Huntington Adult Day Care Center Marks 30th Anniversary

The Town of Huntington’s Adult Day Care Center – the first of its kind opened by a Long Island township – enjoyed its 30th anniversary with a special celebration on Friday, Nov. 14.

Located in the Village Green Center at 423 Park Avenue, the center serves the frail elderly and those with cognitive challenges. It provides a structured program of daily activities, crafts, parties and day trips to help maintain physical and cognitive abilities, socialization, companionship and enhanced self-esteem.

Celebrating on Friday with a cake and live entertainment were the center’s current 64 members along with early supporters. Also present were town officials, who paid tribute to those who 30 years ago turned the vision behind the center into a reality.

“There were people who took a great deal of pain and effort to make this the one and only adult day care center that we had on Long Island,” Huntington Supervisor Frank Petrone said.

Other communities shared a similar vision, and within a year of the Huntington center launching, the Town of Southold opened one as well.

On Friday, supporters were happy to share in the Huntington center’s celebration.

Sr. Carmelina Lally, one of the program’s early directors, helped cut the cake, along with member Alicia Royon.

Member Domenick Torrillo, whose father-in-law was a member previously, led the group in the Pledge of Allegiance and in the singing of “America” and “God Bless America.”

Diane Cavaluzzi, said her mother Frances Harkness visits the center daily.

“Every day she looks forward to attending,” Cavaluzzi said. “My family and I see the joy in her face when we pick her up at the end of the day. Knowing that mom is in a safe, warm, caring environment gives me a great sense of peace and puts me at ease so that I can keep my appointments, do my errands and well as some socializing.”

Louise Farley, whose husband, Gregory Farley, attended for about two years before the progression of Alzheimer’s Disease required his move to a nursing home, read a letter written by one of the daughters. From the letter, Louise read:

“Over the past two years, my father, Gregory Farley has benefitted significantly from the nutritious meals and the highly developed programs available to him and administered with the utmost care and regard for his special needs. Knowing that he was in a safe, secure and compassionate environment gave our mother, his primary caregiver, the freedom to tend to her own needs, and it gave three out-of-state daughters and their families much needed peace of mind.”

The center first opened its doors on Nov. 13, 1984, capping a five-year effort to explore the feasibility and details of offering a place where frail elderly and those with cognitive issues could receive support, care and programs meeting their needs, and family caregivers could experience respite from their responsibilities while having the peace of mind that their loved one received care.

The exploratory effort included visits by the Geriatric Day Care Committee of the Huntington Health Council to the Hillside Aged Program in Manhattan and the Jewish Home and Hospital for the Aged Day Care Program in the Bronx. The concept was subsequently discussed at a town senior citizens advisory board meeting. The chair of the health council geriatric day care committee noted at that meeting that the Town’s Village Green Center would be a good location because it would “easily mesh” with the town’s senior nutrition program.

When the center opened on Nov. 13, 1984, it had three members. By the end of the month, the center boasted 11 members.

The program was originally open from 8 a.m. to 6 p.m. Two drivers in town vans picked up participants and took them home. In the first year, a total of 55 people enrolled. The Town of Huntington contributed $30,000 to the opening of the program. Suffolk County Department of Health provided staff training and nursing support for the program.

The facility expanded in 2006 to increase the size of the dining area and large group room and add two activity rooms, additional bathroom facilities, and a vestibule. Since 2006, the center has had a caregiver respite care contract with Suffolk County Office for the Aging, which pays for one day a week attendance for qualifying ADC members. Additionally, the center has three active contracts for Medicaid managed long-term care.

The center has a long-term friendship with the Lions Club in Melville, Northport-Centerport and East Northport.

The center is open Monday-Friday from 8 a.m. to 4 p.m. The program includes a continental breakfast and main meal. Individual transportation, with handicapped accessibility, is provided free of charge for Town of Huntington residents. The fees are budget-friendly and are accepted by some long-term care insurance plans and Medicaid.

For more information about the program, call 631-351-3293.