Agewise: What are adult day centers? Agewise: What are adult day centers?

Q: What exactly is an adult day center? Is it an effective option for keeping my father at home?

DG

Answer: Adult day care centers provide day time care, supervision and stimulating activities for adults with cognitive, physical or other impairments in a safe, caring and friendly environment.

The programs encourage people to participate, but they also offer plenty of opportunities for participants to converse and thrive socially, combating the loneliness often associated with aging adults. Activities generally include things like exercise, meals, games, gardening, crafts, music therapy and relaxation techniques.

Adult day centers are also a source of respite (a short period of rest or relief) for caregivers who provide care in the home. For many, having a safe, nurturing place for their loved one to receive care, socialize and engage throughout the day frees them up to work and/or tend to their own household, personal or other needs - making it easier to keep their loved one at home. Some adult day centers offer caregiver education and support groups as well.

There are different types of adult day centers - some are designed exclusively to promote social interaction; some also provide medical care, and others may be dedicated specifically to people living with certain conditions, such as Alzheimer's disease - so you should ask specific questions about the available services to ensure your loved one's needs are met.

Adult day care centers are usually open five days a week and operate during normal business hours, though some may offer extended day programs as well.

In Forsyth County, the Williams Adult Day Center, operated by Senior Services, can be reached at 336-724-2155 and the Senior Life Enrichment Center, located in Mt. Zion Baptist Church can be reached at 336-721-1842. DAYBreak Respite Care is a smaller setting adult day program and is open from 10 a.m. to 3 p.m. Monday, Tuesday, Thursday and Friday. They can be reached at 336-397-1345.

Q: I'm worried that as my dad continues to age, his driving skills will begin to decline. How can I keep him from becoming a danger to himself and others on the road?

MT

Answer: Giving up car keys can feel like letting go of the last symbol of independence for an older adult.

Seniors are often in denial about their declining driving skills and don't find the need to plan ahead for alternative transportation once they are unable to drive. For many older adults, losing the ability to drive results in increased feelings of helplessness and depression. To some seniors it feels like their social life and independence are being robbed from them by their doctor and/or family members.

To avoid this kind of despair, it is important for you and your dad to start having the driving conversation well before the point where taking away the keys becomes necessary. Think of it as a process you're helping him through, first starting to think about the concept of life without a car, then finding ways to continue driving on the roads safely, to finally cutting out driving altogether.

More than ever before, Americans are being forced to confront a period of their life when they cannot drive. In general, women now outlive their ability to drive by seven to 10 years, and men by six years. Older drivers get in fewer accidents because they drive carefully, but when accidents do occur they tend to be fatal. Bringing up your concerns before a crisis occurs can begin to establish a plan that may save a life.

Although they may remain reluctant to give up driving entirely, you may find that your loved one will voluntarily cut back on driving at night or in bad weather or heavy traffic. Be on the lookout for warning signs. When road skills start to decline, you might see dents and scratches that point to parking trouble, or witness difficulty handling turns and staying in the proper lane. Crashes or tickets would be obvious signs as well, indicating that it is time to consult a doctor and discuss whether it's time to take the keys.

AAA and AARP offer online self-evaluation tools and refresher driving courses for their members. AAA also has a lot of helpful information about managing problems that older adults may face on the road, such as how medications affect them with driving. There are also occupational therapists that specialize in driving issues, and they can evaluate ways to accommodate driving issues for an elderly driver, making both you and your parent feel more aware and secure.

AgeWise is a weekly column compiled by information specialists of Senior Services, Inc., a nonprofit organization based in Winston-Salem. If you have a question, email agewise@seniorservicesinc.org or mail to Senior Services, 2895 Shorefair Drive, Winston-Salem, NC 27105.