Ms. N., an 85-year-old female living in Queens, joined VNSNY CHOICE and the VNSNY CHOICE Adult Day Center a few months ago. She lives with her family, but they work during the day, and she needs help to remain safely at home. 

Last week when she arrived at our Adult Day Center, she appeared lethargic. Our staff spoke to her about the change in her condition, but she didn’t realize there was anything wrong. She showed staff a paper bag filled with medications and told them that she wasn’t sure how to take them. The…

One of our wonderful Girl Scout volunteers who comes to the VNSNY CHOICE Adult Day Center (http://2012.vnsnychoice.org/) for intergenerational programs is now spending some time in China. She wrote to us to share how her experience with the elderly at our center is shaping her experience in Shanghai. It’s very interesting and I wanted to share it with you.

My name is Neassa and I have been a Girl Scout since the 4th Grade. One of the parts of Girl Scouts that I have enjoyed the most is preparing for and…

As 2011 is winding down my gut instinct is to make a few of the familiar resolutions for the coming year. Does starting a new exercise plan or eating healthier ring a bell?

However, before I make any of those resolutions I took time to reflect on my experiences providing care in the greatest city on earth and here’s what I came up with.

The Value of Home Care

Having choices is good. Having choices when it comes to caring for the older adults in our lives is invaluable. Everyday I witness how home health care improves the quality of life…

During the holiday season, if we’re lucky, we get to spend time celebrating with our loved ones, but for many, especially seniors, December can be lonely if loved ones live far away or have passed. Many seniors suffer from depression during this time of year, and we work hard to lift their spirits.

At the VNSNY CHOICE Adult Day Center, December is party month and we keep the celebrations going through New Year’s Eve. In addition to 4 holiday parties and a New Year’s Eve celebration, we have a Chanukah party,…

Ms. C. just told me that she cried because she thought she had to give up coming to our center, the VNSNY CHOICE Adult Day Center.   She hasn’t been feeling well lately and she needs more aide hours at home. She was concerned that if she was at home with an aide more often, she wouldn’t be able to come here. I reassured her that the aide and the center compliment each other and help her to live at home, where she wants to be.

Ms. C. told me that she’s learned…

In keeping with the Thanksgiving theme, our seniors and staff have been discussing what they’re thankful for, and their words are thought-provoking and inspiring. Our Activity Coordinator so eloquently said “I am thankful that my work day is not only filled with challenges, but with play, joy and soul. The staff and seniors that are here remind me that we’re all young at heart and have so much to share with one another.” Here are a few  thoughts from our seniors:

I’m thankful for…

• Being in my right mind
• For my family and…

Over the past two months, we were lucky enough to have nursing student interns from Columbia University. The students were truly exceptional and, in a very short time, they became part of our day center family. One of the many reasons we offer intern opportunities to students, especially nursing students, is because so many people are not familiar with adult day services and the essential support they provide to seniors and caregivers. I believe it’s extremely important to get the word out about this type of program to nursing students because…

The VNSNY CHOICE Adult Day Center is starting to plan our 2012 inter-generational day with the Girl Scouts.  In past years, activities have included elements of music therapy, recreation therapy and reminiscence therapy.   It’s so interesting to hear the Girl Scouts’ perspectives on how they see the use of those therapeutic modalities present in our seniors.

See below for Cristina’s thoughts on what coming to the Day Center means to her…

“Hi! I’m Cristina. I’ve been visiting VNSNY since I was in fifth grade with my amazing Girl Scout troop. Every year,…

We’re always looking for activities that will engage our members and keep them interested. If they come up with the ideas themselves, we know they’ll be invested in the activity, so we encourage them to share their ideas with us.

Ms. A. suggested a cake decorating class, so we bought the supplies and she led the activity. She’s a certified cake decorator and she brought in pictures of beautiful wedding cakes that she’s made and competitions that she’s won over the years. Our Home Health Aide noticed that the members with…

The VNSNY CHOICE Adult Day Center conducted a satisfaction survey with our members and the results are in!    Members expressed high satisfaction and it was quite heartwarming to hear their thoughts on our center.   See below for some of their important comments on what the center means to them…

• The center destroys my loneliness
• Every service rendered is perfectly done and the personnel involved are very reliable and attentive to our welfare
• Your center has been a blessing to us.  Without your service, my mother would have no social life.  Thank you for…