I just got a call from an Adult Day Centre that deals exclusively with Alzheimer's and dementia patients. We have been on their wait list for five months, and a space has finally become available!
This kind of program will be wonderful for my mother. She loves being social, but feels so insecure now that she is ill because she can't understand things very well and can't express herself anymore, so social situations have become anxious and few and far between.
This day program is dementia-specific, so she will be in a very understanding, supportive atmosphere. They develop activities around their patients' needs and interests, and their motto is "Food and fun"! I have visited the centre many times (it is the location of my support group after hours), and it's very clean and friendly-looking.
The centre was accommodating enough to hold my mom's space until mid-September, a couple of weeks after me and AC have moved out and she has had some time to get used to having a live-in caregiver. I didn't think it was possible to get her started until after we have the live-in in place, because if my mom decided she didn't want to go to the centre one day, there would be no one in place to be with her at home. With a live-in there will be so much more flexibility.
My other concern was about how to present the whole idea about going to a day centre to her. If she hears it from me, she will think it's a terrible idea and refuse to go. So I called our nurse case worker and she arranged for the doctor to bring it up at her next appointment. He will present the idea to her as a medical recommendation. This she will take seriously, as she always respects authority.
I know my mom will love this program. I hope it will give her a good social outlet and keep her brain stimulated. Most of all, I hope it gives her an opportunity to have fun and be happy!
Things are looking good. :)
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