[Congressional Record Volume 148, Number 132 (Wednesday, October 9, 2002)]
[Extensions of Remarks]
[Page E1810]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




                       TRIBUTE TO ADULT DAY CARE

                                 ______
                                 

                             HON. BOB RILEY

                               of alabama

                    in the house of representatives

                       Wednesday, October 9, 2002

  Mr. RILEY. Mr. Speaker, I rise today to pay tribute to Adult Day Care 
on the occasion of the Annual Conference of the Alabama Adult Day Care 
Association in Auburn, Alabama, on October 11, 2002.
  Adult day care programs provide health and social services in a group 
setting on a part-time basis to frail older persons and other persons 
with physical, emotional, or mental impairments. Adult day care in the 
United States was inspired by the European psychiatric day hospitals in 
the 1940's and was influenced by the British geriatric day hospital 
model in the 1950's. Adult day care began in psychiatric day hospital 
in the United States in the late 1940's, mainly assisting patients who 
were released from mental institutions. The concept of day care was 
expanded to include supportive health and social services for impaired 
persons residing in the community in the 1960's. These programs have 
grown rapidly over the last 3 decades, from a handful in the late 
1960's to an estimated 4,000 today.
  Obviously, this growth reflects a need. With the decline in our 
family structure, we do not see as many large families in which there 
is always someone available to take care of an older family member. 
Families are often separated by great distances because of work. Even 
if grown children live near their parents, the husband and wife 
frequently have to work to support the family. This leaves no one 
available to help with an elderly parent. in these instances, adult day 
care is every bit as important to the family as child care. Knowing 
that someone is there to perhaps transport the parent to day care, make 
sure that the parent takes his or her medicine and generally supervise 
and engage the interest of the elderly parent means a great deal.
  Adult day care has taken on increased significance as a means of 
taking care of elderly individuals who have physical or mental 
limitations. These people are not candidates for skilled nursing home 
care, but they require care from a compassionate and knowledgeable 
individual. Quite often their families cannot provide this care on a 
continuous basis, but with the help of day care, both the parent and 
the family caregiver benefit.
  I am particularly impressed with the idea of adult day care in the 
plan of care for elderly citizens with Alzheimer's disease. These 
elderly patients often receive the very worst of care in nursing homes 
if they are accepted, and they present one of the most difficult 
challenges for family members who are not trained to work with the 
elderly. Studies have shown that patients suffering from Alzheimer's 
disease seem to be best handled in a small group setting under the care 
of those with both medical and psychiatric training. With the elderly 
person in this setting, the whole family can receive some relief and be 
better able to continue to properly care for their relative.
  Mr. Speaker, I want to take this opportunity to salute those who 
tirelessly provide Adult Day Care to our elderly citizens.

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