"Mom enjoys getting out of the house and interacting with other adults and I feel comfortable leaving her there. I know she is safe and I don't spend my time at work worrying about her. The staff has helped with her transition by making her feel like part of the team."

Day Center

Our adult day health center is the centerpiece of our services. We provide two levels of care in the center, the Friends Club, for those in the middle stages of dementia, and the Sunshine Club, for those in the late stages.

Friends Club

This therapeutic program provides services for those in the middle stages of memory loss illness. A wide variety of stimulating activities are conducted in a bright and cheerful atmosphere. These include "mindful" tasks, creative arts, and physical exercise. Music, both participatory and for entertainment, is a popular highlight. The Center often features volunteer piano and violin players, dancers, and choral groups. Intergenerational special events provide lively interaction with younger folks. Friends club participants also enjoy supervised van outings.

All activities are simplified and appropriately paced for people with dementia. Exercise sessions are fun, lively, and promote flexibility, balance and coordination. People who attend have roles and responsibilities which help them feel useful and productive. All participants are encouraged to stay awake, stay engaged and keep physically and mentally active.

Our staffing ratio is 1 staff person to every 4-5 participants (better than state requirement) so that we may provide optimal verbal cueing, redirection and rich interactions. Staff nurses monitor health care needs of participants and work with families and physicians to identify conditions that require medical attention.

Sunshine Club

Participants in the late stage of the disease often require "hands on" help with eating, grooming, walking and/or transferring. Emphasis in this program is on maintaining mobility, as well as preserving the remaining skills and sensory activities that help a participant stay connected to the world. Gentle foot and hand massage compliment the range of motion exercises that are conducted twice a day. AFDC is the only day center in the DC metro area for late-stage Alzheimer's care.

The staffing ratio for our Sunshine Club program is 1 staff person to every 3-4 participants (better than state requirements), which allows us to provide physical assistance with activities of daily living as well as rich personal interactions. Staff nurses monitor health care needs of participants and work with families and physicians to identify conditions that require medical attention.

Day Center FAQs

Hours and Participation: The Day Center is open Monday through Friday, 7:30 am to 5:30 pm. Participants can attend from two to five days a week, and for the hours that work best for their schedules. Unfortunately, we cannot accept drop-in requests.

Holiday Calendar: 2012

Tours: We are happy to give you a tour of the center, anytime during our regular business hours. Please call us at 703-204-4664 to set up a convenient time! Can't make it to the center?

What do participants do all day?
Want to know more about what goes on each day? Take a look at our monthly activity calendars.

Application Process:
1. To get started with the Application Process, you will first need to complete an Application Form.
2. Call to arrange and assessment with the family caregiver and potential participant.
3. Complete the enrollment paperwork. The physical and TB screening must be signed by a physician, and completed no more than 30 days prior to admission.
4. Schedule and arrange for transportation, if needed.
5. Determine start date and sign contract.
6. Discuss and dispensing of medication and dietary issues with our nurse.

Please don't hesitate to call us at 703-204-4664, and we're happy to walk you through the application process.

Forms:
Day Center Application Packet (Word doc) (Adobe PDF)
Health and TB Forms (Word doc) (Adobe PDF)

Day Center Fees: Day center fees are charged on a monthly basis, based on the number of days attended per week, and level of care. A chart outlines our current monthly fees below:

	Friends Club	Sunshine Club
2 days per week	$805	$915
3 days per week	$1126	$1280
4 days per week	$1450	$1648
5 days per week	$1690	$1920

Scholarships: For those who have difficulty meeting the cost of care, the Board has established the Family Caregiver Respite Fund with the goal that no one is turned away for lack of funds to pay for services. Please contact us for more information, and a scholarship application.