Primary caregivers of persons with dementia find support and respite through Ingleside Engaged’s social day programs.
When seniors with cognitive decline participate in day care programs, the benefits can be significant. However, their family caregivers also experience a myriad of positive outcomes. From decreased stress, depression, and anger, to improvements in personal health and well-being, studies reveal that day care programs dramatically increase quality of life for caregivers.*
Ingleside Engaged is a social day program open to persons with cognitive decline who live onsite at Ingleside campuses and also elsewhere in the local communities. Ingleside Engaged’s dementia care specialists experience the impact of their programs on participants’ families firsthand. These three Directors of Memory Support and Programming—Marianna Blagburn of Ingleside of Rock Creek, Amy Hewes at Westminster at Lake Ridge, and Maureen Charlton at Ingleside at King Farm—are Certified Dementia Practitioners who build communities of purpose and connection for persons with cognitive decline. However, they also serve a secondary group of individuals: their participants’ caregivers.
Caregiver Benefits to Ingleside Engaged
“There are huge benefits to Ingleside Engaged’s program for caregivers,” explained Charlton. “When their spouse or family member is here, the caregiver gets a break, and they need it—the care they provide day in and day out is enormous. And, the added benefit is that their loved one also experiences a great day, customized to their needs and well-being.”
Maureen Charlton, Director of Memory Support and Programming of Ingleside at King Farm, shares how Ingleside Engaged provides essential support to caregivers.
A Great Day for Everyone
Ingleside Engaged is offered Monday through Friday at all three locations, from 10 a.m. to 4 p.m at Ingleside at King Farm, and from 10 a.m. to 3 p.m. at Ingleside of Rock Creek and Westminster at Lake Ridge. Families can personalize their participation, selecting one to five days per week. “How many days a participant attends Ingleside Engaged is based on each family’s choice, needs, and availability,” shared Blagburn. “Some people come five days a week, while others come on select days. We generally recommend at least twice a week, as frequency develops a routine and community familiarity for the participants.”
During their day, Ingleside Engaged participants experience a specialized curriculum of activities that encourage cognitive stimulation and social engagement. In small group settings at each Ingleside location, discussions are facilitated, and friendships are made. Participants get to experience all the amenities available to Ingleside residents, including the fitness center, activities, performances, gardens, and art displays. And while their loved one is having an enjoyable and engaging day, caregivers are able to refresh and recharge.
Sharon, the wife of an Ingleside Engaged participant, details how the program benefits both her husband and her own caregiver needs.
Creating Caregiver Community
Just as the Ingleside Engaged participants become a community that supports each other, so do their caregivers. The three Ingleside Engaged Directors shared that the family members make friendships and create relationships of support, connecting on their shared experiences of caring for a loved one with dementia.
“It can be isolating to go it alone when taking care of someone with cognitive decline. An important aspect of our program is that we help the caregivers meet others, too,” shared Charlton. “There’s a waiting area outside of the Ingleside Engaged space, and the spouses and caregivers of participants gather there. It’s wonderful to see them connecting and having fun themselves.”
Dick, the spouse of an Ingleside Engaged participant, imparts advice on the importance of caregivers prioritizing their own relationships and well-being.
Give Ingleside Engaged A Try
Before a family commits to an Ingleside Engaged program, they are invited to come experience a day, free of charge. And like all aspects of Ingleside Engaged, the trial experience is customized to the comfort level and specialized need of the participant.
“When someone is interested in signing up, their trial experience is individualized,” explained Hewes. “First, I will visit with the prospective member and their spouse or family member. From there, we set up a day for them to drop in to meet the group or come and have lunch with them. Finally, the prospective member can attend the program for a full day with or without their spouse or family member. This helps the family gauge if the program is the right fit for them, and helps the participant feel comfortable when they join.”
To learn more about Ingleside Engaged, visit the links and schedule a tour at one of the three locations:
Ingleside Engaged at Ingleside at King Farm in Rockville, Maryland
Ingleside Engaged at Westminster at Lake Ridge in Lake Ridge, Virginia
Ingleside Engaged at Ingleside at Rock Creek in Washington, D.C.
* Source: Effectiveness of day care in supporting family caregivers of people with dementia, Dement Neuropsychol, 2019.