Milton Adult Day Services redefines dementia care through personalized care and collaboration

When it comes to selecting the proper care for individuals living with dementia, Alzheimer’s or other cognitive impairments, families must think critically about programs that provide safety, personalized support and opportunities for meaningful engagement. At Milton Adult Day Services in Roseland, a service of Center for Hospice Care, guests enjoy a welcoming place that promotes independence, purpose, and connection while receiving expert dementia care.

“It is far beyond just dropping your loved one off,” said Sarah Youngs, director of Milton Adult Day Services. “It is expert dementia care. We believe in programs over pills, easing anxieties, and problem-solving together to make the most of each day. We welcome anyone for a tour or a family meeting to see how we can meet the needs of both the individual and their family.”

Milton Adult Day Services provides a safe, supportive environment for individuals living with dementia or cognitive impairments while also supporting caregivers through resources, counseling, and collaborative services. Staff create personalized care plans based on each person’s life experiences and interests, incorporating meaningful activities, social connections, and daily routines that foster purpose, engagement, and overall quality of life for the whole family.

“No matter who we are serving, we want to improve the quality of living,” Youngs said. “We provide a setting for adults that promotes independence, socialization, and well-being. We provide dementia services that balance the body, mind, and spirit. We want all individuals to be able to come to a safe, supported atmosphere where they make their own choices and feel supported in that.”

Milton Adult Day Services is modeled after the Dutch Hogeweyk concept, a village-style approach to dementia care. Complete with a cafe, art studio, and vintage Studebaker, the design is geared toward creating a feel for home for guests and families.

“We want them to feel like they’re coming somewhere familiar, where they can reflect on who they are and what they enjoy,” Youngs said. “Every space is intentional, such as the cafe where they can sit and chat, the art room where they can create, and the little touches like the Studebaker that spark memories and conversation.” 

Milton Adult Day Services works with a multidisciplinary team including nurses, a licensed clinical social worker, and a dementia education specialist, to provide comprehensive care. With its fruitful partnership with Alzheimer’s and Dementia Services of Northern Indiana, individuals living with dementia and their caregivers are able to access medical assistance for their loved one, supervision with personal care if needed, counseling and specialized therapeutic activities.

“Our collaboration with Alzheimer’s and Dementia Services of Northern Indiana means our families have access to education, counseling, and specialized activities that truly make a difference,” Youngs said. “It is not just one person or one program, but a whole team working together. From nursing care to counseling to dementia education, we are looking at the whole person and their support system to make sure both our guests and their caregivers have what they need to thrive.”

The environment is also based on seven pillars: favorable surroundings, lifestyle, health, life’s pleasures, the meaning of life, formal and informal networks, and social inclusion, and emancipation. This serves as the framework that creates the vibrant, home-like atmosphere of Milton Adult Day Services that allows guests to feel valued, connected, and engaged.

“The seven pillars guide everything we do, from creating a town-like environment to providing person-centered dementia care,” Youngs said. “Our goal is to let individuals make decisions in a safe, supportive environment. We don’t say no, but we ask, ‘How can we say yes safely?’”

Milton Adult Day Services and its partnership with Alzheimer’s and Dementia Service of Northern Indiana form Milton Village, as it takes a whole community to come together to help individuals living with dementia and other conditions. Through ongoing care and services, Milton Village is proud to create a place where guests and families can flourish every day.

For more information about Milton Adult Day Services, visit miltonads.org.