I’ll never forget that first time visiting. When we introduced my mom, whose name is Valerie, the staff broke into the song Valerie, and she laughed and joined right in. The day program played a huge part in increasing my mother’s quality of life.

This testimonial comes from the daughter of one of our former clients at The Salvation Army’s Adult Day Services in Hamilton, Ont., which has served seniors in the area since 2005. Our programs are designed for those who are living in the community but need extra support due to one or more of the following: frailty, social isolation, a progressive cognitive disorder such as Alzheimer’s or other dementias, or other chronic health conditions.

We provide a variety of programs and services in a structured and supervised setting, including therapeutic recreation, help with personal care, and social, cognitive, physical, emotional and spiritual support. Every day, we serve a nutritious hot meal at lunchtime. In addition to these services, we connect our members to Hamilton’s home and community care support services, to help them age safely in their homes. 

Our goal is to create a safe environment where our participants receive the support they need to live with meaning and purpose. Aging brings changes in physical and mental capacity, but also many life transitions, such as retirement and the unfortunate reality of the death of friends or partners. A decrease in social connections can lead to isolation and loneliness. Every day, we witness the benefits of making new connections. It’s amazing to watch our members engage, share their journeys and contribute to each others’ well-being. Our hope is that engaging in such a way will bring them joy and improved wellness. Adult day programs are a place to belong. 

We also offer caregiver support. Most of our caregivers want to help their loved ones age in their own homes for as long as possible. In some cases, caregivers find themselves providing around-the-clock care, while trying to maintain their own regular activities. Providing them with respite while their loved one attends our program reduces stress and helps them to live a more balanced life. 

We often receive letters from the family members of those who attend our programs, expressing their gratitude. Valerie’s daughter continued her testimonial this way:

Releasing a parent with Alzheimer’s into the care of strangers comes with its own set of problems and worries, because they often can’t recall all of the events of the day. Will she be safe? Scared? Taken advantage of? Cared for? It was scary, to be honest. We decided to take my mom with us for the tour and see how she felt in the environment. After the staff sang to her, she sang several songs and the staff seemed very impressed by her harmonizing while singing You Are My Sunshine. 

It was such a warm and welcoming environment that we decided to give it a try. My mom was always up for going and whenever we popped in to pick her up, we saw first-hand how happy she was. She was participating in games, art activities, singing and dancing, and anything else they had planned for the day. It gave my family so much peace of mind to know that she was engaged, happy and safe. The staff always gave us such lovely feedback on her day, and it was clear that they genuinely cared for her. My father was able to get some well-needed rest and know that my mom was in good hands and being well cared for.

We cherish these testimonials as it shows we are fulfilling our mission to provide compassionate care and are making a positive impact in our community.

An early life lesson is to respect your elders. Our seniors come with life experience and wisdom, and we should listen to their voices and learn from them as we embrace the ever-changing future. Their knowledge goes far beyond looking something up on Google!

It is crucial for seniors to have access to positive experiences and to stay connected in our communities. While many of our members come to us during a time of hardship, it is a privilege to watch them flourish in our programs. We are all getting older. I hope this article brings hope as you age and encourages you to plan for the future. Stay connected. Our purpose in life is infinite.

Devon Howes-Jones is the executive director of The Salvation Army’s Adult Day Services in Hamilton, Ont.

This is the final article in our three-part series on aging.

Photos: Joan McCormack and Paul Korobkin

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