Adult day centres (ADC) are specialized services for frail seniors
and adults with physical and cognitive disabilities who live independently in
the community, by themselves or with a caregiver. The main goals of these
programs are to enrich the lives of participants and their families by
promoting health and independence through therapeutic programming, medication
and nutrition monitoring and caregiver support. These interventions help
seniors to remain in their own homes and communities for as long as possible.
In Vancouver, there are a total of 14 adult day programs,
operating at various sites across the city. Participants are referred through
the Ministry of Health by case managers who work from Community Health Centres
(CHC) or Community Health Areas (CHA) across Vancouver. Most often, clients are
referred to the ADC closest to their home for social, physical,
cognitive or mental health issues or caregiver respite. Days of attendance
range from one to five days per week, depending on the needs of the participant
and availability at the ADC. Transportation to and from the centre is provided
by families, the ADC or by HandiDART. If you know of anyone who could benefit
from Adult Day Program Services, please call Central Intake at: 604-267-3414.
Our two ADC are contracted by Vancouver Coastal Health
through South Vancouver Neighbourhood House: South Vancouver Adult Day Centre
is located at 49th and Kerr and South Vancouver Adult Day Centre at
Beulah Gardens is located at the Cedars Assisted Living at 5th and
Rupert. Both of our sites operate five days per week, from Monday to Friday and
offer distinct programs in several languages. Our hours of operation are from
9:00am-4:00pm; program hours run from 10:00am-2:15pm. Our staff come from a
variety of disciplines, including therapeutic recreation, education and
gerontology. Each site has a registered nurse who is responsible for admitting
and medical monitoring. We also host volunteers and students from various
educational institutions, such as UBC and Douglas College.
A typical day at our centres includes morning social time
with coffee, tea and a light breakfast; two separate exercise programs
emphasizing aerobic exercise, strength training and balance, which are divided
according to client ability level; mental aerobics; a three course lunch; and
various other programs that reflect the culture, interests and ability levels
of our particular clients. We also arrange outings and muticultural events
throughout the year.
All of our programs are designed according to the principles of
person-centered care, which coincide with the objectives of the Association of
Neighbourhood Houses (ANHBC) and emphasize the following:
- · Programs focus on the whole person, recognizing and capitalizing on past, current and future interests, skills and abilities.
- · Participants are understood within the context of family, background, culture, ethnicity and gender.
- · Participants are seen as active contributors, not passive recipients, within the ADC and larger community.
- · The majority of programs are developed to be client and small-group specific, rather than generic.
- · Facilitation of small groups enables staff to recognize individual interest and encourage client participation.
As an organization, we consider it a privilege to serve our
clients and their families and to provide opportunities for our participants to
contribute to our community according to their abilities. We welcome your input
and encourage you to contact us at our centres with any comments or questions
that you may have.