The Victorian Order of Nurses [VON] says its Adult Day Program couldn't have been expanded into homes during the pandemic without support from the Sarnia-Lambton United Way.
The program offers physical, mental and social stimulation to adults living with Alzheimer's Disease, dementia or other cognitive impairments and respite to their caregivers.
Community Support Services, Home and Community Care Manager, Nicole Hunter said it was initially shut down in March 2020.
"Thanks to funding from the Sarnia-Lambton United Way, they provided us with tablets and activity bag contents, so we were able to take our programming out into the community, to the clients' homes, set them up with the tablet and they could stay connected to the program via ZOOM," said Hunter.
A team, including a Personal Support Worker [PSW] and Recreational Therapist, visit clients' homes for three-hour sessions and do activities like puzzles, crafts and simple exercises.
"We needed a plan to be able to provide service to the caregivers, especially some of them who were experiencing burnout. Some couldn't get to work, because now their loved one couldn't come to the program in the daytime."
Eventually, some in-person activities were also allowed.
"Our staff went out and did exercises with them, took them for walks, did the normal activities that we would do in the program, but from their own home."
Hunter said staff conduct 34 visits per week with the current 12 clients and the virtual programming is now being used to serve clients waiting to join the group.
"We still have COVID-related capacity limits to group sessions, so this approach offers us a wonderful opportunity to connect with others who can't participate in the group sessions."
Anyone interested in more information or wanting to register for the program is asked to call 519-332-8621.
The program costs $15 a day.
The United Way of Sarnia-Lambton is hoping to raise $1,750,000 this year to support local programs and initiatives.
This year's fundraising campaign includes a 50/50 draw.
