Pacific Progressive

“Don’t take this away from us,” said Ora Lee Walker, an AltaMed client who uses the Adult Day Health Centers (ADHC) .  ”We will not have any place to go, we will sit at home alone,” she continued.  Ora spoke at a press conference for the Coalition of Orange County Community Clinics (COCCC) on February 16, 2010. ..Two thirds of the clients have three or more chronic conditions (diabetes, cardiac problems, dementia are examples).  39% of the clients take six or more medications.  And 75% need assistance with basic daily care.  The people served by ADHC are the most frail and vulnerable of the elderly population. In Home Supportive Services (IHSS) is not a substitute for ADHC because the programs are different. ADHC provides medical support to keep people out of nursing homes.  IHSS provides support with cooking, housekeeping, trips to doctor, but does not provide medical support.  Felix Schwarz, Executive Director of the Health Care Council of Orange County , explained ADHC this way, “If you have a family member with dementia, they can go to day care so you can go to work.  If there is no center for them to go to, you either can’t work or you need to abandon your senior.”
Read Story & Comment