After two years of planning, organizing and training of volunteers, the Bainbridge Alzheimer and Dementia Adult Daycare has finally found a home.
They will begin offering adult daycare services one day a month on June 18 at the Wiregrass Church community building located on Old Quincy Road.
Hours of operation will be 9 a.m. to 3 p.m. and clients will be able to participate in crafts, activities, music, games and other appropriate activities.
A sample day will include opening with a devotional and pledge of allegiance to the flag, chair exercises, arts/crafts, lunch, music sing-along, rest and snacks.
This program has been designed to allow those who daily care for family members that have been diagnosed with Alzheimer’s or dementia a day off each month. Often referred to as “respite care” it means providing short term, temporary relief to those who are caring for ailing family members in their homes. There is no charge for those who attend, and they will be served lunch and snacks.
Persons interested in registering a loved one, or becoming a volunteer, are asked to contact Sheree Hall at Riverside Place, 248-1116.
Once contact has been made, a volunteer will visit the home and conduct a brief interview to determine the client’s needs. Persons attending the daycare must be mobile and able to provide basic personal care. None of the volunteers will be able to dispense medications.
The core group averaging 25 persons has been meeting and organizing in monthly meetings for over two years. Most of them have, or have had family members for whom they have provided constant care. Fifteen of them have received volunteer training from such organizations as the Alzheimer’s Project Inc. in Tallahassee and Quincy, Fla.
The support group has rotated its meetings between various churches for over one year. They are now very excited to have a permanent home where they can begin to greet clients. Laddie DeRocco, pastor of Wiregrass Church, and their congregation have made the space available for use of the group.