{"id":78076,"date":"2026-05-26T08:30:29","date_gmt":"2026-05-26T15:30:29","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/in.nau.edu\/news\/?p=78076"},"modified":"2026-06-02T14:56:58","modified_gmt":"2026-06-02T21:56:58","slug":"ihd-day-club","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/in.nau.edu\/news\/ihd-day-club\/","title":{"rendered":"Now open at NAU: A day club for seniors with cognitive challenges"},"content":{"rendered":"

An estimated 1,900 Coconino County residents have dementia, the syndrome that causes a decline in memory,\u00a0speech\u00a0and behavior later in life. Some with dementia need round-the-clock attention, leading to caregiver burnout.\u00a0But now, with help from NAU and an Arizona nonprofit, caregivers and patients both have a little more time to recharge.<\/span>\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n

The memory care organization Oakwood Creative Care recently teamed up with NAU\u2019s Institute for Human Development to open an adult day club serving older adults with cognitive and physical challenges. Open daily from 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. on the Flagstaff mountain campus, the Flagstaff Adult Day Club not only gives caregivers a much-needed respite but also helps slow the progression of dementia with interactive, stimulating activities, some involving NAU researchers from multiple disciplines.<\/span>\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n

IHD interim associate director\u00a0<\/span>Amber King<\/span><\/b>\u00a0said partnering with Oakwood, which runs\u00a0three\u00a0other\u00a0day\u00a0clubs in the Valley, felt natural.<\/span>\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n

\"Older<\/a><\/p>\n

\u201cOur mission is to support people with disabilities by helping remove barriers to meaningful life experiences,\u201d King said. \u201cOakwood is all about supporting people with dementia so they can live with dignity and purpose. It just made sense for us to work together.\u201d<\/span>\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n

Propelled by grants from the Alzheimer\u2019s Association, the Center for Dementia Respite Intervention and the NARBHA Institute, IHD and Oakwood first came together in summer 2025. They worked fast to\u00a0identify\u00a0a day club location within IHD and\u00a0opened\u00a0to the public in February. So far, there are seven regular club members and a few more who visit once or twice a week. Oakwood\u00a0anticipates\u00a0the club will grow to 12 regular members and a\u00a0handful\u00a0more sporadic visitors as Valley residents with second homes migrate north for the season.<\/span>\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n

Molly Fulton, director of Oakwood\u2019s Flagstaff Day Club, said the facility offers a\u00a0slate of fun activities that not only\u00a0benefit\u00a0members but also provide relief for the loved ones who care for them.<\/span>\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n

\u201cIt\u2019s so important for caregivers\u2019 well-being to have a little bit of a break, and it\u2019s equally important for people with cognitive impairment to have some socializing so they feel connected to the community,\u201d Fulton said. \u201cIf you have a caregiver or therapist coming into the home, you lose that social engagement you can get outside the home setting.\u201d<\/span>\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n

Fulton said in the first half hour of each day, staff lead a mental warmup with mind games and trivia over coffee. Then, club members either take an art class or\u00a0take a trip down memory lane, reminiscing\u00a0about\u00a0travel and major life events based on prompts from staff who have memorized some facts about the members\u2019 lives. After lunch,\u00a0there\u2019s\u00a0an exercise class where club members engage in gentle movement. Then comes everyone\u2019s favorite: music class, led this spring by\u00a0<\/span>Ginger Roberts<\/span><\/b>, who just graduated from NAU with a degree in psychology and a minor in music.<\/span>\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n

\u201cMy interest in this work stems from my family\u2019s history with Alzheimer\u2019s and dementia,\u201d Roberts said. \u201cIn my experience, music serves as an incredible, almost magical tool for preserving memory. Engaging the brain by recalling lyrics and melodies has been a truly transformative experience for our members. We have a lot of fun making playlists of our favorite songs and singing them together.\u201d<\/span>\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n

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Sound Connections<\/span><\/b>\u00a0<\/span><\/h5>\n
Looking for a little creative stimulation? Come to\u00a0<\/span>Sound Connections<\/span><\/a>, an elder-centered community music gathering at IHD led by board certified music therapist Meghan Callaghan. Great for those with memory loss, this free weekly session includes interactive singing, drumming, movement,\u00a0songwriting\u00a0and guided dialogue. Sessions take place every Wednesday from 1-2 p.m. through June 3.\u202f<\/span>\u00a0<\/span><\/h6>\n
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In addition to day club staff, members often interact with students at NAU.\u202f<\/span>\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n

Nursing and clinical psychology students volunteer at the day club as part of their required clinical rotations or as part of a practicum course, gaining a hands-on understanding of the various stages of dementia and the syndrome\u2019s progression. Fulton said some students make friends with the club members and stay beyond\u00a0what\u2019s\u00a0required of\u00a0them.<\/span>\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n

\"Two<\/a>King said IHD is also looking into forming research partnerships with NAU faculty members who research\u00a0<\/span>memory and aging in Arizona<\/span><\/a>\u00a0and beyond, including associate professor of psychology\u00a0<\/span>Eric Cerino<\/span><\/b>\u00a0and researchers at the School of Social Work, whose executive director,\u00a0<\/span>Michael McCarthy<\/span><\/b>, has experience working with those with disabilities and chronic illnesses.<\/span>\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n

\u201cThe School of Social Work is thrilled to support this endeavor and excited by the possibilities the Flagstaff Adult Day Club presents in terms of experiential learning opportunities for our students, as well as research partnerships focused on aging,\u201d McCarthy said. \u201cWe are honored to help bring more support to people and families coping with dementia in northern Arizona\u2019s memory care deserts.\u201d<\/span>\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n

Hands-on experience with older people is key for the next generation of nurses, clinical\u00a0psychologists\u00a0and social workers, since Arizona\u2019s population of people with dementia is the fastest growing in the nation.\u00a0It\u2019s\u00a0why, along with IHD and Oakwood, Flagstaff organizations such as Aging Well Arizona and the NARBHA Institute are working to bring young people and seniors with dementia together, helping to strengthen Flagstaff\u2019s designation as a recognized\u00a0<\/span>Dementia-Friendly Community<\/span><\/a>.<\/span>\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n

\u201cBetween the students and the members, there\u2019s this little community that forms,\u201d King said. \u201cThey look forward to seeing each other; they get to know each other; they get to socialize longer with people outside of their homes. The whole model of the program is just lovely\u2014it\u2019s\u00a0joyful,\u00a0it\u2019s\u00a0supportive and\u00a0it\u2019s\u00a0backed by science.\u201d\u202f<\/span>\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n

To learn more about the Flagstaff Adult Day Club,\u00a0<\/span>visit the Oakwood Creative Care website<\/span><\/a>.\u202f<\/span>\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n