Adult Care Services Offering Programs that Support the Caregiver

Adult Care Services, The Susan J. Rheem Adult Day Center, and The Margaret T. Morris Center’s mission, Quality Care, Quality Services, and Quality of Life, is not solely about the person receiving the hands-on care from their programs, but for the support of caregivers as well. Two key people responsible for this within the three non-profits specializing in Alzheimer’s disease and dementia care are Candace Lea and Melody Thomas-Morgan. Both women passionately agree that offering support to family caregivers in today’s times is desperately needed.

Thanks to a one-year Community Health Improvement Grant from Dignity Health/YRMC, The Susan J. Rheem Adult Day Center now offers care management and programming support for community members attending the day center. Candace Lea, who has been with Adult Care Services for more than two years as community liaison, transitioned to this new role effortlessly. With a master’s degree in business, emphasizing health care management, a past career as a program manager in case management, a family caregiver and a certified yoga instructor, Candace is a wealth of knowledge who knows the resources. She states that her goal as a care manager is to help family caregivers successfully navigate their role as caregivers when respite time ends.

The Margaret T. Morris Center Resident Services Specialist Melody Thomas-Morgan is no stranger to family caregivers. She served as the life enrichment director at The Susan J. Rheem Adult Day Center for many years. Melody transitioned to her current role at The Margaret T. Morris Center in 2016. Melody, a trained support group leader, is finishing her last class for the completion of her master’s degree in pastoral counseling in crisis intervention and trauma with a specialty in grief counselling and support. She is a natural at leading the Adult Care Services Support Group and helping families transition from hands-on caregivers to their prior role of spouse, child or friend, once deciding upon assisted living. Melody believes in giving caregivers hope as they deal with guilt and loss when making the best decisions for their loved one living with dementia.

Caring for the caregiver is just as important as caring for a person who requires hands-on care. What the caregiver is truly going through on the inside may not show on the outside. Adult Care Services is here for caregivers to navigate resources, deal with feelings of sadness, loss and grief, and instill hope for confident, successful living. QCBN

By Yvonne Napolitano

For more information about Adult Care Services, see the company website at www.AdultCareSevices.org or call 928-771-2335.

Yvonne Napolitano is the executive director of Adult Care Services.