The AGE Thrive Social & Wellness Center – Austin is located in Central Austin at the Historic AGE building (map and directions).
The Thrive Social & Wellness Center – Williamson County is conveniently located in Round Rock, off of Round Rock West Drive (map and directions).
Each location is open Monday-Friday from 7:00 a.m. – 5:30 p.m., and provides nursing services, therapeutic activities, and meals, delivered by fully trained and certified staff.
Nursing Services
The care team (click here for adult day center staff ) at each location includes a full-time licensed vocational nurse (LVN), certified nurse aides, a licensed activity director, and program aides. The care and services they provide are enhanced by clinical supervision from a registered nurse (RN) and a dietary consultant. In addition, AGE staff communicates regularly with family members, physicians, and therapists, to ensure coordinated care for an older loved one. We are trained to care for adults with such health conditions as Alzheimer’s disease, dementia, diabetes, stroke, and more.
Before a client is admitted to our program, our nurse completes a full medical assessment to ensure that we can meet the client’s needs. Once admitted to the program, each client then receives a monthly checkup from our nurse. In addition, the nurse can, with doctors’ orders, can administer medications, monitor blood sugar level, provide wound care, and more.
Activities
Therapeutic activities are the core of our specialized program. Each activity is designed to promote connectiveness, competence, belonging, optimal functioning, and an improved quality of life.
The monthly calendar includes activities like walking, yoga, gardening, games, parties, field trips, music and art therapy, reminiscence discussions, and brain fitness games. Some are conducted in small groups, to encourage social interaction with peers, while others are one-on-one, with either a staff member or a volunteer drawing on a client’s special talent or pursuing a favorite pastime, all in a comfortable, home-like setting. By making new friends and connecting with their peers, clients find comfort and support in their new community.
Meals
Each day, we serve a hot, nutritious lunch and two snacks. This therapeutic food program is monitored by a licensed dietician to ensure the best nutritional value for older adults. Some special needs, including diabetic diets, can be accommodated.
No person shall on the grounds of race, color, national origin, sex, age, disability, or income status be excluded from participation in, be denied the benefits of, or be otherwise subjected to discrimination or retaliation under any federally or non-federally funded program or activity administered by AGE of Central Texas.
Staffing
All adult day care centers operate under a state mandated staffing ratio, which describes the number of clients that may be present at the center for every one staff member working. AGE of Central Texas Thrive Social & Wellness Centers operate with an 8-to-1 care ratio; that is, one staff member is available for every 8 clients that are present.
Well-trained and supervised volunteers and interns from the community and local universities also share their talents and experience the joy of caring for elders.
Transportation
For those who need it, several transportation options are available to members attending AGE of Central Texas Thrive Social & Wellness Centers. All members are signed in and out of the facility to ensure added security.
- AGE provides door-to-door round-trips from members’ homes to our Centers, at no charge. Availability is based on the location of the client’s home in relation to our routes and the space available in our vans. Please contact our staff to see if transportation is available in your area.
- The Capital Metro ACCESS program provides door-to-door round-trips for older adults and people with disabilities within the Austin city limits. Please visit the Capital Metro (link) to learn more about this program: http://www.capmetro.org/riding/MetroAccess.asp
- CARTS (hyperlink: www.ridecarts.com) Community Transit services provides transportation for persons living in the counties of Bastrop, Blanco, Burnet, Caldwell, Fayette, Hays, Lee, and non-urbanized areas of Travis and Williamson. For more information, please call 1-800-456-RIDE (7433).
Rehabilitation
In addition to our in-house staff, our sites can accommodate formal therapy sessions with outside providers of physical, occupational, and speech therapies. This convenience means that our members can receive personalized care ordered by their physician while continuing to enjoy meals and activities with friends and peers. Please contact our center staff if your loved one requires a specialized doctor-ordered therapy.
Enrollment and Admission
Follow these simple steps to explore the possibility of enrolling your loved one in AGE’s AGE of Central Texas Thrive Social & Wellness Centers:
- Call the Center most convenient to you to schedule an initial tour:
- Austin: (512) 458-6305
- Round Rock: (512) 255-4865
- If your loved one has not personally visited the center, schedule an appointment for them to be assessed by our nurse.
- After the nursing assessment is completed, have your loved one’s doctor complete and sign the medical history and assessment form.
- Arrange for a start date with the program director.
When you visit any adult day health center, consider these points:
- Who owns or sponsors the adult day health care center?
- How long has it been operating?
- Is it licensed or otherwise accredited?
- What are the days and hours of operation?
- Is transportation to and from the adult day care center provided?
- Which conditions are accepted (e.g., memory loss, limited mobility, incontinence)?
- What are the staff’s credentials, and what is the ratio of staff to participants?
- What activities are offered? Are there a variety of individual and group programs?
- Are meals and snacks included? Are special diets accommodated?
- Is there a manager or supervisor on staff at all times?
- What special training does the staff receive to work with special needs such as dementia?
- Are there a minimum number of days per week, or hours per day?
- What does the center require for admission to the care program?
- Can the care center accommodate participants with special needs?
- Is there written documentation to instruct staff how to handle emergencies?
- How much does adult day care cost?
- Do I have to pay for this or is some of it covered elsewhere?
Tips for the First Day
- Work with the Thrive Social & Wellness Center staff to develop a “role” for your loved one, possibly as a “volunteer” or member of a social club.
- Give your loved one a reason to attend. Tell them the doctor recommended it, or ask them to do it as a favor to you.
- Do not talk about attending the Thrive Social & Wellness Center until the first day. Planning ahead may make your loved one more anxious.
- Do not ask your loved one if they want to attend or not. Tell them that you are bringing them to the Thrive Social & Wellness Center to try it out. Be as matter of fact as possible.
- Avoid cajoling or arguing with your loved one, as this will increase both the stress level for you and your loved one.
- ALWAYS plan to make the most of your respite time! Have a realistic expectation of what can be accomplished during your time “off” while your loved one is at the Thrive Social & Wellness Center. Plan your time wisely, and give yourself a moment to breathe! Take time for yourself to do something you enjoy or that benefits you.
- Remember, the AGE of Central Texas Thrive Social & Wellness Center staff is here to support you and your loved one through this transition. We are a team of experienced professionals with decades of experience serving seniors and their families. We are eager to help out, so never be afraid or embarrassed to ask us anything that might make your caregiving journey easier!