Good Times at Adult Day San Francisco and San Mateo
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by
Tony Alioto
As part of a very special day at Catholic Charities Aging Services, seniors from the Adult Day San Francisco Center gathered to visit their senior counterparts in San Mateo.
SF Seniors were welcomed with loud and thunderous applause before quickly finding their seats for an exhilarating round of chair Zumba. Led by longtime Catholic Charities employee Fuata Reymond, seniors danced in place, stomped their feet, and lifted water bottle weights high above their heads. “The effects the program has on clients who attend the adult day services program is amazing,” says Patty Clement, Associate Deputy Director of Catholic Charities Aging Services. “I had a gentleman who forgot he knew how to draw and paint come back to life by staff working with him and seeing that hidden talent he forgot he had. We’ve had seniors become more calm and less anxious because they’re now amongst friends and they know they’re in a safe place where they can have fun and engage in a variety of programming activities.”
The adult day program provides a safe and supportive environment where seniors with cognitive or memory issues and adults with disabilities can socialize, make friends, and participate in activities that help stimulate the mind. Additionally, the program provides families with solutions that help keep seniors in their homes longer and provide much needed respite for caregivers. “We engage our clients in cognitive stimulation, low impact physical exercises and a wide range of fun, cognitive activities geared towards stimulating their mind, body and spirit,” says Carmen Santoni, Program Director for Adult Day Services San Mateo, “using music, creative arts, inter-generational activities, pet therapy, etc. to stimulate and enrich their lives.”
There are a few things that stand out immediately when visiting the Adult Day Center. The first is how kind, compassionate, and patient staff members are with the seniors in their care—every action seems to be done with a smile or a generous laugh. “They are so connected to the clients they serve and make sure that their needs are met,” says Patty. “And if we can’t provide the actual service needed, they make the appropriate referrals. Our entire Aging Division works together collectively and cohesively supporting each other and there is a camaraderie that has been built over the years that is unmeasurable. This is why many of our staff members stay 10, 20, and 30 years, dedicated to the clients in the community and each other.”
“We engage our clients in cognitive stimulation, low impact physical exercises and a wide range of fun, cognitive activities geared towards stimulating their mind, body and spirit using music, creative arts, inter-generational activities, pet therapy, etc. to stimulate and enrich their lives.”
The second thing you’ll notice is just how much fun everyone—seniors and staff— are having. In fact, it’s not unusual to hear music playing throughout the day at Adult Day, from Frank Sinatra to Golden Oldies to the pop hits of today. At one point the song “Staying Alive” even started an impromptu dance party with both seniors and staff taking center stage. “Music works wonders with people with cognitive impairments,” Carmen explains, “it easily taps into the brain’s memory center, often evoking memories and emotions from the past. One of the most significant benefits of music therapy for dementia patients is its ability to enhance their cognitive function. This engagement can help maintain and even improve cognitive abilities.”
Adult Day San Mateo is celebrating its 50th anniversary this year and will honor that milestone with an open house event later this Fall, a day that is sure to bring back seniors, caregivers, and families who have benefited from the program throughout the years. “We have had many clients come and go and have connected with multiple different service providers,” says Patty. “And we want to honor and recognize our community partners, and the families and clients that have come through our program and through our doors over the many years.”
The staff recognizes how challenging it can be for families who are dealing with a difficult diagnosis. “Receiving the diagnosis, assimilating some of what it entails, navigating through the plethora of changes to come along with it and suddenly having to make life altering decisions for a loved one is a punch in the gut, a culture shock, an incredibly difficult thing to accept and a life altering thing,” Carmen says. “Having a mid-point facility while trying to get a grip of knowledge on this new reality can be the lifesaving difference a newly diagnosed family needs.”
“We are all aging every day,” Patty says, “but growing old is a choice. And our team, along with our clients, choose not to grow old, but to stay active and engaged in healthy, active aging programs to help us thrive as we age.”
A perfect example of this philosophy is something called “the parachute game,” a crowd favorite. The staff and seniors gathered in a large circle around an oversized parachute, covered in balloons of varying sizes and colors. “One, two, three!” someone shouted, and then all the balloons—and all the laughter— were sent flying high into the air.
Just another afternoon at Adult Day Services.
Adult Day San Mateo’s 50th anniversary Open House will take place on Thursday, September 25 from 4 to 6 PM at the Adult Day Services located at 787 Walnut Street, in San Carlos. All are welcome.
Find more information on Adult Day Services San Mateo visit https://catholiccharitiessf.org/adult-day-services-san-mateo-v-2/
Find more information on Adult Day Services San Francisco visit https://catholiccharitiessf.org/adult-day-services-san-francisco/
To donate to Catholic Charities and help support programs like Adult Day Center visit https://catholiccharitiessf.org/donate/
