Volunteers, clients, caregivers upset Kincardine Day Away to close at end of September

In two months, the Kincardine Day Away program is set to close. And that doesn't sit well with the program's volunteers, as well as the clients and their caregivers.

Long-time volunteer Bill Subject of Kincardine says that due to a lack of required numbers participating, the program will close Sept. 29, and participants and volunteers will be sent by bus to the Day Away in Port Elgin.

"I have volunteered with the program for more than 13 years," says Subject. "I have seen how wonderful it is and how it makes a difference in the lives of those attending, and the relief it gives to their caregivers. If this program leaves our community, the chances of getting it back will be slim. The need for a Day Away program can increase at any time due to changing population dynamics and sudden illness onset. I feel there is a lack of advertising regarding its availability. Please consider if your loved one and you, might benefit from this program, so we can keep it in Kincardine!"

The Kincardine Day Away program began 20 years ago in the basement of a church. It was later moved to the former W.E. Thompson Public School building across from Victoria Park, before moving to its current location in the Sutton Park Mall, behind The Bargain Shop.

It runs Tuesdays and Thursdays and offers social, recreational, and therapeutic activities for older adults in a group setting for part of the day; helps to support family caregivers by providing caregiver relief; provides meals; offers individualized social and recreational plans for each client; and provides caregiver support.
 

"Our clients come to the program from 9:30 a.m. to 3:30 p.m. and take part in a wide variety of activities," says Subject. "Staff takes the time to get to know the interests of our clients and then provides activities which match these interests. Music and laughter play an important role in our program. A meal with friends, a game of cards, crafts and simply sitting and chatting, are all common activities at Day Away. Our clients are assisted in all activities by a professional staff and trained volunteers."

Mary Morris of Inverhuron, whose husband, Brian, attends the program, says he looks forward to going every week.

"As a caregiver It relieves a lot of stress," says Morris. "I can relax knowing he is well taken care of for the day. I was at a point of not being able to cope when the Community Stroke Rehabilitation Team got in touch with the CCAC (Community Care Access Centre) to speak to me about the Day Away program. Most people are not aware that this program exists."

She says the program was set to close a decade ago, but people rallied around the cause and kept it going. Until now.

"I was given the sad news that the Day Away program will close Sept. 29 in Kincardine because it does not meet the required standard of 45 people," says Morris. "It’s surprising with a population of 12,000 in the Municipality of Kincardine we cannot get 45 people to attend this fabulous program. What a sad day it will be when Day Away is taken away from Kincardine."

The Kincardine Day Away program has been operating at about 50 per cent of the required minimum number of service days annually which is why it will close and the volunteers and clients bussed to Port Elgin, says Andy Underwood, executive director of Home and Community Support Services Grey-Bruce (HCSS) which operates the program.

"A great deal of HCSS, Alzheimer Society Grey Bruce, CCAC case co-ordinator, volunteer and community time and effort have been spent promoting the Kincardine Day program over the past decade with limited results," says Underwood.

"The minimum level of attendance which makes an adult day program viable and eligible for funding across the entire southwest, is 15 clients per day, three days per week. The Kincardine adult day program averages between nine and 11 clients per day, two days per week, and this is the highest attendance at this site in our 20 year history of providing services in this community. In June, HCSS received confirmation that our Kincardine day program site does not meet the minimum requirements for future funding."

He says that in order to maintain the current level of funded days, HCSS is moving the program to Port Elgin between Sept 29 and Oct. 1.

"All current and future day program clients from the Kincardine area will be offered their choice of days in Port Elgin or another site if they prefer. This will be cost-neutral for the client as the client fee portion of transportation to and from day program is a flat fee, and all employees will maintain their current hours and positions. HCSS will retain a small office in Kincardine to provide the infrastructure necessary to support our employees, volunteers and clients involved with all of the other services HCSS delivers."

Underwood says that all clients, caregivers, employees and volunteers associated with the Kincardine program, have been informed of this decision and staff will be working closely with clients and caregivers over the next few weeks to make this transition as smooth as possible.

 

"HCSS fully supports this realignment for a number of reasons," he says. "The historic low number of clients attending the Kincardine site does not support the mandated staffing complement. The proximity of other day program sites in Port Elgin, Hanover, Goderich and Wingham means that anyone living in or around Kincardine can be driven to another site within 30 to 40 minutes maximum travel time. Based upon referral and participation numbers at all the other day program sites HCSS operates, we fully expect this realignment to result in an additional 700 days of service delivery annually."

The Day Away program welcomes adults who require assistance due to chronic illness, disability, memory loss or communication challenges, as well as seniors who are in need of socialization, recreation or ongoing caregiver respite.

Volunteer drivers pick up the clients in the morning and bring them home again in the afternoon. In most areas of Grey and Bruce counties, wheelchair-accessible transportation can be arranged for those people who require it. This is all arranged by the Day Away staff. There is a $10 fee for transportation.
 

Nutritious snacks are provided both at morning coffee and at afternoon tea time. At lunch, a choice of a hot meal, or bowl of soup and sandwiches, and dessert are served. Special diets and food preferences can be accommodated.
 

There is a cost of $10 per full day and $10 for transportation (if required) to and from the program. The fee helps to pay for the meal and snacks that are provided. The Ontario Ministry of Health and Long-Term Care funds the remainder of the cost of operating this program.
 

Day Away can provide some time off for those who are caring for a family member or friend. It can provide an ongoing assessment of the family member’s physical health, and provide information about the family member’s illness and ways of dealing with the issues that arise. It can also be a support, someone who will listen. The staff keep in contact with clients and caregivers either by phone or through visiting in the home.

For more information, contact the CCAC at 519-372-2091 or toll-free at 1-800-267-3798 or 1-888-881-4808. Or check with your family doctor to see if you qualify for Day Away.

Those who are concerned about the closure of the Kincardine Day Away program should voice their concerns to the South West Local Health Integration Network (LHIN) which is responsible for the planning, integration and funding of nearly 200 health service providers including Day Away. Contact the South West LHIN at 519-672-0445, toll-free at 1-866-294-5446 or by E-mail at southwest@lhins.on.ca.