It’s often said there’s no rest for the weary.

For over three decades the Skagit Adult Day Program has been working to put that adage to rest.

The organization’s mission is to provide a daytime program where adults with special needs can take part in a supportive group setting with friends, board member and La Conner area resident Jan Taylor told the Weekly News Saturday prior to a major fundraiser at Maple Hall.

Caregivers gain time to recharge their batteries or complete daily chores while those in their charge are engaged in an array of supervised activities, including therapeutic exercise, music and singing, table games, outdoor walks, art, cooking, gardening, wood crafting, inter-generational programs and more.

“We’re not just looking at serving persons with dementia,” Taylor emphasized. “We want to give strength to the caregivers.”

And with good reason.

Taylor said statistics show that caregivers of special needs adults are more prone to serious stress-related illnesses.

Thus, the program’s motto: “Caregiving is hard, we can help make it easier.”

The program operates on multiple fronts. It coordinates a caregiver support group and presents “Powerful Tools for Caregivers,” an educational series designed to reduce stress, locate helpful resources and improve self-confidence and communication skills.

Nearly 10 million new cases of dementia are identified globally each year, according to the World Health Organization. More people have dementia now because lifespans are increasing, meaning more older adults are reaching ages when memory-robbing conditions are likely to surface.

Additionally, costs for formal care in the U.S. approach an estimated $30,000 per patient annually, with long-term care the costliest component.

But even families with resources or top-of-the line insurance coverage cannot always find full-time care facilities due to growing demand.

The Skagit Adult Day Program is a critical option.

“We’re a good space for people who can’t get into a (full-time) facility,” said Taylor.

The program provides services at Bradford House in Burlington. A similar venue in Anacortes – Gentry House – was suspended after pipes froze during COVID-19, leading to serious interior damage. Opening another house in Anacortes is a program goal.

“Our saying,” Taylor said, “is that somebody somewhere knows somebody somewhere to make our dreams come true.”

There was plenty of support evident at the Maple Hall fundraiser, which was catered by Santo Coyote Mexican Kitchen of La Conner and included a raffle of items donated by businesses and private donors from throughout Skagit Valley.

A free showing of the acclaimed film “The Father” starring Anthony Hopkins at the Lincoln Theater in Mount Vernon Nov. 15 will increase awareness of dementia and the strains it places on patients and their caregivers.

“It shows him going through dementia in his own eyes,” Taylor said of the 2020 drama.

The Skagit Adult Day Program plans to get its message out to as broad an audience as possible.

“We want to make our presence known in the community,” said Taylor.

Information: skagitadultdayprogram.org/ or 360-755-1235.