A new project–Adult Care
BLOG NOTE: To view the Adult Care site containing John Clanton’s photos, videos and stories by Ron Jackson, click here.
In March of 2009 I got a call from a contact. I’d photographed people in her family for an assignment about a year before, and I’d talked to her once or twice, so I guess she found my business card and called. Her concern was not for her and her son, a man in his 40s who is developmentally disabled, but for the people her son spent his days with. Through a few interviews and phone conversations, not just with her and her son, but with other people involved, a larger story started appearing.
So, since about April I’ve been working on and off on a story about adult day centers in Oklahoma. As I quickly found out, a story about adult day centers is complicated. I used to sit down with Jackie Parks, the executive director at Metropolitan Better Living Center, and ask her to tell me all she could. I wanted to understand the issue, but I also wanted to see if there was really a story here. Maybe there wouldn’t be.
Michael Avila gets a pat on the back from Leonilda Jones at Metropolitan Better Living Center in Oklahoma City on Tuesday, August 26, 2009. By John Clanton, The Oklahoman
One day, between my usual photo assignments for the newspaper, I stopped in to see Jackie. I said, “How’s it going?” Jackie paused for a moment and then started to cry. That’s when I knew I had a good story.
When I look for a story, I look for things that interest me—subjects I want to know more about or that I’m curious about. I figure if I’m interested in it, then at least a few of our readers might be too. The more I started to learn about adult day care, the more I realized what an important story I’d stumbled onto.
After working for a while by myself, I brought in one of my favorite reporters, Ron Jackson, to work with me. I was going to need help getting a handle on it. Over the last few months we’ve talked with advocates like Mary Brinkley, administrators like Bill Weaver and Jackie Parks, DHS workers Lance Robertson, Eleanor Kurtz and Brenda Lambeth, and the clients, Michael, a 38-year-old man with cerebral palsy and Clyde Coulter, who needs 24-hour care and who is cared for by his son and daughter.
Pastor Mitchell prays over Clyde Coulter at Amos Memorial CME Church in Oklahoma City on Sunday. By John Clanton, The Oklahoman
The issue is complicated. In a nutshell, adult day care centers take care of elderly and developmentally disabled people during the day, allowing their caregivers to work, run errands, or maybe just take a break. They feed the clients, help them in the bathroom, provide games, activities, and field trips during the work day.
Here’s where it gets complicated—funding. There are a variety of revenue streams that fund these places, including the Department of Human Services, Veterans affairs, DDSD or Developmentally Disabled Services Division, private funding and charitibale organizations like United Way. Right now, it costs $45 per person, per day to run an adult day care. At least that’s what they are reimbursed from DHS for people who qualify.
Nursing homes offer a much more comprehensive level of care, and they are reimbursed an average of $122 per day. That $45 a day rate is based on a 6-hour day, but the centers are often open at least 8, and sometimes up to, 10 hours a day. On top of that, due to the economy, there was a 1% cut to the DHS department that deals with adult day centers, and there are more on the way. And there are less than 40 adult day centers in Oklahoma. Of the state’s 77 counties, only 19 have adult day centers.
Mary Brinkley, President of Oklahoma Association of Homes and Services for the Aging, talks with legislators at the Oklahoma State Capitol in Oklahoma City on Tuesday, Sept. 22, 2009. By John Clanton, The Oklahoman
One of the advocates I talked with said something interesting: aging is something we all have to deal with. There are few issues that will, at some point, affect everybody; but this is one of them. At some point, our parents, grandparents, aunts, uncles or ourselves are going to need care. So it’s a conversation worth starting.
Michael Avila at his home in Midwest City on, Oct. 25, 2009. By John Clanton, The Oklahoman
Ron’s job is to write the stories and get through all the numbers and facts. My job is to tell this story with pictures and video, but we’re both basically trying to put a face on the issue. I chose to photograph Michael to start out. He’s not elderly, but he needs 24-hour care. His mother sends him to the day center because she has to stay home with her daughter, who is also disabled. To offer a completely different approach to caring for loved ones, I photographed Clyde, who needs 24-hour care after a surgery and a resulting staph infection left him in a wheelchair. To explain the nuts and bolts of the issue, I videotaped Ron’s interviews with the people who know it best—DHS workers, administrators and a representative to the state House of Representatives.
You can see the complete online presentation that we came up with for this story at this link or you can watch the individual slideshows about Michael Avila and Clyde Coulter.
Debbie Scott, an employee at Daily Living Centers, gets a hug from Dana Harris, a client, as Scott greets her at the door in the mroning at Daily Living Centers' north Rockwell location in Bethany on Tuesday, Nov. 24, 2009. By John Clanton, The Oklahoman
-John Clanton
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Comments
Truly amazing photographs and slideshows! Hopefully the right people see them. You have done something really special John!
New Article: Nursing Homes, as different as “Black and White”. In my many visits to Nursing homes and facilities, I have noticed many of the facilites, for example the Grace Nursing Homes, differ across Oklahoma City. Compare the facility on the Northwest side of Oklahoma and the facility in Edmond to the facilities on the Northeast and Southeast part of the City. Last week I visited a facility on the Northwest side of OKC it was clean, fragrant (not of urine or dirty poop) the staff was friendly and not taxed. On the Northeast side of Oklahoma City, the facility was over-warm and sultry in the rooms, staff was everywhere doing their jobs and the patients who to disabled to get out of bed were profusely prespiring and the staff would go outside to cool off. I am concerned about this because I asked why is it so hot in here? The patients are sweating and covered up with blankets and the water mugs don’t have ice in them just hot water, whats going on? These people need cool water and a constant lower temp in here. After mentioning the concern to the nurse, he said write it down, the written word carries more weight. with this in mind, I had compolained some weeks before while visiting my aunt who at that time was more in control of her faculties and too had voiced the complaint. With this being winter months, we readily dehydrate and need to force fluids to stay hydrated. Knowing this, the people in care facilities also need to be forced to consume more fluids and the staff needs to push the issue…but they dont and didn’t in the facility on the Northeast. Auntie died Sunday from complications of Dehydration and irregular heart beat (with a pacemaker?)…
[...] Adult Care: In the blog, it focussed on adult and disabled care in Oklahoma. THings like where they get their money from and how it is similar to nursing homes. He recognized the people who does this work and has very nice photographs depicting the story. [...]
We’d all better pay attention to the care of the elderly, because that is where we are headed if God wills that we live long enough. This is an issue that should be addressed.
You missed what I think is the most unique Adult Day Care in Oklahoma City, the Oklahoma Foundation for the Disabled. This particular daycare serves a niche client and its programs are unique. My daughter is one of few clients there that previously led a normal life and at 27 years old suffered Traumatic Brain Injury. We also have to provide 24 hour care and she attends the ‘Foundation” now only 2 days a week because of cuts in the DHS Advantage Waiver program. Due to this cut, I have lost my job to be able to stay home with her. I am a member of the Board of Directors for this Adult Day Care and it is more than a Day Care. It’s a way of life for the participants. If they could not attend this program, many would be institutionalized or have no social outlet at all.
I’m sorry to admit, but as a child we were sheltered from issues of the aging and were rarely put in positions where we six children were in contact with any sick or elderly people outside of our grandparents. It was for I believe the most part the elderly were spared (spared) us. But none the less, I have always had a fear of old people(kid talking) and now I’m 50. We look at old people and sometimes judge them as being in controll of their own demise, you know the smells and sights of drool and white or siler untidied hair. What a brat I,ve been. I have one mopre child at home and she already claims she doesn’t desire to be around anyone in hospitals or funeral homes. We will be doing her a great disservice if we allow her to continue with these sentiments,thinking all thats important is whats p with the YOUTH of the day.
Of course, what a great site and informative posts, I will add backlink – bookmark this site? Regards, Reader
great information .this provide good information about what a day program can provide persons with a dementia such as Alzheimer’s and their care partner. The National Institute of Adult Day Care describes adult day care as a program of individualized services and therapeutic activities in a group setting for adults who are cognitively impaired, physically impaired, socially isolated, frail elderly, in need of assistance with activities of daily living and in need of supervision.
So grateful for that chance meeting at the Capitol. Thank you so much for highlighting this wonderful service and the amazing people served through your beautiful photographs.