When Cathy Benner’s 74-year-old mother was diagnosed with Alzheimer’s disease in 2007, the family resolved to care for her at home as long as possible.
Benner persuaded her father and mother to move, in 2009, from White County to West Lafayette so Benner and her husband, Gerard, could assist with her mother’s care.
As time, and the disease, progressed, the Benners unsuccessfully searched for services that would allow them to work during the day and help her parents at night, giving her dad a break and enriching her mother’s life.
“It became clear to us the only thing out there is nursing care or at-home,” Cathy said. “One of the difficulties with at-home care is the person is still in the home. They’re not integrated socially. They’re isolated.”
The West Lafayette couple decided to solve their own problem.
They formed a not-for-profit corporation and last month won zoning approval to build and operate an adult day center at the northwest corner of Lindberg Road and Salisbury Street.
The facility, named Joyful Journey, will be the first adult day center of its kind in Greater Lafayette.
The center will have capacity for up to 25 daily guests and serve people who are unable to stay home alone for safety reasons, Benner said. That distinguishes it from the Senior Center @ Jenks Rest, which offers social activities and meals to senior citizens who live at home and take care of themselves.