labyrinthworld.com Blog

Caring for someone afflicted by Alzheimer’s can be overwhelming. To get relief some caregivers turn to adult day care. As the sole caregiver for my mother, that’s what I did. As my mother’s disease progressed, I found that she needed 24 hour care. It was overwhelming since her deterioration was accompanied for a long period by what I perceived to be unreasonable anger and constant demands to say nothing of the emotional pain she and I both experienced as the result of her gradual and profound loss. The changes were also accompanied by emotional abandonment as friends and loved ones slipped away. 

Adult day care provided a way for her to connect with individuals that could offer her friendship. It provided her the opportunity to be the person that existed in her mind. In my mother’s case that person was someone who was young and alluring with childlike appeal. It provided me with a window of time that I could use to pursue my own dreams.

The care was free, offered by the local government. Along with the care came free transportation. Transportation was not always reliable – the drivers sometimes were late in picking up my mother, and on one or two occasions simply forgot about her. Still it was a tremendous help.  This type of care is available in most communities. Although some places charge, there are others that are free.  The best place to find out what’s available in your community is to check with your local government, with the local agency on aging, or with AARP.