Black Hills Center for Aging serves as the only Adult Day Center in western South Dakota. We provide daytime respite care for the elderly and disabled. Adult Day Center guests are survivors of stroke, traumatic brain injury, or have been diagnosed with dementia, Alzheimer’s, Parkinson’s, or other disabilities. Our mission is to serve our aging community by providing daytime services, education, and resources to enrich quality of life. We have been serving Rapid City and surrounding communities since 2018, operating out of our main service location at 4110 Winfield Street in southeast Rapid City, and serving families primarily located in the greater Rapid City area. We currently have 51-guests enrolled at our center with an average daily attendance of 24 to 29 Monday through Friday. Our youngest guest is 16 years-old with cognitive and physical disabilities (summer care) and our oldest guest is 97 years-old.

The majority of families we serve live on fixed or limited income and are over the age of 60, fall into a minority category of some type, and would be considered part of an under-served population. Adult Day Center programming is designed to promote social connection, mental stimulation, and physical activities that contribute to our guest’s overall well-being. We offer personal hygiene support and care that caregivers are sometimes not able to do while also providing life-enriching activities and outings to improve quality of life.

Our dedicated care team is committed to fostering a sense of community and inclusion, ensuring every guest receives personalized care and attention. We provide purpose, friendship, and connectivity, where our guests can be themselves without judgement. Primary benefits and services include:

Respite for Caregivers: Adult Day Center care options provide caregivers with much-needed respite. Caring for a loved one can be physically and emotionally demanding, and having a place where their loved one can go during the day allows caregivers time to rest, work, or attend to their own needs. Respite care is known to offset the negative impacts of care giving. Time away is necessary to reduce stress and burnout while increasing self-compassion and sustained resilience.

Transportation Services: Transportation to and from our facility is provided on a limited basis. We currently employ one part-time driver for our morning route and another part-time driver for our afternoon route. When needed, one of our floor aides will ride along to assist and make sure guests are safe and their needs are met to at all times. It is estimated that around 75% of our guests rely on transportation service for their attendance.

Social Interaction, Acceptance & Connection: We care for guests of every cognitive and physical ability level and offer social opportunities for those who may otherwise be isolated at home. Socialization is crucial for mental and emotional well-being. Our care staff are compassionate and creative and we love to collaborate with caregivers to ensure we’re providing the best possible experience. Personal

Care & Hygiene Support: Our licensed and professional care staff provide discrete personal hygiene support, safe and comfortable shower assistance, incontinence care, and administration of medication. We help manage chronic health conditions, prevent emergencies and strive to ensure individual needs are always addressed, taken care of promptly, and handled with upmost compassion and respect.

Structured Activities: We offer a diverse weekly activity calendar designed to enrich the lives of those we serve as well as challenge cognitively and physically. We offer a variety of structured activities tailored to needs and interests, including daily exercise classes, arts and crafts, live music, dance lessons, cognitive games, and educational sessions. Activities are strategically selected to promote a sense of wellness and purpose. We care deeply for the physical, emotional, and mental wellbeing of our guests and are always looking for new and fun experiences to share.

Weekly Outings: Planned community outings are offered to all guests twice a week. Outings vary week to week and may include visits to local tourist attractions, parks, restaurants, sporting events, museums, swim center, and volunteer activities with other non-profits. We provide supervision, friendship, inclusion, laughter, and our talented staff assist in fostering guest relationships and guided conversations to bring joy at every occasion.

Nutritional Support: We offer healthy meal options and snacks, ensuring each guest receives proper nutrition and hydration throughout the day. This is particularly important for older adults who may have dietary restrictions or difficulty preparing meals at home.

Cost-Effective Care Option: In comparison to other care options, such as full-time nursing home or assisted living facilities, our Adult Day Center is much more affordable and cost efficient for our families. The majority of families we serve live on fixed or limited income and are able to advantage of our services for very low cost in comparison to other care options. We work with our families and will never turn away a guest based on their ability to pay.

Delaying Institutionalization: By providing support during the day, our Adult Day Center can help delay or even prevent the need for more intensive forms of care, such as nursing home placement. This allows our senior and aging community to remain in their homes and communities for as long as possible, and increasing one’s quality of life.