Carol Strawn Center

TO OPERATE AN ADULT DAY CARE CENTER THAT PROVIDES CARE TO PEOPLE WITH ALZHEIMER'S DISEASE AND RELATED DEMENTIAS, RESPITE FOR THEIR CAREGIVERS AND EDUCATIONAL SERVICES TO CAREGIVERS OF THOSE WITH A DEMENTIA AND INTERESTED OTHERS. THE CAROL STRAWN CENTER IS COMMITTED TO AFFORDABLE, QUALITY CARE. OUR ADULT DAY SERVICE IS OFFERED ON A SLIDING FEE SCALE AND OUR EDUCATION SERVICE IS OFFERED ON A DONATION BASIS.

DUE TO THE PANDEMIC, WE DID NOT PROVIDE ADULT DAY SERVICE THIS PAST FISCAL YEAR. DURING THIS TIME, 1-4 MONTHLY TELEPHONE WELLNESS CHECKS, PENDING INDIVIDUAL PREFERENCES FOR TELEPHONE CONTACTS, WERE MADE TO PROGRAM PARTICIPANTS, ALL OF WHOM HAVE A DEMENTIA OR RELATED MEMORY LOSS DISORDER, AND/OR TO THEIR FAMILY CAREGIVERS BY A STAFF NURSE. BASED ON INDIVIDUAL NEEDS EXPRESSED DURING THE WELLNESS CHECKS, REFERRALS, CAREGIVING TIPS AND INFORMATION WAS PROVIDED AND SERVED TO HELP REDUCE THE SOCIAL ISOLATION EXPERIENCED BY MANY OF OUR PARTICIPANTS AND THEIR FAMILY CAREGIVERS. TWO ACTIVITY KITS COMPRISING SEVERAL CRAFTS, WORD PUZZLES, CARDS, BALLONS FOR BALLOON TOSS EXERCISE, COLORING BOOKS, PAINTS, MARKERS, ETC. ALONG WITH SUGGESTIONS FOR ACTIVITIES WERE PERSONALLY DELIVERED OR MAILED TO PARTICIPANTS TO HELP KEEP THEM ENGAGED IN ENJOYABLE ACTIVITIES THAT WOULD PROMOTE THE USE OF THEIR FUNCTIONAL ABILITIES. ACTIVITIES PROVIDED INCLUDED THOSE THAT COULD BE DONE WITH OTHERS TO PROMOTE SOCIAL INTERACTION WITH THEIR FAMILY MEMBERS AS WELL AS INDIVIDUAL ACTIVITIES THAT WOOULD KEEP PARTICIPANTS OCCUPIED WHILE THEIR CAREGIVERS WORKED FROM HOME, TENDED TO IN-HOME TASKS OR TOOK TIME TO RELAX. WHILE CLOSED, SEVERAL MODIFICATIONS TO OUR DAY CENTER WERE TAKEN TO PROMOTE A SAFE RE-OPENING SOME OF WHICH INCLUDED THE INSTALLATION OF TOUCHLESS FAUCETS AND SOAP DISPENSERS IN RESTROOMS AND THE PURCHASE OF AIR PURIFIERS, EASY TO CLEAN SEATING FURNITURE AND TO ALLOW FOR PHYSICAL DISTANCING SMALLER DINING TABLES AND MOBILE ACRYLIC ROOM DIVIDERS. UPON RE-OPENING SAFELY, OUR ADULT DAY SERVICE WILL RESUME OUR CORE SERVICES: ASSESSMENT WITH ACTIVITIES OF DAILY LIVING, HEALTH-RELATED SERVICES, THERAPEUTIC SOCIAL/RECREATIONAL ACTIVITIES, EXERCISE ACTIVITIES, NUTRITIOUS MEALS AND SNACKS. TRANSPORTATION IS PROVIDED FOR QUALIFYING GOVERNMENT FUNDED PARTICIPANTS AND IT IS COORDINATED WITH LOCAL SERVICE PROVIDERS FOR OTHERS. PARTICIPANTS REQUIRE VARIOUS LEVELS OF CARE AND SUPPORT RESULTING FROM INDIVIDUAL PHYSICAL OR COGNITIVE LIMITATIONS ASSOCIATED WITH DEPRESSION, DIABETES, HIGH BLOOD PRESSURE, ARTHRITIS, VISUAL OR HEARING IMPAIRMENTS, STROKE AND DEMENTIA.

DUE TO THE PANDEMIC, PUBLIC EDUCATION PROGRAMS WERE NOT OFFERED THIS PAST FISCAL YEAR. OUR EDUCATION SERVICE PROVIDED FAMILY CARE PLANNING DELIVERED VIA TELEPHONE THROUGHOUT THE FISCAL YEAR AND OFFERED 7 ON-LINE OR IN-PERSON CAREGIVER EDUCATION CLASSES. PROVIDING CARE FOR SOMEONE WITH A DEMENTIA CAN BE OVERWHELMING FOR FAMILY CAREGIVERS. OUR EDUCATION SERVICE PROVIDES CAREGIVERS INFORMATION AND SUPPORT TO INCREASE THEIR KNOWLEDGE ABOUT ALZHEIMER'S DISEASE AND RELATED DEMENTIAS, ADDRESS CONCERNS RELEVANT TO PROVIDING CARE TO SOMEONE WITH A DEMENTIA AND HELP IN IDENTIFYING AVAILABLE COMMUNITY SERVICES IN A CLASS SETTING. PERSONALIZED CARE PLANNING IS OFFERED TO CAREGIVERS WHO REQUIRE OR WISH ADDITIONAL HELP IN UNDERSTANDING THE DISEASE. BY IDENTIFYING THE NEEDS OF THE INDIVIDUAL WITH DEMENTIA AND THOSE OF THE CAREGIVER A PLAN IS DEVELOPED TO HELP THE CAREGIVER MANAGE THE CARE OF THE PERSON WITH DEMENTIA AMD/OR CAREGIVER. FOLLOW-UP AND ON-GOING ASSISTANCE ARE PROVIDED. THROUGH EDUCATION, CAREGIVERS GAIN UNDERSTANDING AND CONFIDENCE AND LEARN POSITIVE CAREGIVING APPROACHES AND COPING TECHNIQUES FOR DEMENTIA CARE.