Sister Marie Madeleine Iskandar chuckled when she shared the realization that she is older than some of the clients served by the Antonine Sisters Adult Day Care program in North Jackson.
Sister Madeleine, as she is commonly referred to, has been director of the program since it started more than 30 years ago in 1991. She worked at the Antonine Sisters’ assisted living facility on the North Lipkey Road campus before that, racking up 40 years of service at Antonine Village.
“Thank God I have good health and still have a sharp mind,” she said.
The Adult Day Care program is open 8 a.m. to 4 p.m. weekdays, and clients do not have to live at the assisted living campus to take advantage of its many offerings, which include two meals (breakfast and lunch), socialization through games, crafts and music and physical exercise. Licensed nursing care is also provided, including an initial assessment at admission and monitoring of vital signs. For those requiring more comprehensive care, nursing staff also can administer medicine, change wound dressings, test blood sugar and perform catheter care.
The Antonine Sisters Adult Day Care is a training site for student nurses from Youngstown State University and Kent State University at Trumbull, as well as medical students from Northeast Ohio Medical University (NEOMED). There is no income requirement for the day care program and most insurances cover the cost, including Medicare. However, a client using a government-funded insurance program like Medicare must be 60 or older to qualify.
Sister Madeleine explained that a portion of the senior levies in Mahoning and Trumbull counties help support the adult day care program. It also receives financial support from Direction Home of Eastern Ohio, the Alzheimer’s Association and the Youngstown Foundation. It receives referrals from geriatric doctors, social workers and family members of previous and current clients.
She said the number of clients at the adult day care is just now starting to rebound after the COVID-19 pandemic. She said there were 45 to 50 clients between 2005 and 2020, and that dropped to 40 during the pandemic, noting a lot of their clients died from the virus in its early days. She said they serve between 25 and 30 clients daily now, but the inquiries are starting to increase, so she is hopeful for a boost in clients this year.
There is a full slate of activities scheduled every day and each month, including different activities and themes. January crafts involved snowmen and crafts in February were centered around Valentine’s Day and Presidents’ Day. There is also trivia, memory games, sing-alongs, speakers, painting and bingo. Sister Madeleine said school choirs from Austintown Fitch, Jackson-Milton and other area schools perform concerts for the residents once a month.
“I try to keep them busy. We introduce new activities once in a while. Sometimes, they are a hit, but sometimes they are not. Most of the clients like bingo, but we only play once a week. I know we can’t make everyone happy all the time, but I like to offer a variety of activities so everyone is happy some of the time,” she said.
A typical day at the Antonine Sisters Adult Day Care program consists of a hot or cold breakfast, several activities, lunch that includes a soup and a main dish, free time for napping, playing cards, watching TV or reading, 30 minutes of physical activity and a snack. She said the facility has three buses that pick up clients in Mahoning and Trumbull counties, and the buses can accommodate those on walkers and in wheelchairs.
Sister Madeleine said some clients come every day, while others come a few days a week or month, depending on their needs and the needs of the family. She said the minimum amount of time she likes clients to come is two days per month.
“Most of the clients have Alzheimer’s, so they come mostly for the socialization aspect. We also act as respite care for family members who work or just need a break from caring for their loved one,” Sister Madeleine said. “We do not take new clients over the phone. If a family member calls and inquiries about the day care, we ask them to come and visit the facility with their loved one and take a tour, so they are comfortable leaving their family member in our care.”
For more information on the adult day care program, including cost, call 330-538-9822.
