–NHA is Now Offering Adult Day Health Care and Adult Day Program Options–

Neighborhood House Association (NHA) is celebrating its 30th year of providing Adult Day Health Care (ADHC) services to central San Diego communities by adding a new level of care for adults. The additional option will offer Adult Day Program (ADP) services, a social-model day treatment program focusing on personal care and socialization, separate from ADHC’s medical-model program.

“There are thousands of adults across San Diego who are in need of nursing home level of care, yet still want to remain in their own homes and communities,” said Rudolph Johnson, III, President and CEO of NHA. “Adult Day Services is a viable option particularly for working families who want to keep their loved ones at home. As an ADHC provider for 30 years, NHA is more than equipped to provide these vital resources to families and individuals at a time when options are especially limited.”

NHA’s ADHC is proud to be celebrating 30 years in the community despite a lawsuit in 2011 that challenged the State’s plan to eliminate ADHC services as a Medi-Cal benefit. A settlement was reached at the end of 2011 that preserved ADHC-like services in a new program called Community-Based Adult Services (CBAS). NHA became a certified CBAS provider as of March 1, 2012. Under the Center’s ADHC license, CBAS will offer center-based skilled health and nursing care, therapies, transportation and other services to eligible low-income seniors and people with disabilities.

As a dual-program provider, qualifying individuals will be able to choose from one of the following options:

• ADHC is a medical-model day treatment program that targets adults with disabling physical, mental health, developmental disabilities, or cognitive impairments such as Alzheimer’s or related dementias. ADHC services will be offered through Medi-Cal managed care plans (CBAS), VA Contract, Regional Center Contract and private-pay options.

• ADP, a social-model day treatment program for adults, focuses on protective supervision by trained aides, out-of-home respite care, therapeutic recreational activities, social services and limited nursing services. ADP is currently private-pay only. These participants will be able to reap the benefits of NHA’s fully-trained, expert ADHC staff, something that other ADP programs that stand alone are not able to offer.

For many who have fought to stay out of nursing care facilities or other institutions, NHA’s ADHC Center, with its two levels of care, is like a home away from home with friendly and knowledgeable staff members, an outdoor area, garden, and ample opportunities for participants to socialize, make friends, play games, exercise their mind and body and most importantly, enjoy themselves.

“If I were not at the center, I would be feeling sorry for myself, alone in my room. That is not an option here! I have so many friends at the center that give me a will to live,” said Delia M., a long-time client of NHA.

Johnson states that, “Delia is just one of the members of the family at the center and we want all of our family members to stay at NHA. The new dual-program option will support that notion, once again making NHA ‘a neighbor you can count on’.”

For more information on NHA’s Adult Day Services, or how to qualify for these services, please call 619-233-6691 or email adhc@neighborhoodhouse.org.