FOCUS ON FOUNDATIONAL GROWTH: ADULT DAY HEALTH PROGRAM LEANS INTO EXPANSION EFFORTS WITH RECENT RELOCATION TO BEACON HILL SPACE

Full Life Care’s Adult Day Health program has been known for more than four decades as an integral community partner dedicated to providing older adults and people with chronic illnesses and disabilities with needed support to maintain independent living. In addition to the Everett location in Snohomish County, the Seattle program’s relocation in April of 2024 to Full Life Care’s new building in the Beacon Hill neighborhood of Seattle affords an exciting opportunity for expansion of both services offered in King County, and total program membership. April Hamilton, Director of the Adult Day Health program, envisions unbounded growth potential. During a recent discussion regarding the future of the program, she expressed, “We’ll be able to assist more people because there’s so much more space in which they can comfortably fit. In our new location we don’t see it slowing down. We see ourselves going full speed, hitting the ground running, and not looking back.”

Full Life Care’s programs support at-risk adults residing in King and Snohomish counties of Washington state. 97% of program participants are low-income, with 76% living below the poverty line. Life changes such as aging, living with a disability, or rehabilitation following an injury can challenge an individual’s ability to continue living in the community. Without support, many people can find themselves institutionalized in nursing homes, admitted to a hospital or skilled nursing facility, or even homeless. Full Life Care’s Adult Day Health program helps equip clients and their families for continued successful home living by providing specialized services designed to foster both independence and improved quality of day-to-day life. Supporting an individual’s ability to live independently also provides significant cost savings to the community.

CHALLENGING MINDS, KEEPING BODIES MOVING, AND LIFTING SPIRITS

In the Adult Day Health program, multidisciplinary team members partner with clients and families to develop individualized plans of care designed to promote holistic health and wellness for the participant while offering vitally important respite time for caregivers. Skilled rehabilitation therapists lead groups designed to improve clients’ physical, social, and cognitive functioning. Nursing services provided by an RN or LPN include diabetes management and diabetic foot care, tube feeding, catheter and colostomy care, medication administration and management, wound care, and more. Social work assessments, referrals, and advocacy round out the overall case management needs. Transportation to and from the Adult Day Health program is also included and is arranged through King County Metro ACCESS paratransit. Adult Day Health team members collaborate with all providers involved in the person’s care. (See a full list of our specialized Adult Day Health programs, eligibility requirements, and funding options at https://fulllifecare.org/services/adult-day-health-care)

Adult Day Health client Anita, who currently lives in an Adult Family Home, estimates that she has been attending the program for about 14 years. Anita loves to play bingo during her sessions. She also looks forward to riding the Access transportation van to and from the program. She explained, “It’s fun and entertaining. I like to meet new people. Going to the program gets me out [of her home] and helps me feel less lonely.” Occupational Therapist Wanda Saechin enjoys working with Anita and seeing her participating in fun and engaging activities in the day health center. She notes that, while Anita likes the exercise, she’s also working on maintaining her functional independence. “It’s great to see how motivated Anita is. She regularly participates in occupational therapy and she’s making great progress on her goals.” Anita wants to encourage others who might be considering program participation to give it a try, stating, “Everyone is nice. There’s nothing to be scared about.”

SMALL MIRACLES. EXTRAORDINARY LIVES.

A client’s participation in the program also provides a much-needed respite for the caregiver. Program Director April shared, “Often, families who come to us are at the end of their rope, they need help, and are finally ready for a rest. They may have been a caregiver for so long, and never felt ready to let go of that care. They finally come to us and then they notice that their loved one is sleeping longer, eating better, their endurance might be better, and I think that these small miracles are what we talk about. Families say they feel like their loved one can be cared for in the same way that they can provide that care and so they’re relieved, they’re happy, and it makes a whole lot of difference.”

Marilyn, whose husband James is living with dementia and has been attending the Adult Day Health program for almost two years, wholeheartedly agrees. “I know that while he’

s there he’s being cared for, fed, and stimulated. For him to be able to go the Adult Day Health program and be around other folks and participate in the activities is very comforting.” Marilyn shared that when her husband initially started attending the program, she was so tired she used the time alone primarily to rest and sleep. Now, she meets friends for breakfast or lunch, attends appointments to take care of her own health, and has even started volunteering at the school from which she retired. “I can see my old friends and be around the kids, which gives me great joy. It’s just a blessing to be able to have the flexibility to be able to do what I need and want to do.”

Marilyn’s greatest happiness, however, comes from seeing the positive changes in her husband as he continues to attend Adult Day Health services. She expressed, “He loves going. When he gets there, he’s so happy, he sings a little tune. He’s always been a hugger. He’ll shake hands, but then he’s coming in for a hug, too. It’s very reassuring to me to know that he’s there at a program he looks forward to attending and enjoys. Even though he can’t verbalize that, his body language and his actions speak to how he feels.”

Interested in learning more about Adult Day Health program participation for you or your loved one? One of Full Life Care’s Intake Specialists would be happy to assist in answering all your questions about specialized services, eligibility 

requirements, and funding options.

For King County residents, please contact Olivia Jokumsen via email at oliviaj@fulllifecare.org or via phone at 206-889-8394

For Snohomish county residents, please contact Kiersten Clark via email at kiersten.clark@fulllifecare.org or via phone at 206-923-7360

– Article By volunteer guest writer, Carla Leathers