Hanna Center is partnering to launch a new program on its campus that will provide adult daytime care services for Sonoma Valley residents and others with cognitive challenges as well as respite for their caregivers.
Today & Together, which is targeted to open on Jan. 5, in a 5,600-square-foot space, will offer approximately 110 seniors supervised care, meals and structured activities that will be available Monday through Friday from 8 a.m. to 6 p.m. Educational offerings for caregivers also will be provided.
“This program represents a new chapter of care for Sonoma Valley, filling a long-standing gap in services for older adults with dementia and their caregivers,” said Cameron Safarloo, president and CEO of Hanna Center. “For example, Vintage House offers a small program that can serve a handful of individuals. Today & Together was developed to provide expanded support for adults with dementia and allow them to remain at home with their families for as long as possible.”
Whitney Evans, a member of the governing board for the CarePartners Initiative — which spreads awareness of the challenges facing Sonoma residents with cognitive decline and provides support for them — said that care from family and friends is their primary source of support.
“My experience as a caregiver for my wife gave me a deep understanding of the need and benefits of day care,” he said. “As dementia progresses over 10 to 15 years, the demands grow from manageable to 24/7 care, which often forces families into costly facility placement.”
Evans said that in Sonoma Valley, about 1,000 people are currently living with dementia and that number is projected to double in the next decade.
“This is a crisis we need to face directly,” he said.
Participants in the Today & Together program must by 60 years of age or older with dementia and cognitive decline, but individuals with other difficulties, including frail older adults, also may be eligible. Also, waivers may be granted for younger individuals with conditions such as early-onset Alzheimer’s disease and stroke recovery. Individuals with psychiatric diagnoses will not be served due to state regulations.
“Today & Together will likely serve a number of Sonoma Valley residents due to proximity, but participants are welcome from all surrounding areas,” Safarloo said.
Hanna Center did not create the program but will work in partnership with it to provide services. Today & Together will oversee the daily operations and monitor the quality of offerings.
The program is licensed to serve up to 75 participants daily but is planning to serve around 50 each day to maintain a personalized atmosphere. Based on an average attendance of two days per week, roughly 110 different people will be served.
“Participation will be determined by the time of enrollment, with assessments required for placement,” Safarloo said. “We encourage those who are eager to participate to visit the Today & Together website (todayandtogether.com) to be sure to be the first to know when we begin opening the facility for tours, assessments and registration.”
The cost for participants will be $25 to $150 per day, based on their ability to pay. A morning snack, lunch and an afternoon snack will be provided for participants every day.
Safarloo said that participants typically will attend the program from midmorning to the late afternoon, but that it will run for 10 hours every weekday to support caregivers who work full time.
Activities will include mobility and exercise classes tailored to ability levels—including chair exercises and walking programs—as well as arts and music programs, games, cultural and educational activities, and opportunities for social connection in small groups.
“Smaller groups allow for more individualized attention and engagement,” Safarloo said. “In larger groups, some participants may become passive or withdrawn. By working in groups of six to 10, staff can encourage meaningful participation, build personal connections and tailor activities to each individual’s abilities and interests.”
He said that a core part of the program’s mission is to provide caregiver support.
“By offering full-day, structured programming for adults with dementia, Today & Together gives caregivers essential respite so they can work, rest or attend to other responsibilities,” Safarloo said.
It also will offer caregiver education and support groups, including guidance on managing stress, redirecting behaviors and accessing community resources.
“This ensures that caregivers are cared for alongside their loved ones,” Safarloo said.
The program’s staff will include an executive director, a program director, a volunteer coordinator and personal care aides. A geriatric nurse practitioner will serve as a consultant. Volunteers will assist with enrichment activities and help to limit costs.
Today & Together is being launched through the financial assistance of a Sonoma Valley resident who wants to remain anonymous. Evans also played a major role.
“My experience as a caregiver for my wife gave me a deep understanding of the needs and benefits of day care,” Evans said. “I supported the philanthropist behind this effort by contributing my local knowledge and connections, and by helping evaluate potential facilities. Identifying (and securing) the Hanna Center building exceeded all expectations.”
Evans also helped to form an advisory committee to support the program.
“My ongoing focus is on caregiver support and community relations,” he said.
The program’s estimated startup cost is $700,000.
“Long-term, it will be sustained through participant fees, supported by scholarships,” Safarloo said. “The program will be financially self-sustaining and not reliant on fundraising once it stabilizes. Individuals committed to the program’s success have pledged support to ensure it remain financially viable and accessible.”
The program plans to collaborate with other organizations that offer services for those with dementia, including Vintage House and Friends in Sonoma Helping for transportation, as well as CarePartners Initiative’s Memory Café program and the Alzheimer’s Association.
Evans said that CarePartners Initiative will support caregivers through education, community connections and reducing their isolation.
He is excited about the potential of the program, saying that he feels “relief and gratitude” that it will be opening in just a few months on the Hanna Center campus.
“The crisis (facing those with dementia and their caregivers) has been clear for years, and while state planning has helped to raise awareness, having an experienced investor step forward to fund a program here in Sonoma Valley is remarkable,” he said. “This is a real solution that allows families to pursue the vital goal of aging in place.”
Evans expects that more than the estimated 110 people who will be admitted to Today & Together will want to participate.
“The need is greater than what one program can serve,” he said. “But if this program can be successful, it can be a model for other communities like Healdsburg or Sebastopol to adopt, ensuring more families will have access to care.”
Hanna Center has indicated that at some point, it may integrate the program into its system of care.
“The partnership is already showing benefits of collaboration,” Safarloo said.