Town Square Sarasota

Americans are living longer. More than 1 in every 7 of us who live in the United States is age 65 and older. That number is expected to grow to 21.6% of the population by 2040. And the 85-and-older demographic will more than double from 6.6 million in 2019 to 14.4 in 2040, a whopping 118% increase.With longer life expectancies, the percentage of people who care for an elderly loved one has skyrocketed and is expected to continue to rise. Today, about 1 in 3 American adults provide care to other adults as informal caregivers.According to Caregiving in the U.S. 2020, more than half of caregivers feel they had no choice in taking on a caregiving role, causing stress and strain. If your loved one can no longer perform the necessary activities of daily living and you are picking up the slack, you may have slipped into a caretaker role.WHAT IS CAREGIVER STRESS?Sharing joyful moments and spending time with loved ones can be vastly rewarding. But if you are also helping a loved one perform ADL, you are a caregiver, even though you might not identify as one. Being a caregiver often means a shift in roles, and it can be emotionally and physically challenging, with multiple types of stressors arising. Caregiver stress can leave you feeling frustrated, exhausted, and alone.WHAT IS THE DIFFERENCE BETWEEN BASIC AND INSTRUMENTAL ACTIVITIES OF DAILY LIVING (ADL)?Independent living is a prized element of life in American society, and most people prefer to age at home. But to live safely and comfortably, a person must be able to perform the Basic Activities of Daily Living, or the Katz Index:MobilityPersonal HygieneDressingContinenceToilet HygieneSelf-feedingInstrumental Activities of Daily Living require even more organization and complex thinking skills. Often a person can age at home when a caregiver helps perform certain tasks as measured by the Lawton Scale:Shopping, Groceries, and CookingDriving or Public TransportationManaging FinancesHouse Cleaning and Home MaintenanceLaundryFood PreparationCommunicationMedicationsIS EMPATHY BURNOUT A REAL THING?Yes it is; empathizing with others can exhaust the mind. When you empathize with another human being, you not only feel compassion for them, you feel what they feel, or actually put yourself in their place. Empathy burnout happens when you spend so much time relating to the problems and stress of others that you forget to care for yourself. Emotional and physical exhaustion can result in a shutdown of your own feelings and harm your health.WHAT ARE THE SIGNS AND SYMPTOMS OF CAREGIVER BURNOUT?Even the most resilient caregiver can suffer from burnout. Keep an eye out for these signs and symptoms:Headaches and body achesFeeling overwhelmedSleeping too much or too littleBecoming easily irritated or angeredGaining or losing weightMood swingsFeeling taken for granted and desertedHOW CAN CAREGIVER STRESS BE TREATED?It is important that you take time for yourself. You dont need to feel guilty about utilizing respite care; if you take care of yourself, you will have more stamina to help your loved one.Some simple things you can do when youre stressed from caregiving include:Make to-do lists that prioritize yourself.Ask for help and accept it.Find caregiving resources in your community.HOW TOWN SQUARE HELPS WITH CAREGIVER BURNOUTTown Square Sarasota is an innovative adult day care center based on the safe and familiar setting of a mid-century American small town. A day at Town Square gives seniors the chance to interact with their peers, learn new hobbies or enjoy old ones, take in performances, and more, all with the guidance of trained dementia professionals. We provide a trusted and much-needed respite for caregivers. Contact us to learn more about how we can be an effective care partner and help your loved one throughout the progression of their memory or cognitive disorder.

WHO USES ADULT DAY CARE?Adult day care centers allow senior citizens to socialize and participate in engaging activities in a safe, welcoming, and supervised environment. At the same time, they give caregivers respite from their duties, helping to prevent burnout.So, who uses adult day care? What types of people attend adult day care? And what are the benefits?WHAT TYPES OF PEOPLE ATTEND ADULT DAY CARE?Adult day care is beneficial to many different types of older adults, particularly those who require supervised care or are isolated and wish to socialize.Town Square caters to people from all walks of life, including those with Alzheimers disease or another form of dementia. Our engaging activities are based on effective practices from reminiscence therapy, and were built to give people with or without cognitive issues enriching interaction, learning, and fun that improves their quality of life.For the person attending, adult day care offers the following advantages:Access to enjoyable, educational, and creative activitiesOpportunity to connect, socialize, and make new friends, boosting mental and emotional healthParticipation in safe physical exercise and activities that can improve fitness and overall health, including by improving balance to help prevent fallsA sense of independence from family members or caregivers, which enhances confidence and self-esteemSelf-agency, as the person has full control over the activities they choose to partake inMental, physical, and social stimulation, which can lift physical and mental health and pave the way for improved sleepFor the family or caregiver, adult day care also provides far-reaching benefits, including the following:Respite from the demands of caregiving, which can reduce stress and mitigate the risk of burnoutOpportunity to engage in activities  both personal or professional  that they may not typically have time for, leaving them feeling refreshed and reinvigoratedMore time to dedicate to other family members, such as their childrenPeace of mind that their loved one is not becoming increasingly lonely, but is engaging in meaningful and safe social interactionsWHAT IS THE AVERAGE AGE OF SENIORS ENROLLED IN ADULT DAY SERVICES, AND IS THERE AN AGE REQUIREMENT?Different adult day care centers cater to adults at varying stages of life and with diverse conditions. Some offer medical assistance, while others focus on social interaction and engagement. For this reason, its difficult to determine the average age of seniors enrolled in day care services. People aged anywhere from 60 to 90-plus often attend adult day programs.In addition, there is no specific age requirement. However, attendees are generally older adults. At Town Square Sarasota, we encourage caregivers to attend with their loved one and experience how great a day spent with our friendly members and compassionate staff can be!HOW CAN MY LOVED ONE JOIN AN ADULT DAY CARE PROGRAM?The first step is finding a program that meets the unique needs of your loved one. Here at Town Square, our services are an excellent fit for senior citizens with or without cognitive issues with generally good physical health and sufficient levels of mobility.If that sounds like your loved one, we recommend scheduling a tour with one of our friendly team members, so you can get to know us and what we can offer. Get in touch today to learn more about how Town Square helps seniors and their families throughout the Sarasota area.

Adult day care centers allow senior citizens to socialize and participate in engaging activities in a safe, welcoming, and supervised environment. At the same time, they give caregivers respite from their duties, helping to prevent burnout.So, who uses adult day care? What types of people attend adult day care? And what are the benefits?WHAT TYPES OF PEOPLE ATTEND ADULT DAY CARE?Adult day care is beneficial to many different types of older adults, particularly those who require supervised care or are isolated and wish to socialize.Town Square caters to people from all walks of life, including those with Alzheimers disease or another form of dementia. Our engaging activities are based on effective practices from  reminiscence therapy, and were built to give people with or without cognitive issues enriching interaction, learning, and fun that improves their quality of life.WHAT ARE THE BENEFITS OF ADULT DAY CARE?For the person attending, adult day care offers the following advantages:Access to enjoyable, educational, and creative activitiesOpportunity to connect, socialize, and make new friends, boosting mental and emotional healthParticipation in safe physical exercise and activities that can improve fitness and overall health, including by improving balance to help prevent fallsA sense of independence from family members or caregivers, which enhances confidence and self-esteemSelf-agency, as the person has full control over the activities they choose to partake inMental, physical, and social stimulation, which can lift physical and mental health and pave the way for improved sleepFor the family or caregiver, adult day care also provides far-reaching benefits, including the following:Respite from the demands of caregiving, which can reduce stress and mitigate the risk of burnoutOpportunity to engage in activities  both personal or professional  that they may not typically have time for, leaving them feeling refreshed and reinvigoratedMore time to dedicate to other family members, such as their childrenPeace of mind that their loved one is not becoming increasingly lonely, but is engaging in meaningful and safe social interactionsWHAT IS THE AVERAGE AGE OF SENIORS ENROLLED IN ADULT DAY SERVICES, AND IS THERE AN AGE REQUIREMENT?Different adult day care centers cater to adults at varying stages of life and with diverse conditions. Some offer medical assistance, while others focus on social interaction and engagement. For this reason, its difficult to determine the average age of seniors enrolled in day care services. People aged anywhere from 60 to 90-plus often attend adult day programs.In addition, there is no specific age requirement. However, attendees are generally older adults. At Town Square Sarasota, we encourage caregivers to attend with their loved one and experience how great a day spent with our friendly members and compassionate staff can be!HOW CAN MY LOVED ONE JOIN AN ADULT DAY CARE PROGRAM?The first step is finding a program that meets the unique needs of your loved one. Here at Town Square, our services are an excellent fit for senior citizens with or without cognitive issues with generally good physical health and sufficient levels of mobility.If that sounds like your loved one, we recommend scheduling a tour with one of our friendly team members, so you can get to know us and what we can offer. 

HANDLING AND TREATING CAREGIVER STRESS AND BURNOUTSarasota  January 3, 2023Americans are living longer. More than 1 in every 7 of us who live in the United States is age 65 and older. That number is expected to grow to 21.6% of the population by 2040. And the 85-and-older demographic will more than double from 6.6 million in 2019 to 14.4 in 2040, a whopping 118% increase.With longer life expectancies, the percentage of people who care for an elderly loved one has skyrocketed and is expected to continue to rise. Today, about 1 in 3 American adults provide care to other adults as informal caregivers.According to Caregiving in the U.S. 2020, more than half of caregivers feel they had no choice in taking on a caregiving role, causing stress and strain. If your loved one can no longer perform the necessary activities of daily living and you are picking up the slack, you may have slipped into a caretaker role.WHAT IS CAREGIVER STRESS?Sharing joyful moments and spending time with loved ones can be vastly rewarding. But if you are also helping a loved one perform ADL, you are a caregiver, even though you might not identify as one. Being a caregiver often means a shift in roles, and it can be emotionally and physically challenging, with multiple types of stressors arising. Caregiver stress can leave you feeling frustrated, exhausted, and alone.WHAT IS THE DIFFERENCE BETWEEN BASIC AND INSTRUMENTAL ACTIVITIES OF DAILY LIVING (ADL)?Independent living is a prized element of life in American society, and most people prefer to age at home. But to live safely and comfortably, a person must be able to perform the Basic Activities of Daily Living, or the Katz Index:MobilityPersonal HygieneDressingContinenceToilet HygieneSelf-feedingInstrumental Activities of Daily Living require even more organization and complex thinking skills. Often a person can age at home when a caregiver helps perform certain tasks as measured by the Lawton Scale:Shopping, Groceries, and CookingDriving or Public TransportationManaging FinancesHouse Cleaning and Home MaintenanceLaundryFood PreparationCommunicationMedicationsIS EMPATHY BURNOUT A REAL THING?Yes it is; empathizing with others can exhaust the mind. When you empathize with another human being, you not only feel compassion for them, you feel what they feel, or actually put yourself in their place. Empathy burnout happens when you spend so much time relating to the problems and stress of others that you forget to care for yourself. Emotional and physical exhaustion can result in a shutdown of your own feelings and harm your health.WHAT ARE THE SIGNS AND SYMPTOMS OF CAREGIVER BURNOUT?Even the most resilient caregiver can suffer from burnout. Keep an eye out for these signs and symptoms:Headaches and body achesFeeling overwhelmedSleeping too much or too littleBecoming easily irritated or angeredGaining or losing weightMood swingsFeeling taken for granted and desertedHOW CAN CAREGIVER STRESS BE TREATED?It is important that you take time for yourself. You dont need to feel guilty about utilizing respite care; if you take care of yourself, you will have more stamina to help your loved one.Some simple things you can do when youre stressed from caregiving include:Make to-do lists that prioritize yourself.Ask for help and accept it.Find caregiving resources in your community.HOW TOWN SQUARE HELPS WITH CAREGIVER BURNOUTTown Square Sarasota is an innovative adult day care center based on the safe and familiar setting of a mid-century American small town. A day at Town Square gives seniors the chance to interact with their peers, learn new hobbies or enjoy old ones, take in performances, and more, all with the guidance of trained dementia professionals. We provide a trusted and much-needed respite for caregivers. Contact us to learn more about how we can be an effective care partner and help your loved one throughout the progression of their memory or cognitive disorder.