ZELIENOPLE — Being a care recipient and being a caregiver can be difficult at times for both people.

However, Lutheran SeniorLife at Passavant Community created a program this year to alleviate tension from caregivers while giving care recipients the care and socialization they need.

Since May, the “My Day Out” adult day services program has given Lutheran SeniorLife residents and other senior citizens the opportunity to socially connect with family and residents.

It also gives caregivers some much needed release by giving them a day out.

“I lived with my grandmother for six and a half years, and we were better caregivers when we find ways to take care of ourselves,” said Laura Roy, executive director.

Roy and other program operators said the advantage of the My Day Out program is that it provides more than the average senior center.

“Senior centers don’t serve quite as many folks who have dementia diagnosis or memory support diagnosis,” said program director Debbie Johnston. “They’re more geared toward people who just need socialization.”

Johnston said the program provides additional support such as medication administration and hygienic needs that the average senior center doesn’t provide, along with socialization.

“If the family really was in a pinch where they are working and it’s a hardship for them to take time off to go to all these different appointments and they choose to use our doctors with their insurance, we can cater to all of those needs,” she said.

“They don’t have to spend their vacation days to take mom or dad to an appointment.”

The program has activities for people throughout the day, including cooking, painting, crafting and exercising. A hot breakfast is served every morning.

A relaxation room and a computer also are available.

“There’s a comfort level (for participants),” said associate director Christine Macedonia. “For the family members, it’s peace of mind.”

Nineteen senior citizens from Lutheran SeniorLife and surrounding communities such as Zelienople, Harmony, Cranberry Township and Beaver County participate in the program. It can accommodate up to 28 participants a day.

One participant is Jim Kane, a Lutheran SeniorLife resident.

Formerly from Harmony, Kane was one of the first participants in the program when he joined.

“I love it,” he said. “I come over here to talk to people, not to become a bookshelf.”

Roy said the idea for the program goes back “a number” of years to when Lutheran Life Services recognized a need in people receiving care and their caregivers.

It was licensed last December and has a contract with Butler County.

“We wanted to provide a program for our residents and also for the greater community,” Roy said. “We wanted to make sure we were providing that sense of purpose for the participants and also the sense of respite and release for the caregiver.”

The program also was created to address the campus expansion at Lutheran SeniorLife and to provide these services in southwestern Butler County.

“The nearest adult day center in this area was in Butler,” said program manager Lesley McGregor.

For information, contact Passavant Community at 724-452-5400.