My husband’s father suffered a stroke six weeks ago. He can no longer live alone because he needs some care and supervision. Tim and I both work, and we don’t feel either of us can quit our jobs to take care of dad. We’ve heard about something called adult day care and are trying to investigate what is available in our area. Can you help us?

I turned your question over to Loma Davies, one of our regular Kansas Senior Press Service writers. Here is her response:

	www.alznova.org/caretips/daycare.asp

It is estimated that there are more than 4,000 adult day centers currently operating in the United States. Adult day care has two primary objectives: to provide a necessary respite for caregivers, and a supportive, caring environment for people with physical and cognitive impairments.

Adult day care offers seniors the chance to live with family and not be a 24-hour-a-day burden. They also have opportunities for social interaction with peers, a program of stimulating activities, physical or speech therapy in a nonmedical environment, and help with activities of daily living with dignity.

The average adult day center offers a wide range of services including transportation, social services, meals, nursing care, personal care, counseling, therapeutic activities and rehabilitation therapies.

As the caregiver, you need to spend time visiting a center before choosing to send your loved one there. Ultimately, only a trial period will tell you if the center can meet your needs. Because it is quite a change of schedule, it is important to give the patient time to adjust to his/her new routine.

A common concern of caregivers is that their relative will be unwilling to attend a center. However, the patient who attends a day center usually is quite compliant, even though he or she may grumble at times about going.

The Kansas Department of Health and Environment can provide a list of licensed facilities across the state. Its telephone number is (785) 232-2044. You might also check with the Kansas Adult Day Care Assn. in Topeka, (785) 232-2044.

If you have Internet access, you can find the article “Adult Day Care: A Respite for Caregivers,” that provides an extensive checklist to help you determine how well a day care center is equipped to fill its goalespecially its ability to meet the needs of the confused adult.

If you have a question or comment for “Sense for Seniors,” write to Betty Gibb, Kansas Senior Press Service, 11875 S. Sunset, Suite 200, Olathe 66061. Or call (913) 477-8103.