“We may not remember the past or be sure of the future, but we can cherish this bright and shining moment.” –Unknown

Following the publication of my two-part series on Dementia I have been asked by several readers to provide more detailed information about “what can be done” for their loved ones suffering from this progressive disorder, as well as how to assist them in their role as a caregiver.  Day programs like Friendship Center, a non-profit licensed adult day program that has been providing services for over 35 years, with locations in both Santa Barbara and Goleta, can support caregivers and their care receivers.  Friendship Center’s day programs provide a safe environment and dedicated support helping older adults with dementia stay in their homes as long as possible.  In some cases adult day services can improve, stabilize, or slow down the deterioration of cognitive functioning.  In addition to providing lively activities and vital socialization for dependent adults with dementia, adult day services are a low-cost alternative to long-term residential care facilities and in-home care.

Friendship Center was founded by the Community Action Commission as a pilot day care project for dependent adults and the elderly and first housed at Friendship Baptist Church (hence their name).  As the benefits of their programs to the community became more well-known, the program grew, and in 1979 moved to a larger facility offered by All Saints-by-the-Sea Episcopal Church, where they continue their work today.  In further recognizing the needs of this same population further up the 101 Freeway, Friendship Center recently opened a second location in Goleta.  They are an approved and licensed Adult Day Services Center whose mission is to “preserve and enrich the quality of life for aging and dependent adults through innovative programs that value the dignity and worth of every person.”  They also provide respite care, support and education, thereby enabling families to continue to be actively engaged in their careers and community.

As the name clearly implies Friendship Center is first and foremost a friendly place.  It is warmly welcoming and totally inclusive.  The tender social contact and feeling of belonging the Center provides has been shown to be highly effective in reducing the isolation and depression often experienced by those with dementia and other disabilities which lead to diminished thought processes.  Just some of the services they offer include:

• Social time with peers
• Assistance with activities of daily living (ADLs)
• Nutritious breakfast, lunch and afternoon snacks
• Medication administration overseen by a Registered Nurse on staff
• Transportation depending on availability
• Bilingual (English-Spanish) programs
• Dancing
• Gardening
• Pet therapy
• Exercise classes
• Arts & crafts
• Group discussions
• Current events
• Live music presentations

All of this provided for in beautiful and secure facilities by professional and compassionate staff along with a team of dedicated volunteers.

Making the decision to have a beloved adult family member participate in an adult day care program can be difficult.  Some of the signs that a loved one may indeed be in need of such services are:

• Increasing isolation
• Short-term memory loss
• Confusion
• Depression
• Difficulty in performing simple daily tasks
• Inability to structure his/her own daily activities
• Cannot be safely left alone at home

If other family members are also involved in the decision-making process for your adult family member in need of services, even if you are the primary care provider, it is important to try and make certain everyone understands the need for adult day services, and the respite they provide.  Doing so ahead of time can go a long way in preventing arguments along the way.  Day services, such as those offered by Friendship Center, provide wonderful social contact and cognitive stimulation at a fraction of the cost for a day of in-home care.

With a range of services, Friendship Center’s day programs provide a safe environment and dedicated support helping older adults stay in their homes longer and to continue to be engaged in the community. Friendship Center programs can help:

• Improve ability to carry out daily activities through a therapeutic environment
• Prevent secondary disabilities that result from excessive bed rest or inactivity
• Improve, stabilize, or slow down the deterioration of cognitive functioning
• Increase verbal ability and mobility
• Improve nutritional intake
• Provide opportunities for friendships and decrease isolation and loneliness
• Improve behavior and mood
• Lessen the incidence and impact of acute episodes through monitoring and rapid intervention

Friendship Center provides their services through various programs.

• The Day Program is designed to support and enhance the participant’s lives by focusing on their strengths, experiences, knowledge and abilities.  Within the Day Program a variety of cognitive stimulation activities, such as games, trivia, and crossword puzzles, are enjoyed, along with interactive group participation around current events.  Also included are exercise classes, massage, music, art, and pet therapy.
• The Connections program is a group program for individuals with early memory loss.  It is designed for individuals in the early stages of Alzheimer’s disease or other forms of dementia.  It provides the participants with not only the chance to join with others experiencing similar early memory loss, but also affords them the opportunity to take part in memory retention and retraining exercises as well as support group discussions.  It is a very popular program option for people who desire both social and cognitive stimulation along with the opportunity to proactively take steps to help their memories.  It is designed for those who are not quite at a level of memory and cognitive loss as seen in the Day Program.
• The Adventuresome Aging Program (AAP) is an early memory loss support and excursion program for dependent adults.  The program is utilized as an alternative to the Day Program providing social contact and community outings.  This program provides its participants with strong social interaction and good fun in a variety of community-based settings.
• The GOLD (Growing Older with Laughter and Dignity) Project is an innovative intergenerational program focused on growing older with dignity and grace.  It is designed with the concept of enhancing a sense of awareness in children about the value, benefits, and honor of growing older by creating intergenerational opportunities within the classroom.  Visits to classrooms provide the elder participants the opportunity to help bridge the gap between the generations by sharing their life experiences with children.  The GOLD Project is often attended by AAP members.

Possibly even more important than the wonderful services Friendship Center provides to their program attendees is the respite they provide for those individual’s caregivers.  The emotional and physical demands of being a caregiver make it incredibly difficult to do so effectively 24 hours a day, day after day.   Ask any caregiver who has been at it for any length of time and they will tell you that their own health has suffered when the focus was on another person and they neglected to take care of themselves.  With the peace of mind of knowing their loved ones are being well cared for at the Center, caregivers have time for other family members, work, other commitments, and some well-needed rest and relaxation.   Their respite “Share the Care” program frees up caregivers of dependent or frail older adults to attend to their own needs, all the while knowing their loved ones are in a safe and nurturing environment.  Share the Care services are provided five days a week from 8:00 a.m. to 5:00 p.m.  They also hold caregiver support groups on the first Thursday (Goleta) and third Wednesday (Santa Barbara) of every month, and provide useful information and referrals.

The cost per day of each of the Friendship Center programs is based upon a family’s ability to pay, and each situation is considered on an individual case-by-case basis.  The Veteran’s Administration will pay for qualified veterans, and clients of the Tri-Counties Regional Center are eligible for reduced fees.

Friendship Center has two locations:

• Friendship Center Santa Barbara

89 Eucalyptus Lane

Santa Barbara, CA 93108

• Friendship Center Goleta

820 N. Fairview Avenue

Goleta, CA 93117

And can be reached at: (805) 969-0859

For additional information visit their website at www.friendshipcentersb.org