The club. One nurse's role in a social day care program

Social day care is an important component in the health care continuum for older adults. At present there are no regulations mandating staff composition, therefore each program may have a different staff configuration. One such social day program, The Club, provides services to individuals with dementia and has had a nurse as part of its interdisciplinary team since its inception in 1984. Nursing in a social day care environment is challenging and draws on all of one's nursing skills. The nurse is an important member of the day care staff: The nurse helps individuals with dementia achieve success in the program and assists the caregiver through education and counseling to maintain the person in the community. This Spotlight features an overview of the multiple and interdisciplinary roles Ellen Tolle, RN, MPS plays as Program Director at The Club. These include the nurse as administrator, clinician, educator, and counselor in a dementia-specific social day program.