By Brandon C. Baker

May 4, 2008 (McClatchy-Tribune Regional News delivered by Newstex) --
Children, relatives and other caregivers rarely face easy decisions regarding the services, programs and living arrangements their elderly loved ones might need in the future.

An individual's health and their family's economic circumstance typically top the list of factors when people determine whether assisted living, nursing homes or in-home services makes the most sense.

If an area family finds that a senior needs care and attention, but should not leave their home altogether, Robin Craig and Kimberly Tutolo are ready to present what they believe to be the most sound solution.

The two women recently opened Elder Day Club at 7541 Mentor Ave. in Mentor to promote interaction, mental stimulation and fun among seniors who can still live at home, but need or want some daytime activities. They will see their first batch of clients this week.

"A lot of people have no clue that adult day care exists," Craig said. "We wanted them to feel special because there's no question that (Tutolo) and I are both passionate.

"We both love, love, love seniors."

Elder Day's opening comes at a time when seniors might be ripe for some of that affection. Richmond, Va.-based Genworth Financial's (NYSE:GNW PRE) (NYSE:GNW) survey released on Tuesday found that the prices Americans pay to use nursing homes, assisted living facilities and some in-home care services rose for the fifth straight year.

On average, a private room within a nursing home costs $76,460 per year or about $209 per day, according to the study. Meanwhile, assisted living locations averaged about $36,000 per year.

Craig and Tutolo are betting that most will scoff at those type of numbers unless their family member truly needs medical attention throughout the day and night. They offer their services for daily, weekly or monthly rates.

Seniors can expect to pay $66 for an eight-hour daytime visit.

Even though the Day Club owners have referred to the establishment as an adult day care, they do not plan on reverting anyone back to their childhood.

"We want to treat them with respect and give them a place they want to come," said Tutolo, whose experience includes directing the marketing department at the Grande Village Retirement Community in Twinsburg, and most recently a stint as diretor of community relations at Summerville Assisted Living of Mentor.

"We're not going to go play patty-cake or get the crayons out," Tutolo said.

Services include:

--Catered lunches, along with morning and afternoon snacks

--Light physical and recreational programs, such as active Nintendo Wii games and yoga

--While Elder will not feature a medical component, the staff will have a nurse on call and can coordinate health care referrals for therapy, podiatry, psychiatry, vision and hearing.

Craig said the staff also will mix up the recreational activities by bringing in speakers, playing bingo, knitting, discussing current events and playing memory retention games. They will begin with about 3,000 square feet to operate in, but the owners could decide to split the wall and incorporate another 1,500 square feet of the property into the club if the demand eclipses their space.

Craig and Tutolo met through the Association of Specialists in Aging of Northeast Ohio, and they shared the desire to care for seniors. They began serious plans to open Elder Day in September.

The Alzheimer's Association's Cleveland Area Chapter is at least one entity that is happy to see Elder Day Club in the community. The organization provides programs and services to area residents with any sort of disease associated with memory loss, including the estimated 50,000 Northeast Ohioans with Alzheimer's disease.

"I think (Elder Day Club) is going to fill a need, certainly," said Cheryl Kanetsky, the Cleveland Area Chapter's eastern region manager. "There's just not enough different options available for families, so we're thrilled."

While Kanetsky said the association does not favor adult day services over nursing homes or vice versa, she said they offer much value to those who have been diagnosed with Alzheimer's or dementia. Many people who have been afflicted with those diseases are in good physical condition and might not need to be placed in a nursing home or assisted living facility.

Kanetsky said the interaction with other individuals is good for their mental health, and gives the caregiver a chance to get complete their own tasks.

"It's a challenge for many for them to come out of the house and find that level of activity," Kanetsky said, "an adult day center can really be that connection.

"Providing socialization and activity can slow the progress (of a memory loss disease)," Kanetsky said. "You're not saying, I'll never need a nursing home,' but you're making it down the road."

In the meantime, Craig and Tutolo hope they can provide relaxation for visitors with a massive birdcage, a couple high-definition televisions and six reclining chairs. The duo said excitement is hard to contain regarding the center's potential effect on the community.

"God opened the doors for this," Tutolo said. "It's purposeful work.

"What we're doing is a privilege."

For more information, call (440) 942-7773 or visit www.elderdayclub.com.


The Associated Press contributed to this report.



Newstex ID: KRTB-0220-25055049