CAPS is an Alzheimer's Day Care which provides socialization and stimulation for persons suffering from Alzheimer's, Parkinson's, and stroke. This was our second consecutive year doing a project at CAPS. We were first introduced to CAPS by NAWIC Chapter #110 member Patti Rascon.

Patti's family started with CAPS in October, 2003. The CAPS center has become a very important part of their lives by giving her mother a place to go outside the home, be safe, socialize with others and keep active. Family caregivers benefit from the respite, support, and consultation available. CAPS is designated as an Alzheimer's Day Care and Resource Center (ADCRC) by the California Department of Aging.

The focus of our project this year (see last year's project here) was to transform this little piece of heaven into a tranquil sitting area and at the same time a vibrant environment for the clients. With donations from Chapter members, Golden West Gunite, McAloney Enterprises, Inc., Jo-Ann's Fabrics, R & R Electric, Rascon Electric, and the beautiful fountain donated by Al's Garden Art of El Monte, as well as gracious discounts from Home Depot and Armstrong Nursery, the members spent two weekends cutting trees, rotor tilling, creating custom flower pots, planting flowers, building a bench with storage for the planting area, and installing a water fountain.

We set out on Saturday morning, armed with paint, potting soil, decorations, brooms, etc. to make a place that the clients would enjoy and want to use. The clients can choose to sit near the fountain and listen to the water of the fountain or work in their flower potting bench planting. There is now plenty of area for daily calisthenics that their director Gilbert Loera leads them through on sunny days.

Throughout the course of the weekends there were never fewer than 20 volunteers at any one time.

Our work force included Deb Bradley, the Chapter #110 2005 recipient of the Barbara Curtin Memorial Scholarship, now attending Pasadena City College. Richard Rascon of Rascon Electric and Mike Hughes of R & R Electric did the electrical work. We also had help from chapter members, family and friends.