Adult Foster Care Activities in Michigan

Typically, foster care provides children with a place to grow and flourish when their parents can no longer take care of them. However, when an adult becomes injured, develops a degenerative mental disease or simply can no longer care for herself---and when relatives cannot devote enough time to properly monitor and care for her---adult foster care is often needed. In Michigan, adult foster care facilities provide daily activities to keep residents engaged in living.

Responsibility

• Many facilities seek to give residents a chance to participate in domestic duties to feel needed and accomplished. In Michigan, there are many facilities that recognize the importance of giving these responsibilities to residents that want them, as exemplified by Forest Edge in Clio, Mich. Here, willing residents are given responsibilities that include "cleaning, cooking, baking, laundry, [and] garden/yard work."

Education

• Life-long learning is another important part of overall mental health and happiness. However, many residents in adult foster care facilities are there precisely because they have been subjected to degenerative diseases or injuries that make learning difficult. Despite this, many of these homes seek to re-teach skills that have been lost or to create informational programs and discussions based on the interests of individual residents. Devonshire Manor of Brighton, Mich., is one such home, which offers physical therapy, the reinforcement of independent living skills and activities based on personal interests to all residents.

Recreation

• Offering engaging recreational activities is particularly important in many adult foster care facilities. For example, the Golden Girls Club of Bloomfield Hills, Mich., offers daily opportunities for recreation. Cable TV is available for virtually every resident, as are group recreation opportunities, such as card games and knitting circles. Residents are also given regular access to beauty and barber services, for those interested in trying a new style. Other recreational opportunities, including day trips and holiday celebrations, change each week.