Are you someone who is 65 or older living with dementia or a related cognitive impairment? Are you looking to be a part of meaningful activities outside of the home? Are you a caregiver that works, runs errands, or would like respite care during the day?
If so, Adult Day Centres may be able to help you. They provide the opportunity to be social and take part in activities in a safe and supervised setting. Adult Day Centres can also be a source of relief for families and caregivers during the daytime hours.
Programming at each Adult Day Centre will vary. Here are some examples of what they may offer:
- supervised individual or group activities
- cognitive stimulation
- health monitoring
- personal care (for example bathing, foot care)
- snacks and nutritious meals
- help with toileting
- health care teaching
- helpful information
Adult Day Centres that are contracted by the Department of Social Development follow the department’s Adult Day Standards.
The hours and days of operation will vary between Adult Day Centres. Each centre will charge a daily cost. Costs for other services may apply, such as transportation
COVID-19
Many Adult Day Centres closed due to COVID-19. Check with your local centre to find out its status. Caregivers and families may connect with their social worker to discuss different options for support.
While most Adult Day Centres are open to anyone, they are best suited to meet your needs if you:
- Are 65 or older,
- Need help to improve or maintain your physical, social, mental, and emotional well-being, and
- You are living with dementia or other mild cognitive impairments.
In some situations, individuals aged 55 – 64 years old can apply to attend an Adult Day Centre.
The program is also a support for caregivers who need relief outside the home during the day.
You can access Adult Day Centres two different ways:
- Contact one of the Adult Day Centres located throughout the province directly. At that time, you can discuss with the Adult Day Centre staff about how they can meet your needs.
- Apply through the Long Term Care Program. They will help you assess, plan, and coordinate the services you need. You may qualify for financial help towards the cost of services. The cost of meals is not covered by the program.
Did you know you can apply online for the Long Term Care Program? Visit the Long Term Care Program to learn more!
To access an Adult Day Centre directly here are some steps to consider:
Look through the list of Adult Day Centres who have a contract with Social Development to see what programs may be available in your community.
Call and ask about the following to help with your decision:
- the cost per day,
- extra costs for meals, transportation etc.,
- hours of operation,
- available programming. Do they have a calendar or a description of what a typical day looks like?
- other services available (bathing, footcare etc.)
Ask to have a tour and possibly a trial day.
Ask what days and hours the centre has space available. Discuss a schedule based on what best suits your needs.
If you need help to pay for the program, you can call 1-833-733-7835 to see if you are eligible for financial help.
Each Adult Day Centre has their own process to apply. Contact your local centre(s) to learn about what information they may need.
Be prepared to answer questions such as these:
- What are your goals for attending an Adult Day Centre?
- Do you need help to walk safely?
- Do you need help with bathroom routines such as toileting?
- What kind of medications are you taking?
- Do you need additional support to participate in the program?
- How often do you think you would like to attend?
- Do you have problems with your memory?
Human Services Careers
If you love helping people, a career in human services may be right for you. A new voluntary occupational certification has been created for human service counsellors and personal support workers - visit GetCertifiedNB.ca to learn more.
The demand is high for social workers, resident attendants, personal support workers, human service counsellors and more. Visit our careers page to learn how you can support New Brunswicker's of all ages live better, healthier lives.