Easing the Burden, Improving Lives
With help from The Community Foundation for Greater New Haven, the Orchard House Medical Adult Day Center is making "aging in place" a viable option for adults who wish to remain with their families and in their communities.
Their Dementia Care Program is multi-faceted, providing care that meets the medical, social, and spiritual needs of participants. "Staff work closely with aging professionals and other health care providers, as well as families who benefit from the services provided by Orchard House," says Executive Director Stephanie Evans-Ariker. Over the course of the grant period, Orchard House saw 50% more inquiries and a doubling in enrollment.
The commitment to support clients and ease caregiver stress is evident most of all with the recent purchase of a new bus for the Dementia Care Program. This allows clients to take part in daily activities offered at the center without disrupting family members' schedules.
The addition of a Geriatric Nurse Practitioner, who provides in-home assessments, has made life more comfortable for clients – at home as well as during their time at Orchard House. And ongoing information sessions for family members and caregivers in 2013 were so successful, they will continue through this year.
Funding for this program came from the following unrestricted and preference funds at The Community Foundation: Florence A. Hoadley Fund, Grace Bourne Fund, Ophelia Fund, George W. Mixter Fund, Nathan and Ellen Holbrook Fund.
