Services for Older Adults

Older Americans and their families have options regarding care. Easter Seals provides choices when a spouse, parent, grandparent or other loved one needs assistance with daily living, but is not ready for full-time nursing home care. Services benefit the participants and their caregivers.

What Are Adult Day Services?
Adult day services offer respite for family members responsible for a relative who is unable to function independently, but does not require 24-hour nursing care. Participants may have:

• A physical disability
• Memory loss and confusion
• A need for assistance with everyday activities of daily living that falls short of 24-hour institutional care
• A short-term need for recovery and rehabilitation following a hospital stay

Easter Seals provides a safe group environment with coordinated health and social services to promote stabilizing or improving self-care. Qualified, dedicated staff implement best practices in service delivery. The goals of center-based care may prevent, postpone or reduce institutionalization.

Medical Support
Many Easter Seals programs provide medical supervision and health-related services on a daily basis. Qualified staff administer medications and monitor a variety of medical conditions. Most often, therapy services (occupational therapy, physical therapy and speech therapy) are available. Some medical programs also offer additional services such as bathing and personal care. Referrals to medical model centers may include individuals who have recently been discharged from a hospital.

Social Support
Easter Seals programs do not provide daily medical supervision and are designed for persons whose primary needs are for socialization, recreation, community involvement, some supervision and minimal assistance with activities of daily living (eating, dressing, walking, etc.).

In-home Care
Easter Seals in-home care aims to prevent premature institutionalization by providing the necessary support services to allow an individual to live at home. In-home care can both preserve self-esteem and dignity, and also promote increased independence.

In-home services enhance people's independence in daily living. Services include:

• Bathing
• Dressing
• Meal preparation
• Laundry
• Light housekeeping
• Transportation
• Shopping