In its Mission Statement, The Community Family (TCF) pledges a firm commitment to “improving the quality of life for both our participants and their families.” Further, the entire TCF organization strives to meet the very high standards reflected in its service motto: care … above and beyond.
An essential component of TCF’s dedication to service excellence is its faithfulness to its own policy of clear and thoughtful communication with participants and their families. Making time for their questions and concerns is part of TCF’s approach to care.
Each and every question is important, and all TCF participants and their family members or caregivers are encouraged to pose their questions to staff at any time. While it is not intended as an exhaustive summary, the following list of Frequently Asked Questions presents some of the more common ones. TCF’s staff members welcome new ones!
The Community Family (TCF) was originally established in 1978 to provide a lower-cost, high-quality alternative to nursing home care for older adults facing daily challenges with their health. TCF keeps elders in their own homes and communities as independently as possible. TCF is a community-based nonprofit organization that provides individualized, adult day health services to frail elders, adults with disabilities, and those with Alzheimer’s disease or other memory disorders at its three state-of-the-art centers in Everett, Medford and Lowell.
Adult day health care is a structured program of health and supportive services designed to meet the individual needs of adults who need medical monitoring, supervision, personal assistance and socialization. It is provide in a facility where adults attend on a planned basis to receive the care they need. The Community Family owns three modern and beautiful adult day health centers.
TCF provides a variety of adult day health services, including nursing care, activities, nutrition, social work, assistance with activities of daily living, and much more. TCF is one of the few nonprofit organizations that focus exclusively on adult day health services. Its Medford and Lowell centers are among the few Alzheimer’s-specific, adult day health programs in Massachusetts. In fact, TCF was the first provider of specialized Alzheimer’s day health care in the state.
Our programs are an effective means for helping those with medical conditions receive the care and support they need. The home like atmosphere at a beautiful centers make them a comfortable place to have fun and stay socialized in a structured and safe environment..
- The Everett Center, 106 Wyllis Avenue;
- The Medford Center. 121 Washington Street;
- The Lowell Center, 236 Broadway Street,
TCF’s social worker can arrange transportation or families can transport their loved ones. We have our own vans, which pick up and take home the majority of our participants. We also contract with other transportation companies.
TCF always has lots of enjoyable, fun activities going on. If there are particular things that you like to do, such as singing, sewing, bingo, or reading, that is always an option as well. The center’s activity director will always strive to ensure that each and every participant is having fun and enjoying the time at “the club.” Participants also will be served breakfast, lunch and an afternoon snack.
Yes, there will be lots of interesting and stimulating things to do and new friends to be made at the TCF centers. The staff always considers that each and every person is a unique individual and will treat everyone accordingly. The TCF team will do its best to make the program a fun, safe and social place for participants to spend the day. And, the friendly staff is there to help participants adjust to the new environment and help them to make friends.
The three TCF centers are pleased to have all different kinds of people who come to the club. Some are older; some are younger. Some love to talk and be social, while others prefer to sit quietly and relax for most of the day. TCF has participants from all different cultural and ethnic backgrounds who live in many different cities and towns in the areas surrounding our three centers. Any participant might not be attracted to every other individual at the “club,” but it will be surprising how many new friends there are to be made.
TCF has lots of friendly and caring staff members. Our program assistants participate in most components of the program including providing personal care and running activities. Our nurses assess and monitor health status, deliver nursing care and make certain that everyone is healthy and has the needed medications. The activity director at each TCF center strives to make each and every day a fun and exciting time for participants. Our social workers help participants and families with any services or special support they might need. The friendly and attentive TCF van drivers see to it that all our participants get to where they need to be.
TCF has qualified nurses on staff at each of its three centers. They manage and distribute medications, monitor vital signs, provide treatments and take care of any medical needs each and every participant might have.
The TCF social worker at any of our three centers will be pleased to help you resolve this issue. Some pay privately for care but there are other options for payment for which you might qualify. TCF has contracts with MassHealth, the local ASAP organizations, the Veterans Administration, senior care organizations, and One Care organizations. Long term care insurance usually covers adult day health services.
Participants attend the program anywhere between 2 to 6 days a week. The exact schedule is often influenced by participant care needs and the payment source’s authorization for services.
Just give The Community Family a call and ask to speak with the social worker. We will be delighted to hear from you and to address all of your questions.
The Everett Center: 617-389-4500
The Medford Center: 781-395-5542
The Dutton Center: 781-246-2804
Call any of our four adult day health centers to schedule a tour.
Locations
OUR TESTIMONIALS
“Community Family made tolerable the unbearable tragedy of Alzheimer’s. Your contribution to the community is critical, but your spirits and upbeat attitude are even more amazing. We will never forget you; your example is living proof of a living love.”
“To bring Mom in and watch you greet her with such open, loving arms, then graciously lead her into the ‘club,’ was awe inspiring. You do your jobs with such devotion, love and creativity!”
“The center was nothing less than extraordinary. You are all thoughtful, compassionate people. You treated my husband with dignity and respect and allowed him to maintain a level of normalcy, which would not have been possible without the daily care you provided him. Your compassion extended to me as well, giving me peace of mind for a few hours daily knowing that he was receiving excellent care.”
“In life, there are many unpleasant things to endure. Luckily, for the people faced with these problems, there are often family members to help them through. Other times, help comes from another form of “family.” The Community Family staff is, without a doubt, there to help and forever remains an extension of our [own] family. As a community, we should appreciate a program that truly is perfectly named, for the staff at The Community Family are extraordinary extensions of so many families.”
“You all treated Nana with such love and care, I never had to worry when she went to the ‘club.’ It takes strong, loving, caring and empathetic people to do what you do. Thank you all so much for your support over the years. You made my Nana smile, which means more to me than you know.”
“My family and I cannot thank you enough for the time, patience and understanding you’ve shown to our family and our mother. All of you have helped to preserve our mother’s pride and dignity while she dealt with such a devastating disease.”
