Department of Aging Recognizes Adult Day Services Week

HARRISBURG, Pa., Sept. 15, 2014 /PRNewswire-USNewswire/ -- Governor Tom Corbett has proclaimed Sept. 14-20 as Adult Day Services Week in Pennsylvania, Secretary of Aging Brian Duke announced today.

Adult Day Services Week is organized through the National Adult Day Service Association, or NADSA, and is celebrated by more than 5,000 adult day centers nationwide. It aims to raise awareness of the availability and accessibility of adult day programs.

The theme this year is, "The Power of Adult Day Services: The Future of Care."

"Adult day services provide a vital link in supporting the well-being of older adults to allow them to remain in their homes and communities," Duke said. "The 270 adult day centers in our state serve more than 13,900 older Pennsylvanians. We are celebrating the service these centers carry out every day in providing social and health care support to participants and their families."

Adult day centers offer a coordinated approach in a community-based setting. Centers provide care for the physical, emotional and social needs of adults age 60 and older who need support in order to live independently due to chronic conditions such as Alzheimer's disease, cardiovascular disease and diabetes.

Participants enjoy assistance in many areas such as nutrition, personal care, health, self-help training and supervision. Centers also offer caregivers much needed support by easing the stress of 24-hour caregiving.

The department's Caregiver's Guide to Selecting an Adult Day Services Center brochure offers tips for selecting the appropriate adult day services center.

For more information about adult day services and tips for selecting adult day services center, visit www.aging.state.pa.us.

Media Contact: Christina Reese, 717-783-1550

Editor's note: The text for the governor's proclamation recognizing Adult Day Services Week as follows:

Proclamation

National Adult Day Services Week 2014

September 14 – 20, 2014

WHEREAS, Adult day services centers, also known as adult daily living centers, are designed to prevent premature institutionalization of older adults who are physically or mentally impaired by offering a community-based alternative, which allow individuals to remain in their home or in the home of a caregiver; and

WHEREAS, Pennsylvania has nearly 270 licensed adult day services centers, where older adults receive needed services and support and have the opportunity to socialize with others; and

WHEREAS, centers provide or arrange a coordinated program of services for part of a 24-hour day; including health maintenance services, communal interaction and personal care, thereby providing much-needed respite for caregivers and involved others; and

WHEREAS, professional and compassionate services through care in the fellowship of a community setting can mitigate the physical frailty or cognitive impairment issues of older adults; and

WHEREAS, Pennsylvania's adult day service centers provide essential components of living such as nutrition, self-help training and transportation for more than 13,900 older Pennsylvanians; and

WHEREAS, the Commonwealth of Pennsylvania and the National Adult Day Services Association have designated this year's NATIONAL ADULT DAY SERVICES WEEK with the theme of "Pushing Boundaries to Reach New Heights."

THEREFORE, I, Tom Corbett, as Governor of Pennsylvania, do hereby proclaim September 14 – 20, 2014 ADULT DAY SERVICES WEEK in Pennsylvania, celebrating adult day services in the Commonwealth of Pennsylvania and urge our residents to honor and celebrate this important event.

GIVEN under my hand and the Seal of the Governor, at the City of Harrisburg, on this fifteenth day of August in the Year of our Lord two thousand and fourteen, and of the Commonwealth the two hundred and thirty-ninth.

TOM CORBETT

Governor

SOURCE Pennsylvania Department of Aging