More day programs will benefit Island seniors

Supporting Island Families -

The province’s Adult Day Program helped Sandra MacFadyen care for her father at home longer, and now she says she’s encouraged that more hours are being added to the program so other families can benefit from the support.

Starting this fall, the Adult Day Program will see expanded hours in Alberton, Summerside, Charlottetown and Souris, allowing an additional 40 program spaces each week beyond the 160 to 180 now available province wide. The program helps seniors remain at home by providing meaningful, person-centered activities in a safe environment.   

“The Adult Day Program was an amazing support for both my father and me,” said MacFadyen, who moved back to Prince Edward Island to care for her father when he was diagnosed with dementia. “It was important to have a program that kept him active and engaged. It also provided me with the support I needed to carry on working, as being a care giver can be a full-time job. I am excited to see this service growing so that more Islanders and their families can benefit.”

The program offers group and individual activities to enhance personal well-being and provide support or respite for the care giver. Depending on the assessed needs, clients may access the program more than one day per week.

Beginning this fall, Adult Day Program enhancements include:

• sites in Alberton and Souris will increase their program hours from two days per week to three days;
• Summerside and Charlottetown sites will begin offering programming on Saturdays in addition to the weekdays already offered; and
• Charlottetown will also extend its daily operating hours to make it more convenient for family members and caregivers to drop off and pick-up their loved one.

To support the program expansion, an additional 2.7 full-time staff positions are also being hired.

“Home care is an important part of the fabric of our Island health care system and we are committed to ensuring Islanders continue to have access to this important program,” said Health and Wellness Minister Robert Henderson. “Expanding the adult day programming across the province is a first step in reaffirming our commitment to delivering home care services that support  Islanders and their caregivers so that they can remain in their home safely, with independence and quality of life, for as long as possible.”

Home care provides a range of health care and support services to individuals who have acute, chronic, palliative or rehabilitative health care needs, including: nursing care, home support, palliative care, dietician services, physiotherapy and occupational therapy, social work, and day programs.

Government’s investment in home care grew from $16.45 million last year, to $17.87 million in this year’s balanced 2017-18 operating budget.

Referrals to home care programs and services can be made by an individual, a family member/caregiver or a health care provider. For more information about home care, including the Adult Day Program, visit www.healthpei.ca/homecare.  

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Media contact:
Amanda Hamel