Forever Caring Adult Day Health Care Center, which offers a range of services including adult day healthcare, home health and non-medical home care, and hospice care, is presenting a Community Health Gathering on Saturday, Sept. 6, 10 a.m. to 3 p.m., at 120 West El Segundo Blvd., in Los Angeles.
Community partners will present health education and free health screenings; the free and family-friendly event features food, music, and activities for kids. Partners include the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services; the Joint Commission; the Alzheimer's Association; Acts - Where Loving Kindness Lies; Power Wheels Medical Supply; the California Department of Aging; the L.A. County Department of Mental Health; SEIU 2015; New Mt. Calvary Church; the L.A. County Department of Public and Social Services; Optimistic People in a Caring Atmosphere (OPICA); House of Winston Mortuary; the Administration for Community Living; and the Partners in Care Foundation.
Sharon Selico, chief administrator, hopes that the event provides knowledge to the community about adult day healthcare.
"When you think about the sandwich generation [who] care for their children and their parents... [they have little] understanding about adult day healthcare that's available," she says. "Mom doesn't have to sit home and watch television. [She] can be with a community of people who are like her, experiencing some of the same experiences she has. She can socialize and engage with therapeutic activities and stay stimulated
"The lethargy of being isolated at home is not healthy for most people," notes Selico. "We need social engagement. And it brings a lot of joy to my heart to see people trying to be the best they can be ... wanting to live, wanting to thrive."
Related Links:
https://forevercaring.com
https://accessla.org
https://aging.ca.gov
https://acl.gov
https://www.picf.org/innovations-at-work/safety-net-services/multipurpose-senior-services-program-mssp/
Forever Caring services clients with a multilingual staff of skilled nurses, rehabilitative therapists, medical social workers, certified home health aides, and CNA caregivers. A meal and a snack are provided each day, as well as free transportation for clients through Access. Therapeutic activities include physical movement, chair yoga, art projects, and simple science projects.
Delma Dixon, assistant program director, oversees the daily flow of activities. She says that her adult day healthcare clients enjoy the structure of being at Forever Caring each day.
"Most of them call it, 'school,'" she says. "They look forward to it.
"Many times, our seniors are sitting at home, watching TV," says Dixon. "They're not really watching it ... their mind is wandering. Once they come here, they get engaged in activities. Their mind has no time to wander."
Dixon says that her clients' families are grateful for the assistance that adult day healthcare provides them, as their loved ones experience the gradual and increasing needs of aging, including palliative care and hospice.
"Most of them say, we would be lost without you," says Dixon. "Once you bring your loved one to us, we can stay with them until the end."
Selico says that adult day healthcare is an under-utilized and free benefit for individuals in California who qualify for both Medicare and Medi-Cal, and that with many anticipated federal cuts to these programs, local policymakers are working to preserve this benefit.
"Here in California, our representatives have fought hard to protect the Medicare benefit, but they can only do so much," she says. "We are talking to our [colleagues in healthcare and] to our elected officials to get a better understanding ... to better prepare people, which is one of the reasons why we chose to do this at this time.
"We know it's important that the services are utilized because those that are not, I think, are vulnerable," says Selico. "For those taking advantage of adult day healthcare, we don't want them to wake up one day and it be gone. We want people to have information so they know how to utilize those services now or in the future and how to advocate - if we have to as a community - for the things we need for our families."
Selico says that all are welcome to visit Forever Caring anytime, to simply seek information about services and programs to help them care for their loved ones.
"We have competent staff who are engaged across the healthcare sphere," she says. "We'll be happy to answer questions, to give referrals.
"Whether your loved one comes here or not, we know navigating the healthcare continuum is confusing and can be difficult," says Selico.
"We see ourselves as a community resource. We're a place where seniors are celebrated and we invite anyone to come in any day to see what we do."
For more information on the Community Health Gathering or on Forever Caring, call (310) 538-5808.