Kincardine wants more time to improve numbers at Day Away program

Kincardine council is concerned about the loss of the Day Away program in the municipality.

Poor attendance means no further funding for the program so it is slated to close at the end of September, with clients transported to Port Elgin, says Andy Underwood, executive director of Home and Community Support Services (HCSS) Grey-Bruce which operates the program.

In committee-of-the-whole Wednesday night (Aug. 12), council discussed the issue, along with a letter from Dr. Leanne Thomson, on behalf of the Kincardine Physicians Group.

The letter states that the physicians and the Kincardine Family Health Team were surprised to read in the local media that the Day Away program was closing and moving to Port Elgin or other communities.

"This announcement was quite unexpected as most of us were under the assumption that the Day Away program was running at capacity as supported by our Community Care Access Centre," states the letter. "None of us recalls receiving an update or requests regarding referrals to help increase the number o clients to meet capacity.

"We strongly believe that this program is an important service for our community to maintain. We strongly feel that a local program is an important resource to support both our seniors and their caregivers.

"We ask that you consider a delay in the closure of the program in order to increase the enrollment."

"People were certainly taken unawares," said councillor Laura Haight, "including the volunteers, the clients and the Family Health Team."

She suggested council contact HCSS and the South West Local Health Integration Network (LHIN) and ask for an extension of six months before closing the program, so the community has an opportunity to encourage attendance.

Since HCSS has not renewed its lease on the facility, located behind the Bargain Shop in Kincardine, Haight said there is space in the Davidson Centre to accommodate this program, and then it could be reviewed in six months.

Deputy mayor Jacqueline Faubert agreed, saying people did not seem to be aware that the program was in fear of closing due to low attendance numbers.

Committee-of-the-whole agreed to send letters to HCSS and the LHIN, asking for an extension to the spring of 2016 in order to increase awareness and bolster attendance at the Day Away program. It was also agreed to set up a meeting with the LHIN, the Kincardine physicians and Underwood to discuss the program.

That was later endorsed by council.

Earlier, Underwood said 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 its 20-year history of providing services in this community. In June, HCSS received confirmation that the Kincardine day program site does not meet the minimum requirements for future funding.

In order to maintain the current level of funded days, HCSS must move the program to Port Elgin between Sept 29 and Oct. 1.