Sack lunches in hand, a group of Southwest Florida residents arrive every day at Millennium House excited about the day’s activities. Whether it’s singing old favorites, playing memory games or just reminiscing about the past, these adults know there are good times ahead, and their caregivers relax knowing their loved ones are in good hands.

Millennium House, an adult day care facility located in Bonita Springs, Fla., is one of many organizations emerging across the country that help families deal with aging parents and disabled adults. This privately-owned business offers loving, faith-based “day-stay” services while allowing their clients to continue living at home.

Building friendships
At Millennium House, the clients, the staff and local volunteers build friendships with one another – and have a good time while doing it.

Every day before lunch, the group gathers together in the large activity room for a session of seated, senior-safe exercise. Activities Coordinator Lilly Howard makes these sessions fun and invigorating for the participants. There is a group prayer and reciting of the Pledge of Allegiance before the meal, and then the clients dig into the lunches they’ve brought from home.

Bob Moore, a former merchant marine who hails from Ohio, says his favorite part of the day is the reminiscing and talking to the other people.

“I’m not ready to cash in my chips,” says this Parkinson’s patient.

Agnes Zim, a telephone operator from Chicago, Ill., who moved to Florida to be near family, agrees.

“We all get along,” she says. “That’s the fun.”

And what fun they have!

In the midst of working on some colorful puzzles, Howard prompts some of the clients in a little reminiscing; on this day she has them talking about kite flying.

“It may seem childish, but there is a purpose to everything we do,” she says.

According to Howard, it is imperative for the elderly and those with chronic conditions to stimulate their minds every day.

Sometimes they play the License Plate Game in which a group picks a state license plate from a bag, and then answers trivia questions on that state. The group also enjoys singing, and often breaks into song spontaneously. Howard says singing old familiar songs can be great fun for all, and it encourages clients to exercise their memory.

The need
Millennium House Owner and Administrator Cindi Ryerson understands the needs of the elderly—and their sons and daughters.

“All caregivers need a break,” she says, “especially those who care for Alzheimer’s patients.”
In the worst circumstances, a family becomes so busy caring for the one they love that they forget to love the one they’re taking care of. Being able to drop off their loved ones at Millennium House – knowing that they will be safe, lovingly cared for and kept active and alert – leaves families free to focus on the other necessities of their day: their jobs, their daily tasks or their own mental health.

And with the elderly population growing faster than any other segment of the U.S. population, many families are looking for safe and affordable ways to care for their aging family members – while allowing them to live at home.

Solutions
The Millennium House facility itself is large enough to accommodate all the clients and staff with lots of room to move around, canes and walkers considered. It is equipped with appropriate security systems to ensure the safety of the attendees, particularly those with dementia.

Originally an emergency room nurse, Ryerson spent a full two years preparing to open Millennium House.

She says, “I got a calling. When God puts something on your heart, you don’t ask why, you just do it.”

She arranged financing, built a business plan, looked for properties – all while working a full-time job. Eventually, things began to fall into place.

“I was just putting one foot in front of the other,” Ryerson admits.

However, it was tough in the beginning.

“I found myself practically penniless; twice I came close to bankruptcy,” she says.

Still, she stuck with her calling, although, she says, “I didn’t know where the next step was.”

Now, with Millennium House up and running, Ryerson is prayerfully considering what her next move might be; a shuttle bus or a new location are possibilities.

Meanwhile she presses on, knowing that the facility that she started is fulfilling a vital need in the community.

For more information on Millennium House, visit www.AdultDayCareSWFL.com.