Day Care

Day care remains one of the foundation blocks of community care. It provides a vital link and the life for many frail and isolated older people in the province. It offers the opportunity for older people to retain ol skills, learn new ones and access a range of other community based services including the dietetics, podiatry and hairdressing.

Each week 750 older people attend Age Concern day centres and we were particulary delighted this year to celebrate the 100th birthday of Mrs Mary Atchenson who attends the centre in East Belfast.

Dementia day care services in Newcastle , Dungannon, Lisburn Newry and Kilkeel offer clientes a homely environment providing person cented care plans where the individual needs of the person with dementia are recongnised and supported.

General Day care in Dungannon, East Belfast and Ballynahinch enables frail dependent older people access to programmes of health and rehabilitation. The centres primarily cater for older people who live alone in many cases in isolated rural areas. Individual care plans based on social and person care programmes are available for all clients who require specialist support.

Social day care programmes in Lisburn and Portaferry bring a much needed social support service to older people who feel very isolated within their community and who benefit from contact with and company of others. Each centre provides a range of activities and educational programmes including crafts and health promotion.

"Getting out to the centre every Tuesday gives me something to look forward to. I enjoy the company especially when having a meal as I live alone. I feel part of something and I know I am safe. I am collected on the bus and enjoy the outing to collect my friends going up and down the roads. I used to be able to walk when I was young."(quote from family member)