Chautauqua Adult Day Care Centers, Inc. To Expand Program at Heritage Village Retirement Campus

December 2007 - Chautauqua Adult Day Care Centers, Inc. and The Heritage Group are pleased to announce the grand opening of the Chautauqua Adult Day Care Center at Heritage Village.  The newly renovated facility, located on Heritage Village Retirement Campus (Gerry), will officially open to the public on January 7, 2008.  The new center will help meet the demand for residents in the surrounding areas and throughout the county who are looking for adult day care services, particularly those dealing with the onset of Alzheimer’s and other dementia-related illnesses.

“The Heritage Group is proud to partner with Chautauqua Adult Day Care Centers, a compassionate service provider to the elderly throughout Chautauqua County,” states David Smeltzer, executive director for The Heritage Group.  “This partnership represents a combined effort to provide seniors of our community a safe place to socialize and enjoy the company of others.  Chautauqua Adult Day Care Centers’ mission is aligned with our goal of promoting hope, dignity, and purposeful living.  We look forward to ensuring each and every person served by this new facility, especially those with memory-related illnesses, receives the specialized care they need.”

Frank Bercik, executive director of Chautauqua Adult Day Care Centers adds, “Chautauqua Adult Day Care Centers has been able to provide affordable long-term care for families by having partnerships in the community that assist us fiscally, so we can offer a consumer-friendly and affordable service.  Our new partnership with The Heritage Group will help us continue to provide this affordable service to the community and offer yet another day program for older adults with Alzheimer’s.  The number of older adults in Chautauqua County is high and this type of program is desperately needed to help caregivers with the stress and burden of caring for a loved one.” 

Adult Day Care

Most people are somewhat confused when they encounter the phrase “Adult Day Care.”  Adult day care programs assist caregivers who have responsibility for an older adult who cannot be left alone during the day.  Adult day care provides supportive staff, a secure group setting, supervision, meals, social work services, recreation, and socialization.  Individuals can enjoy the company of other people and participate in daily activities.  The programs provide relief for caregivers and help the elderly remain independent and at home until a higher level of care is needed. 

Chautauqua Adult Day Care Centers, Inc. officially opened its doors in 1982.  The organization was the creation of a small group of concerned individuals who went on a mission to open an adult day care program aimed at providing a long term care option for frail or impaired older adults.  This program would not only enhance the quality of life for seniors but it would also enable caregivers to receive a break from the daily emotional and physical stress of caring for an individual with Alzheimer’s or other related dementia. 

What began as a progressive idea continues to grow further in scope.  From humble beginnings as one small site in Jamestown, Chautauqua Adult Day Care Centers has grown to four sites serving Chautauqua County with locations in Dunkirk, Westfield, and two in Jamestown.  One of the programs in Jamestown is specifically designed for older adults with Alzheimer’s disease and other forms of dementia. 

In an effort to provide a comprehensive county-wide service, Chautauqua Adult Day Care Centers identified a need to open a fifth site in Gerry.  Not only will the agency now provide adult day care services in a rural, underserved area, but it will also open its second adult day care center that will provide a day program and care specifically for older adults with memory impairments.  Currently, there are limited day programs in Chautauqua County for older adults with Alzheimer’s disease and the agency is proud to be able to provide this unique service to the community.

Community Support

One of the driving forces of Chautauqua Adult Day Care Centers, a non-profit United Way agency, is to provide a long-term care option for older adults that is affordable and high quality.  The agency has been able to maintain an affordable program by garnering the support of many local organizations.  The agency’s sites are located in churches and at the YWCA.  These organizations are partners in providing affordable care to the elderly.  They are able to give something back to the community and keep the cost of space rental down that enables Chautauqua Adult Day Care Centers to offer a program that all seniors can afford regardless of income level.  In addition to these partnerships, the agency also receives funding for its “Scholarship Program” from the United Way.  The Scholarship Program provides the agency with the ability to provide care based on what a family or individual can afford. 

Chautauqua Adult Day Care Centers is excited about the Chautauqua Adult Day Care Center at Heritage Village.  The Heritage Group is helping the agency continue its mission of allowing older adults to remain at home and have an affordable long-term care option.  The new site will be located on the picturesque Heritage Village Retirement Campus (Gerry).  As an in-kind service, The Heritage Group has renovated two of its cottages on campus, and has a rental agreement that will help the agency provide a service to families and individuals based on their income level.  The Heritage Group will also provide Chautauqua Adult Day Care Centers’ new site in Gerry with accessibility to its beauty shop, library, gazebo, exercise garden, and many other on-campus amenities. 

In addition to the support from The Heritage Group and the United Way, the agency has also received start-up funding from the Johnson Foundation and was one of eight awardees of a recent NYS Office for the Aging grant that will help with operational costs each year.  The local Chautauqua County Office for the Aging will help provide funding and hot noontime meals for participants at the new Chautauqua Adult Day Care Center at Heritage Village.  The Office for the Aging is a long-time supporter and funder that believes older adults need to be able to continue to live at home.  They also recognize adult day care as a much needed cost effective service that achieves this goal.  The Alzheimer’s Association of WNY will also play a vital role by providing training for staff and support for caregivers.

A Family’s Perspective of Adult Day Care

The real impact of adult day care is measured in the positive effect it has on a family’s life.  Not only does an adult day care program provide a special service to older adults in need of care, but it also provides a unique benefit to the caregiver. 

Pam Piazza, of Celeron, has been caring for her mother, Hazel Hickox, for the past few years.  Hazel, now 87, is a lifelong resident of Chautauqua County.  She raised two children while serving as her family’s homemaker.  Hazel also provided in-home care for her own parents, sister and brother-in-law when they became ill.  In a sense, Pam has care in her blood. 

Recently, Hazel was diagnosed with Alzheimer’s.  Since then, Pam has been her mother’s primary caregiver.  Pam is still employed full time as an educator and wanted the opportunity for her mother to stay at home while she worked.  As a result, Hazel receives around the clock care in her own home.  Aside from home care, Pam had often wondered if there were other opportunities for her mother to venture outside of her house to enjoy the company of others her age in a safe and secure environment. 

While Hazel was in physical rehab at Jones Hill, a social worker came to speak with Pam about the program offered by Chautauqua Adult Day Care Centers.  At the time, Pam did not think much about it because her Mom could still live on her own.  After her mother’s Alzheimer’s progressed, she considered the Chautauqua Adult Day Care program again and the center seemed to be a perfect fit.  “Involving Mom in the programs at Chautauqua Adult Day Care was the most wonderful thing I have ever done,” explains Pam.  “I work full time and Mom attends Chautauqua Adult Day Care Centers every day I am working.  I am home when she is home.  It has been a wonderful program that has allowed me to continue working and remain confident Mom is being cared for in safe and secure environment.”

Pam is a dedicated daughter and caregiver to her mother.  You can tell by the constant smile on her face when she speaks about her mother, Hazel.  Pam is thankful for the care and opportunity Chautauqua Adult Day Care Centers has given her and her family.  Not only can she continue to work, but she can rest easy knowing her mother is in a safe environment.  Pam states, “I would absolutely recommend Chautauqua Adult Day Care Centers to anyone.  If someone is caring for an older adult, Chautauqua Adult Day Care Centers, in my opinion, is the best opportunity for older adults who are currently being cared for by family members.  Honestly, I don’t know if my Mom would still be here if this service wasn’t available.  I think Chautauqua Adult Day Care Centers should be an option available for everyone.  Their services have provided such a relief for me and my family.”

For more information about Chautauqua Adult Day Care Center at Heritage Village or other agency programs, please contact Karen Lucks at (716) 665-4899, extension 201.  For more information about independent and assisted living housing and services at Heritage Village Retirement Campus, including the new Hillview Cottages, please contact Sandy Ahlgren directly at (716) 985-6839.