Adult day programs

I was talking with Tammy, the owner of Pleasantries, an adult day program in Marlboro for early stage Alzheimer folks. She said that caregivers often wait too long to explore adult programs and the family member with Alzheimer's is denied productive enjoyable days in a program because they can't participate fully enough. It made me think that caregivers don't understand the value and purpose of a structured day or the differences in programs. Tammy's is structured for people who wish to engage with others and are able to be. There are social day programs that are for folks without medical conditions that would require attention from a medical staff. Then there are the adult day health programs that offer a variety of services for the person attending, both physical and social. This can vary from ability to remind to take medications to giving IV solutions, doing physical therapy and changing wound dressings in addition to being in activities with others.
We StilMee coaches most always recommend a day program for two reasons; one, it is good for the person with dementia who most often cannot initiate pleasureable activity throughout the day, and two, it is good for the caregiver to have time to pursue his or her own pleasant activities. I knew one caregiver who started out each morning with a walk around a pond near her home. She took care of her need for this first. She would then have energy to get her mother up, bathed, dressed and ready for an adult day program. She would get all her work done while mom was being cared for by a staff of people who are compassionate toward people like her mother, and she felt more carefree to do what she needed and wanted to do. There is a common adage for caregivers; take care of yourself first, then you can take care of someone else. Sound advice.