Supporting caregivers and their loved ones
By RUTH LILJENQUIST
www.ccs-soaz.org
Caring for an elderly or disabled family member is often a very rewarding experience, but the demands of the job can often become stressful for relative caregivers, who have to juggle their other responsibilities and their own needs with the needs of the loved one they are caring for. Too much stress can lead to the end of an otherwise mutually-fulfilling arrangement. With the right support, however, caregivers can continue caring for their family members in the way that they want.
Daybreak Adult Day Health Care provides that kind of support. A program of Catholic Community Services in Yuma, Daybreak provides a place for seniors and people with disabilities to come each day and be cared for while their relative caretakers work or take personal time to get things done or rejuvenate themselves. Each day, participants enjoy meals together, exercise, play games, and visit with each other. Staff members monitor their health, especially making sure that they take their medications.
Corinna Mullally is the program director at Daybreak. “A lot of the people we care for live with family members who work.” Without Daybreak, that can be a real problem. When seniors or people with disabilities are home alone all day, they can become isolated and withdrawn. They can also get into trouble, especially if they have some kind of dementia. They may forget to take their medication, leave the stove on, or wander away. That creates stress for caregivers because they are worried about their loved one and about what they will find when they come home.
Daybreak eases all these problems. Corinna tells of a man who came to Daybreak as a hospice patient. He was withdrawn and frail, and his family and doctor did not give him long to live. At first, he didn’t participate in the activities, but as time went by, he started talking and making friends. Before long, he had made a complete turnaround and was discharged from hospice. He’s now an active participant.
“He dances and sings and laughs. He even complains about the food and brings in new recipes for us to try,” said Corinna. “It is the greatest thing to see how we made an extreme difference in this man’s life.”
Daybreak makes a big difference in the lives of caregivers, too. In 2001, Maria Armenta welcomed her mother Socorro, nearly 80 years old, into her home. With Socorro’s increasing dementia, she could not be left home alone, but both Maria and her husband needed to continue working.
“We didn’t know what to do,” said Maria. “We couldn’t quit working, but we didn’t have the money to bring someone in to care for my mother.” Maria could also see that her mother was becoming withdrawn and depressed. A friend suggested that Maria take her mother to Daybreak.
Soccoro, who is now 87, has been going to Daybreak every weekday for several years now. She has friends who care about her, a routine she understands, and a group of caring staff members who tend to her personal needs.
With her mother at Daybreak, Maria and her husband have been able to continue working. They’ve also been able to continue caring for Socorro.
“I want to hold on to my mother,” said Maria. “Daybreak has been so helpful because I have been able to keep my mother in my home. I don’t even have words to say how wonderful Daybreak is.”
For more information
To learn more about Daybreak Adult Day Health Care, call (928)783-8316. Daybreak currently has several openings for new participants.