Letter to the Editor-Adult Day Health Care: Clay’s best secret

Adult Day Health Care, offered by the Council on Aging of Clay County, is one of the best kept secrets in Clay County. The fact that its availability is not well-known, is the reason we are reaching out to try to ensure that those who can benefit, are aware of this service.
The primary benefit of adult day health care is to relieve the caregiver of his or her duties for the day while ensuring that their loved one is well cared for in a safe environment. Some of the other obvious benefits are keeping the client active and engaged throughout the day. It can also allow the caregiver the opportunity to maintain employment, while still being responsible for caring for their loved one.
The service is offered at two locations, the Council on Aging Senior Center in Green Cove Springs and a second location on the Moosehaven Campus in Orange Park. Our concern is that there are many in Clay County that could benefit from this service, but they do not know that it is available or how to access the service. The service is available at each of these two locations, Monday through Friday. Transportation service may be available depending on where the client resides.
The typical client for this service is a senior citizen with some degree of dementia or Alzheimer’s disease, Parkinson’s disease or some other debilitating disease. Younger clients are also welcome, depending on their severity and specific needs. The services include assistance with eating, taking medications, using the bathroom and walking.
The program is supervised by a registered nurse and includes a licensed practical nurse and several certified nursing assistants. Clients are welcome for as few as a couple of hours per week, up to all day Monday thru Friday. Funding may be available or the family can pay privately for $12 per hour.
Adult Day Health Care is less expensive than hiring a home health aide or moving a loved one into a nursing facility. The services offered by the Council on Aging can often allow the client to remain living in the home of a loved one and be of great benefit to the caregiver. Additional information is available by calling either of the locations: Orange Park, (904) 278-8441 or Green Cove Springs, (904)-531-5024.

Al Rizer is executive director of the Council on Aging of Clay County