, said Kiernan. Usually a spouse, caregivers typically spend their days watching over the Alzheimer’s patient with no time to take care of their business or to have a break from the rigors of caring for an adult with dementia.

“Our program allows the caregiver to drop off the spouse and feel comfortable running errands, visiting a friend or just taking some time off,” said Kiernan.

Day Break is open for daycare Monday through Thursday, from 10 a.m. to 3 p.m., although there is an early bird hour from 9 to 10 a.m. for caregivers who need some extra time. There are no activities during that period, but clients are supervised and given a snack. The staff is present from 8:30 a.m. to 4:30 p.m.

Those attending the center get physical and mental stimulation daily.

“Every day we have some kind of simple group activity,” said Kiernan.

Two days a week, Larry Chong from the Village Voices at the Villages leads the group in singing with songs from the 1920s up through the 1970s. He even provides songbooks.

The Day break staff (left to right): Felicia Aquino, Mary Gladden, Frances Kiernan and Cely Caligagan. Not pictured: Candy Soriano.

“He’s been coming for a long time,” Kiernan said.

On Thursdays he brings four to eight singers with him along with guitar players and the entire group sings familiar, but lively songs. Other outside entertainers visit too. For example, a group of volunteers from Agilent bring their Dixieland Band, which includes some family members, and the place starts rocking, said Kiernan.

Tuesdays is the adult education day, when attendees get to play brain-stimulating games including reading and crossword puzzles, as well as word games.

Kiernan said the center uses a number of these types of activities to help stimulate clients’ brains.

In addition, the group plays bingo once or twice a week, but not always typical bingo. They also play word and song bingo. An adult education teacher spends time working with the clients on painting, coloring and drawing, helping them keep active.

Day Break also offers intergenerational activities when the church’s preschool children visit clients once a week. During the holidays, Santa entertains both the preschoolers and at Easter time, the adults hide and help the children find the eggs.

The center provides snacks and lunches. Lunch is catered by Cosentino’s, which offers a large lunch of soup, sandwiches, fruit and desserts. The center provides beverages.

Most of the clients are ambulatory and fairly independent. The youngest is 50 and the oldest 97. They are able to feed themselves and perform daily living actions, said Kiernan. The largest portion comes two days per week, but a few come four days, she added.

The center is licensed for up to 24 people. A couple of clients come from residential care homes, but the majority comes from their own homes, where they are cared for by spouses. Most live in Evergreen, although some clients come from Milpitas as well.

The center’s staff consists of five people including Kiernan, who also serves as administrator. Mary Gladden is the program coordinator determining the daily schedule of activities and entertainment. She also schedules volunteers. There are three program assistants and up to four volunteers per day.

A St. Francis of Assisi Preschool student gives a Day Break client a Valentine on Feb. 8. Day Break clients were also enjoyed a musical performance by the Village Voices during a Valentine’s Day party held at St. Francis of Assisi.

The center is not a locked facility. It’s unable to care for clients that have a strong tendency to wander. However, no one is turned away if they are unable to pay, said Kiernan. Fees are on a sliding scale, ranging from $53.50 per day down to $20.50. The fees include lunch and snacks.

Future clients and caregivers are asked first to observe and sometimes participate in the program to see if they like it. If they would like to enroll, there is a one-and-a-half hour assessment with the client to assess the degree of Alzheimer’s. A medical report from their doctor and a TB test are also required.

The center also holds a caregiver support group the second Monday of each month from 5 to 6:30 p.m. These meetings are “taking care of the caregivers,” said Kiernan, “allowing them to discuss their feelings and frustrations, anxiety and to discuss whatever problems they are having.”

Several times a year, Kiernan brings in speakers to discuss a range of topics, from taking care of the caregiver, to managing difficult behaviors, to handling holiday stress and estate planning. These support groups are open to the general public, she said, and are free of charge.

Day Break is located at St. Francis of Assisi Church, 5111 San Felipe Road, San Jose 95135. To visit or to find out more information, contact Kiernan at (408) 270-4900 or at fkiernan@ccsj.org.