The past year has been a rough one for adult day programs in Alameda County. On December 28, 2012, the Pinole Senior Village will close its Adult Day Care Program, joining Lifelong Medical Care’s Over 60 program, which closed in October; St. Peter’s Adult Day Care Center in San Leandro, which closed in August; and ASEB’s Oakland Center, which closed in February.
These centers provided medical and therapeutic care for elderly, disabled, and frail adults, many of whom have multiple chronic conditions like dementia, diabetes, and depression. They provided a safe environment where clients could socialize with friends rather than being isolated at home or facing placement in full-time institutions where they would lose their independence and daily contact with friends and family. The centers also offered respite to family caregivers, enabling them to keep their jobs and maintain their own health and relationships.
Efforts to reduce the state of California’s annual costs for Adult Day Health Care contributed to the financial difficulties that forced the closures. On March 1, 2012, a new program called Community-Based Adult Services (CBAS) was implemented, with the purpose of cutting costs from about $170 million to $78 million. Many of who attend adult day programs didn’t qualify for the new service, which reimburses the centers for only a portion of their costs. As a result, centers such as ASEB’s Berkeley and Hayward sites are increasingly reliant on donations to keep their doors open.
“We need to reach out to our community for their support,” says Micheal Pope, ASEB’s Executive Director. “Our services are vital, and families depend on us. With so many centers closing, we hope that people will understand that their response to our fundraising efforts are crucial to our survival.”