Family TIES - McLaren Health Care

Family TIES
A publication of the VitalCare Adult Day Center
Affiliated with McLaren Northern Michigan
September 2012
Hello All!
It continues to be a pleasure to be the
Director of the VitalCare Adult Day
Center. Every day I am impressed by
the caring nature of the staff. This staff
cares deeply for their clients and shows
genuine concern for the caregivers.
This kindness has been acknowledged
many times by VitalCare employees,
awarding the Adult Day Center staff,
manager, and department with the
VitalCare “ICARE” award. This care is
also acknowledged by the caregivers
as shown in survey results. In the last
two quarters, the surveys have resulted
in scores of 100% in every category!
These categories include: Quality
Care, Safety, Respect, Privacy, Meals,
Costs, Cleanliness, Transportation,
and Willingness to Recommend these
services to others. Please take the
opportunity to visit our Adult Day
Center. I’m sure you will be impressed
as well and want to recommend our
services to others.
Spotlight
Client ...
Ann Libey
Ann is a fun-loving gal that enjoys bowling, swimming,
cooking, taking road trips, and visiting with her family.
She enjoys watching sports as well as playing them; she
played basketball in the Special Olympics! Our very own
Olympian! Ann’s favorite color is blue. She really likes
pizza, cotton candy, and tacos. We are happy that Ann is
a part of our family!
Upcoming Events
Sept. 15 – Walk to end Alzheimer’s
Sept. 16 - 22 – Adult Day Services Week
Sept. 21 – World Alzheimer’s Day
Laura Daniel, MSN, RN
VitalCare Adult Day Center Director
231.348.0771· vitalcare.org

VitalCare Adult Day Center – A Community Benefit
Adult day care is probably the second most cost-effective
provision of health care for the elderly that you can find, if it’s
available where you live (www.guide-to-elder-care.com/adultday-care.html).
Emmet County is fortunate to have an Adult Day Center
located right here in Petoskey. The VitalCare Adult Day Center,
located directly across from the McLaren Northern Michigan
main hospital campus provides this beneficial service.
The VitalCare Adult Day Center (formerly known as the
Living Room) has served residents of Emmet, Charlevoix, and
northern Cheboygan counties for decades. Compassionate
friendly care, quality, and safety are recognized at first glance.
Who Benefits from Adult Day Services
• Participating clients benefit from the socialization and
friendships that develop with other clients. Their health is
monitored by skilled staff that understands their special
needs and has knowledge of additional community
resources that may assist clients and their families.
Nutritious, balanced meals are provided based on their
dietary needs.
• Families/caregivers also benefit as they are able to maintain
employment, enjoy some free-time to rest, relax, or
complete daily tasks. It allows families the ability to keep
their loved ones at home for a longer time versus placing
them in a long-term facility.
• We, the taxpayers, benefit with lower health care
reimbursement to nursing homes. Most payment for
nursing homes come from Medicare or Medicaid; subsidies
that we all contribute to.
• The community benefits from increased options for health
care services. Having high quality health care and multiple
options for care are just a few of the highlights of an
attractive community.
• Local employers of the family caregivers benefit, by seeing
less lost time from work and more restful and happy
employees/caregivers.
What are the Costs
The VitalCare Adult Day Center strives to provide quality care
in a cost-effective manner. The daily charge for an 8 hour day
(meals included) is $50.00. Unfortunately, most insurances
do not cover adult day care services but local waiver agencies
and local grants help to off-set this expense for families who
need assistance. Transportation is provided to and from the
Center at a low cost of .75 cents per mile. Bathing services are
provided at a cost of $15.00.
Who would use Adult Day Services
• Imagine: Being the parent of an adult
disabled child.
Both you and your spouse need to work, and
your other children go to school during the day.
Having a “typical babysitter” in your home makes
you nervous as your disabled adult child has
special needs.
• Imagine: Being the adult child.
Dad’s health has really declined since mom
passed. He is more confused and doesn’t eat
well. Neighbors have found him outside on the
ground several times after falling while getting his
mail. It’s time to make a decision; you promised
mom that you would not put dad in a home.
You need to work. Your children are away at
school. How will you care for him during the day,
ensuring that he is safe and well-fed
• Imagine: Being the Spouse.
After 42 years of marriage, Sam didn’t think that
he would be caring for Sally. Sam always said
he would be the first to go, but know he finds
himself being the caregiver. Sally’s memory has
slipped to the point that she doesn’t remember
Sam’s name. She wanders aimlessly around
the house. “I worry that she will wander off,
our children have lives of their own, plus they
don’t even live nearby. Taking Sally with me to
doctor appointments or even grocery shopping
is very difficult and stressful,” Sam confesses to a
neighbor. “If I could just get a rest for a day or two
a week, I could continue taking care of Sally.”
• Imagine: Being a patient and the caregiver.
After several years of pain, I finally am listening
to the doctor and will have that old hip replaced.
How will I manage this, I say to the doctor. My
husband still works everyday and we take care
of mom at home. I need someone to watch and
care for her during the day while my husband
works and I recuperate. Even then, after the
initial healing period, I will need therapy services.
How will I be able to go to these appointments
and have mom cared for
In all these scenarios, VitalCare Adult Day Center
can provide the support you need, whether it be for
an extended time or just a few days or weeks; we are
here. We have trained staff to care for someone with
special needs, training in Alzheimer’s disease, and
compassion to “care” for your loved one.
231.348.0771 · vitalcare.org

Just a quick note from the
Program Coordinator…
Hopefully everyone has noticed that
we had some much needed outdoor
beautification. A very generous donor
provided this for us and we would like to
extend a huge thank you from all of us at
the Adult Day Center!
Wish List
We are looking for a couple of items.
• Arts and craft supplies
• Bingo prizes
• Prizes for our fair
• Fingernail polish
• Indoor horseshoe set
• Chicken Soup for the Soul books
• Volunteers to maintain our beautiful
landscaping (weeding, etc.)
• Volunteers to assist with client
activities, meal preparation, etc.
Special Events
Benefit Center
The Claymore Shop hosted a special
preview trunk show on Thursday, June
28, and participated in the “Rock Your
Community” event the next night,
both to benefit the VitalCare Adult
Day Center. Attendees on Thursday
night enjoyed refreshments and
talked with two jewelry designers
who have taken their passion for
collecting semi-precious stones and
rare beads to make one-of-a-kind
earrings, bracelets, and necklaces.
Friday evening, staff from the Adult
Day Center were present to talk about
the care provided at our center for the
elderly and disabled.
231.348.0771 · vitalcare.org

Adult Day Services
At a Glance
• Families share in the care of loved ones, but have daily
respite available.
• The Adult Day Center delays or avoids expensive fulltime
institutional care by offering daytime services to
guests who continue to live at home.
• Services are especially designed for seniors and younger
adults with disabilities.
• Services include basic health, medication, and nutrition
management.
• Participants engage in social and therapeutic activities
during the day.
• Services enhance the quality of life of participants.
Adult Day Center
525 West Mitchell Street
Petoskey, MI 49770
231.348.0771
vitalcare.org
Center Hours:
Monday - Friday
8:30 a.m. – 5 p.m.
Center Fees:
Daily Fee
$50
Transportation
$0.75 cents a mile
• More funding for adult day services decreases Medicaid
costs by reducing full-time institutional care while still
providing consistent medical monitoring.
231.348.0771 · vitalcare.org