A portrait of Amanda Thomas' father, Lee, hangs in the entry hallway at Daycation for Seniors Fair Oaks.

FAIR OAKS, CA (MPG) - Fair Oaks business owner Amanda Thomas understands the difficult realities of caring for a loved one with Alzheimer’s disease. After her father was diagnosed in 2020, Thomas faced the ongoing challenges and emotional toll of watching his health decline. Her father succumbed to the disease three years later at age 78. The loss transformed Thomas’ life and continues to motivate her commitment to helping loved ones and their families who are facing similar challenges. 

In March of this year, Thomas opened Daycation for Seniors Fair Oaks in memory of her father, Lee. 

Located at 9807 Fair Oaks Blvd., Daycation for Seniors Fair Oaks serves individuals living with Alzheimer’s or dementia who can no longer live safely alone at home and would benefit from structured, supervised activities throughout the day. Operating days and hours are 8 a.m. to 5:30 p.m. Monday through Friday.

Led by Amanda and staff, program participants enjoy the music and dance hour, which often includes entertainment by a musician.

“The reality is that dementia affects a larger share of the population than most people realize,” said Thomas. “Caring for a loved one with the disease is one of the hardest journeys anyone can undertake. It may take a village to raise a child, but most caregivers of people with dementia are on their own. When it falls on one person, the caregiver is likely to burn out.”

Thomas was a new mom living in Lincoln when her dad was diagnosed. She recalled driving back and forth between her dad’s home in Walnut Creek and Lincoln three to five times a week to give her brother a break while managing the everyday responsibilities of raising a baby.

Following her dad’s neurologist's advice, Thomas and her brother searched for a senior group program near their dad’s home that offered cognitive stimulation and social activities. But the only program they found was 40 minutes away and open only four hours a day. 

“We signed Dad up and noticed a big difference. Although he responded well to the program, it still did not give us the break we needed as caregivers,” said Thomas. 

Inspired by her dad’s progress and recognizing the need for more senior care programs, Thomas began exploring ways to fill the gap and concluded that the only way to make a difference was to become part of the solution. 

The search led to Paul Kelly and Yvonne Mitchell, owners of Daycation for Seniors in Rocklin, who were just opening their business to franchisees. After gaining the required experience and training at the Rocklin facility and attaining her license, Thomas opened the Fair Oaks franchise on March 9.

Today, Thomas and her staff care for 15 participants at the Fair Oaks facility, which can accommodate up to 60. They accept seniors in all stages of dementia and seniors experiencing loneliness and isolation from social interaction.

Amanda and her team, Robin Riswold and Morgan Lansing, pose in the activity room.

“I have one staff member for every six participants, which allows us to provide more one-on-one time with individuals as needed,” Thomas explained. “It’s not uncommon for newcomers to withdraw when they first arrive. They can be confused and scared. Eventually, 95% of the participants we see adjust to the environment. It’s a joy to watch them open up and have fun.” 

Robin Riswold, Thomas’ activity director, creates the daily rotating schedules, which always include music, arts and crafts, cognitive and therapeutic games, mental and physical stimulation activities and ample time for socializing.

Lunch is prepared on-site by the staff. The facility has a kitchen with a few appliances, including a microwave, refrigerator and dishwasher. Because there is no stove or oven, the staff gets creative with meals using a hot plate and a crockpot. All participants are served a full, nutritious meal on nice dishes with silverware.

Theresa McClure’s “Aunt Barbara” regularly participates in Daycation for Seniors Fair Oaks and is fondly known among staff as “The Dancing Queen.” Because McClure and her mother run a home-based business, they needed a place where Barbara would feel comfortable and cared for during the day.

The Fair Oaks Chamber of Commerce held a ribbon cutting at Daycation for Seniors Fair Oaks on April 23.

“At first, my aunt was reluctant to go and only participated twice a week,” McClure said. “Once she decided she was having fun, she asked to go every day. She tells us she is making friends, having fun and getting exercise. We are so thankful to Amanda and her staff, who feel like family to us.” 

Thomas claims that the cost of sending a loved one to her care facility is only a fraction of the cost of in-home care.

“We’ll sit down with families to determine their needs and if we are the right fit for them. I always suggest a four-hour minimum to get the most out of their loved one's time with us,” she said.

As an incentive, Thomas currently offers a free four-hour Daycation experience for families and caregivers to try out the program.

Although her journey has been long, Thomas believes that her parents would be proud of who she has become. By honoring her father’s legacy, she is giving back in the only way she knows how — by creating a safe, meaningful space that truly helps others. 

For more information about Daycation for Seniors Fair Oaks, visit their website at www.daycationfairoaks.com or email Amanda Thomas at [email protected].