Circle of Friends

Circle of Friends takes pride in being the first adult day health care (ADHC) program to operate in our geographical area. It has served residents of the City of Inglewood and adjacent neighborhoods since 1994, using a medical model program that serves the needs of the frail elderly and the disabled adult. The Circle of Friends Adult Day Health Care Center is licensed by the California Department of Health Services (DHS) and is certified by the California Department of Aging (CDA).

Since 2003 the center has been licensed to operate an Alzheimer’s Day Care Resources Center (ADCRC), which is partially funded by the Los Angeles County Area Agency on Aging, and targets the elderly who have a diagnosis of dementia or Alzheimer’s disease. It also serves the participants’ family members, providing them with respite, a caregivers support group and training intended to minimize the risk of burnout, which is a common feature among family members who lack outside support in the daily task of caring for their family member.

The center provides all participants with daily recreational and social activities. It also helps maintain the individuals’ optimal level of functioning while preserving their ability to remain at home. We effectively assist seniors who have disabilities to access, integrate into and benefit from the comprehensive service offered at our adult day health care center.

The benefits our participants experience by using our services are measured by their ability to remain active in their communities, to maintain or improve their health and physical condition (thus avoiding premature institutionalization in a nursing home or other more restrictive facility) and to participate in activities that provide them with opportunities to socialize.

Using our adult day health care program is a cost-effective alternative to institutionalization. Family members or friends who provide care for a disabled person at home will also benefit from our program. Burnout and the physical and emotional exhaustion that results from long-term stress or frustration without interruption is not uncommon among those who care for a person with mental or physical challenges. During the time their loved one is in our facility, caregivers have an opportunity for respite, a “time-off” that they can use to care for their own needs, knowing that a team of reliable, capable professionals is attending to their loved one’s needs.
Those who will benefit from our services:

• Individuals living in isolation, unable to leave their homes because of health restrictions.
• Individuals who have health complications that could benefit from a routine exercise program and monitoring by a registered nurse.
• Individuals who are paying separately for such nursing services as physical, occupational or speech therapy. By attending our program, they can receive these and other services for a more reasonable fee.
• Individuals who have a diagnosis of dementia, would benefit from mental stimulation and would be closely monitored to prevent wandering.
• Individuals recently discharged from a hospital who would benefit from additional health services.

Basic eligibility requires that individuals are at least 18 years old and meet the following conditions:

• Have a mental or physical impairment that handicaps daily living activities
• Have the likelihood that the individual’s level of functioning can either stabilize or improve
• Have a condition that, without ADHC services, is likely to deteriorate and ultimately lead to institutionalization

We provide our participants with comprehensive care planning designed by a team of qualified professionals who have several years of experience. Staff who have a bachelor’s or master’s degree comprise this multidisciplinary team, and each discipline provides comprehensive services related to their area of expertise:

• Social Services are provided by social workers who assess the needs of participants and their families. Through comprehensive case management—an important component of our model—social workers coordinate services and refer our participants to other agencies that provide services they may need but we don’t offer. We offer caregiver support groups to family members on a regular basis, providing them with the opportunity to exchange experiences and help one another find solutions to common problems.
• Nursing Services are provided by our team of registered nurses, licensed vocational nurses and certified nursing assistants, who coordinate medical services with the participants’ personal doctor or with the supervision of our medical director. They provide management and monitoring of medication and conduct preventive physical measurements such as blood pressure, weight and sugar level on a regular basis.
• Food Services are provided under the supervision of a registered dietitian who assesses each participant to ensure that everyone is provided with a customized, balanced, nutritious diet. We offer a light breakfast in the morning, a hot lunch at noon and snacks in the afternoon. Counseling and nutritional education is provided to participants and is available to family members.
• Planned Daily Activities are provided by the activities coordinator, who motivates clients to engage in physical, social, cognitive and creative activities that include arts, crafts and games. Community and recreational activities such as field trips and educational outings are regularly scheduled, providing the participants with safe, alternative activities.
• Rehabilitation Services are part of our daily routine. We provide physical and occupational therapy every day and speech therapy three times a week. Our therapists design a specialized therapy program to improve and maximize strength, endurance, range of motion and self-care skills. We also evaluate speech and language disabilities in order to provide any instruction or therapy needed.
• Transportation Services are provided on a door-to-door basis by skilled drivers trained in accommodating assistive devices, e.g., wheelchairs and walkers, and in responding to emergencies.

As part of our commitment to serve the community, and during the hours our participants are at the center and our buses are idle (10:30 a.m. to 2:00 p.m.), we offer free transportation to Inglewood residents who meet low-income criteria. To use this service, please contact our transportation coordinator at (310) 673-9915.