GuardiaCare Services | Guiding Hand, Caring Heart

GuardiaCare Adult Day Health Services, a health model, began operation in 1988. The goal of the program is to prevent premature nursing home placement by keeping seniors actively involved in the community. Studies indicate adult day delays that placement by 18-22 months. The adult day health model is an economical option to premature nursing home placement with average annual cost running $11,000 per year for daycare versus $50,000 - $60,000 per year for nursing home care. Nationally, this translates to an annual savings of billions of dollars.

If you would like to take a tour of the agency, or would like more information on Adult Day Health Services, please call Jan Smith at (502) 585-9949. Below are answers to many questions you may have.

Q. What is Adult Day Care?

A. Adult day centers provide community-based group programs for socially isolated and/or functionally impaired seniors adults. Health model programs are designed to promote maximum independence, socialization and medical stability as well as attend to elderly adults' physical, mental, and emotional needs.

Q. Who Should Attend Adult Day Care?

A. Elders who are frail due to a variety of physical conditions or cognitive impairments such as dementia or Alzheimer's Disease, benefit from our structured, therapeutic program. Individuals who need socialization and assistance with some activities of daily living will also benefit. Participants in their 60s to 90s may walk with a cane or walker or use a wheelchair, have chronic conditions such as diabetes, heart disease or arthritis, or are learning to cope after a stroke. Participants may be incontinent or have special needs.

Q. What are the Benefits of Adult Day Care?

A. Participants benefit by making new friends and enjoying activities. Large and small group programming encourages physical and mental stimulation.
Evidence suggests that adult day care can ease the depression associated with aging and improve quality of life.

Adult day care delays premature placement in a nursing home by an average of 15 to 22 months.

For caregivers, opting for adult day care means not having to give up a job, reduce work hours, or take time off without pay to look after a loved one.
Day centers offer respite to the caregiver, relieving the stress of caregiving. Caregivers gain peace of mind knowing loved ones are being cared for in a safe and supportive environment.

Adult day centers help control families' financial burden: A typical day at the center costs one-third to one-half of a nursing home. This is a cost-effective alternative to home health care as well, with the added benefit of socializing with others.

Q. Who's on Staff?

A. Our staff includes an occupational therapist, consultant in medicine and psychology, nurses, a case manager, and trained program assistants.

Participants enjoy working with college students at our Adult Day Health Center who study occupational therapy, nursing, and social work. Consultants, are available in geriatric health and wellness, medicine and psychology. Volunteers are likewise dedicated to making everyday a great day for participants.

Q. What are the Service Hours?

A. The Adult Day Health Center currently is open Monday through Friday, 8:00 a.m. to 5:00 p.m. The Adult Day Health Center is closed on the following holidays:
New Year's Day
Martin Luther King, Jr. Day
President's Day
Memorial Day
Fourth of July

Labor Day
Thanksgiving Day
The Day After Thanksgiving Day
Christmas Eve
Christmas Day

If snow is scheduled for the Metro Louisville area, GuardiaCare follows Jefferson County Public School's snow schedule. GuardiaCare will only close if Jefferson County Public Schools are closed. If Jefferson County Public Schools are on a delayed schedule, GuardiaCare will still be operating on normal service hours. Tune to WHAS11 for the latest in school and business closings.

Q. How does GuardiaCare’s Adult Day Health Center program measure its success?

A. The outcome measurements enable the Adult Day Health Center to learn how well the participants have achieved stated objectives. This is valuable in helping us to determine the things that are successful as well as those that need to be changed. Even the senior who does not achieve our specific goals benefit from the program in substantial ways.

By measuring the outcomes, results for individuals entering our program during the calendar year 2007 were:

Participants mentally engaged - 86% participated in at least one cognitive activity daily to promote health and maintain daily functioning.

Participants physically engaged - 89% participated in at least one physical activity daily to promote health and maintain daily funtioning.

Participants nutritional status enhanced - 65% consumed an average of 75% of their meals on days they attended.

Participants maintain mental health - 83% scored within the normal range on a geriatric depression scale every 6 months

Participants maintain physical health - 76% will decrease or maintain within 5 points on the ADL/IADL checklist score every 6 months.

Participants will experience increased socialization - 76% will have both an average score of 2 or higher based on the Activity Participation Checklist scaleat the end of 6 months AND an attendance rate of at least 75%.

Family caregivers report a decrease in burden of care - 83% decrease or maintain within 2 points on the Caregiver stress assessment for 12 months.

Participants continue to live in the community setting - 76% enrollment duration equal to 12 months or longer and the participants remain in a non-institutional setting.



	Adult Day Health Center: Overview GuardiaCare Adult Day Health Services, a health model, began operation in 1988. The goal of the program is to prevent premature nursing home placement by keeping seniors actively involved in the community. Studies indicate adult day delays that placement by 18-22 months. The adult day health model is an economical option to premature nursing home placement with average annual cost running $11,000 per year for daycare versus $50,000 - $60,000 per year for nursing home care. Nationally, this translates to an annual savings of billions of dollars. If you would like to take a tour of the agency, or would like more information on Adult Day Health Services, please call Jan Smith at (502) 585-9949. Below are answers to many questions you may have. Q. What is Adult Day Care? A. Adult day centers provide community-based group programs for socially isolated and/or functionally impaired seniors adults. Health model programs are designed to promote maximum independence, socialization and medical stability as well as attend to elderly adults' physical, mental, and emotional needs. Q. Who Should Attend Adult Day Care? A. Elders who are frail due to a variety of physical conditions or cognitive impairments such as dementia or Alzheimer's Disease, benefit from our structured, therapeutic program. Individuals who need socialization and assistance with some activities of daily living will also benefit. Participants in their 60s to 90s may walk with a cane or walker or use a wheelchair, have chronic conditions such as diabetes, heart disease or arthritis, or are learning to cope after a stroke. Participants may be incontinent or have special needs. Q. What are the Benefits of Adult Day Care? A. Participants benefit by making new friends and enjoying activities. Large and small group programming encourages physical and mental stimulation. Evidence suggests that adult day care can ease the depression associated with aging and improve quality of life. Adult day care delays premature placement in a nursing home by an average of 15 to 22 months. For caregivers, opting for adult day care means not having to give up a job, reduce work hours, or take time off without pay to look after a loved one. Day centers offer respite to the caregiver, relieving the stress of caregiving. Caregivers gain peace of mind knowing loved ones are being cared for in a safe and supportive environment. Adult day centers help control families' financial burden: A typical day at the center costs one-third to one-half of a nursing home. This is a cost-effective alternative to home health care as well, with the added benefit of socializing with others. Q. Who's on Staff? A. Our staff includes an occupational therapist, consultant in medicine and psychology, nurses, a case manager, and trained program assistants. Participants enjoy working with college students at our Adult Day Health Center who study occupational therapy, nursing, and social work. Consultants, are available in geriatric health and wellness, medicine and psychology. Volunteers are likewise dedicated to making everyday a great day for participants. Q. What are the Service Hours? A. The Adult Day Health Center currently is open Monday through Friday, 8:00 a.m. to 5:00 p.m. The Adult Day Health Center is closed on the following holidays: New Year's Day Martin Luther King, Jr. Day President's Day Memorial Day Fourth of July Labor Day Thanksgiving Day The Day After Thanksgiving Day Christmas Eve Christmas Day If snow is scheduled for the Metro Louisville area, GuardiaCare follows Jefferson County Public School's snow schedule. GuardiaCare will only close if Jefferson County Public Schools are closed. If Jefferson County Public Schools are on a delayed schedule, GuardiaCare will still be operating on normal service hours. Tune to WHAS11 for the latest in school and business closings. Q. How does GuardiaCare’s Adult Day Health Center program measure its success? A. The outcome measurements enable the Adult Day Health Center to learn how well the participants have achieved stated objectives. This is valuable in helping us to determine the things that are successful as well as those that need to be changed. Even the senior who does not achieve our specific goals benefit from the program in substantial ways. By measuring the outcomes, results for individuals entering our program during the calendar year 2007 were: Participants mentally engaged - 86% participated in at least one cognitive activity daily to promote health and maintain daily functioning. Participants physically engaged - 89% participated in at least one physical activity daily to promote health and maintain daily funtioning. Participants nutritional status enhanced - 65% consumed an average of 75% of their meals on days they attended. Participants maintain mental health - 83% scored within the normal range on a geriatric depression scale every 6 months Participants maintain physical health - 76% will decrease or maintain within 5 points on the ADL/IADL checklist score every 6 months. Participants will experience increased socialization - 76% will have both an average score of 2 or higher based on the Activity Participation Checklist scaleat the end of 6 months AND an attendance rate of at least 75%. Family caregivers report a decrease in burden of care - 83% decrease or maintain within 2 points on the Caregiver stress assessment for 12 months. Participants continue to live in the community setting - 76% enrollment duration equal to 12 months or longer and the participants remain in a non-institutional setting. GuardiaCare Services, Inc. is a 501(c )(3) non-profit social service agency. Copyright, 2007. All rights reserved.

Adult Day Health Center: Overview