H E A L T H
OPICA adult day program reopens
PHOTO CREDIT: COURTESY OF OPICA
PHOTOS COURTESY OF NEOCOCO PHOTOS OF AMRITA BY CHRIS MORTENSON
Helping Families Struggling with Dementia
OPICA Adult Day Care and Counseling Center in West LA has reopened after being closed for 22 months due to the pandemic. By Kamala Kirk fter being forced by the pandemic to close its doors in mid-March 2020, OPICA Adult Day Care and Counseling Center in West Los Angeles recently reopened its doors to the public. OPICA has served the community for more than 40 years, and as the first adult day program in the city, OPICA’s programs were the model for subsequent day programs. During its forced closure, OPICA prepared for reopening by building improvements for health and safety such as additional filers and sterilization treatment for heating and air conditioning systems; hands-free bathroom fixtures; and upgrades to activity rooms including new floors and fresh paint. OPICA staff are vaccinated, tested weekly, and trained for stringent sanitation and infection control standards. During the past two years, OPICA continued to serve families virtually, including “OZ” – OPICA on Zoom – a low-cost virtual program it developed to reach those with dementia isolated at home by the pandemic. “OZ” has engaged them with music, exercise, art and valuable socialization to combat their isolation and depression. OPICA’s virtual programs will continue for those who remain home-bound, with reopening adding the opportunity for them to participate virtually in the in-person program.
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The brand partners with global and local humanitarian organizations such as the International Rescue Committee and has provided jobs for women in transition from the Congo, El Salvador, Guatemala, Honduras, Mexico, Iran, Iraq and Syria. about the refugee crisis and aware of how dollars spent on Neococo products impact women’s lives. Thadani described Neococo customers as often “women who are working themselves and they have the sense that all women should have the opportunity to be working.” Thadani ultimately envisions a brickand-mortar store where customers can shop and a central location where women can work together to increasingly build community and opportunity. She also aims to extend Neococo’s reach globally. “I want to see us as a program in every
resettlement agency around the world partnering with IRC and being in refugee camps,” Thadani said. “We want to be there making products in the camps and we want to be a program that every family going through resettlement will know they’ll have a job for as long as they’re going through their transition. We’re still expanding, still educating, still growing. Our doors are open to anyone who needs a job.” Neococo neococo.com Instagram: @neococo_tribe
Monday through Friday from 10 a.m. to 4 p.m., OPICA will offer a robust schedule of programs and activities for those with memory loss or other cognitive impairment including daily art classes, music programs, exercise, lunch and other stimulating and engaging programs throughout the day. OPICA also has a counseling center that offers one-on-one counseling for family caregivers, as well as caregiver support groups and caregiver education programs. “After 22 months of pandemic-forced closure, we are thrilled to re-open our doors to welcome families again to our person-centered day program serving adults with dementia,” said OPICA executive director Mary Michlovich. “Living with dementia under normal circumstances is stressful – both for the diagnosed individual and for the family. But the uncertainty, confinement and additional financial impact of the pandemic has exacerbated those challenges. Our reopening offers in-person engagement that adds an important dimension to the quality of life of participants, as well as valuable respite to the family caregiver.”
OPICA 11759 Missouri Avenue, Los Angeles 310-478-0226 opica.org MARCH 3, 2022 THE ARGONAUT PAGE 11
