What is it? The St. Joseph Adult Day Health program is a care program for people suffering from memory loss or dementia. While many participants are seniors, some younger patients who are recovering from traumatic brain injury also benefit.

How long has the program been offered? Sharon Thompson, social services specialist and the Adult Day Health program team leader, has seen participants come and go.

"(The program) has been a part of the community in one form or another for 34 years," she says. "Participants have formed strong friendships here."

What is the focus? The program is designed to meet each participant's cognitive needs and interests. Generally, as people age, their social networks dwindle and deteriorate, and so does their ability to manage day-to-day tasks. That's why each patient receives a comprehensive occupational therapy assessment when they enter the program.

"Assessments evaluate a patient's balance, whether or not they need a walker and whether or not they are at risk of falls," Thompson says.

What is a day at the program like? Most people arrive at 10 a.m. and stay until 2 p.m. Each day begins with a short block of time for socializing over coffee or tea, followed by what is called "walking group ambulation therapy."

"This therapy focuses on range of motion and stretching," Thompson explains. "The exercises help keep them flexible, so they can continue to dress and feed themselves and do the activities of daily living as long as possible."

What comes next? Once the morning exercise period wraps up, patients move to free activity time, where they can choose to paint, play such games as cards or dominoes, or sit in groups to reminisce.

Such activities stimulate and exercise the brain, working to counter cognitive decline and memory loss, Thompson says. The day is rounded out by a low-impact group exercise, a hot lunch, and visitors who arrive from the community to entertain.

"Sometimes community members come to sing or perform, or we bring in animals for pet therapy," Thompson says.

What's the benefit? Aging people are not only losing their independence, function and mobility, they're also more confined to their homes, and thus they miss out on opportunities to interact with friends and the broader community. Feeling so disconnected can result in depression and poorer cognitive functioning.

Interacting with other people at programs such as Adult Day Health can help, Thompson says.

"We often see a decrease in depression for the person with memory loss or dementia," she says. "Some participants increase their ability to perform activities of daily living, like going to the bathroom, dressing and eating, or doing whatever it is they need to do."

What about the caregivers? According to a 2009 survey by the National Alliance for Caregiving and AARP, more than 65 million people, or 29 percent of the U.S. population, provided care for a chronically ill, disabled or aged family member or friend, spending an average of 20 hours a week caring for their loved one.

Adult Day Health provides a place for senior citizens to connect with their peers in a safe and secure setting, which also benefits their caregivers at home.

"Respite care means aging seniors will likely stay in their own home a lot longer because the caregiver gets a break," Thompson says. "When caregivers suffer, get sick, or burn out, the senior citizen has to move to a skilled nursing facility or some other care environment."

Is there help for caregivers? Adult Day Health offers a biweekly caregiver support group, and up to an hour of free consultation.

"Sometimes caregivers just want to come in and talk about what they should do next," Thompson says. "We do a lot of referring to whatever they need, whether that be community resources, counseling or encouraging them to look at placement for higher-level care."

Who pays for the program? While some long-term-care insurance and other programs cover the cost of the service, many patients pay the $67 daily fee to attend.

"If you are paying privately, it can seem like a lot of money," Thompson says. "But you get so much for it; on-site nursing, occupational therapy, socializing, food and hourly care. The cost can be a lot less than having someone come in and do one-on-one care."