Martha’s Vineyard Center for Living

Supportive Day Program….

Essential Island-wide programs for Vineyard Elders

The Supportive Day Program provides for the health, well-beingof very vulnerable Islanders. Entire families are supported; caregivers can go to work with the assurance that their loved ones are safe and cared for.There is no other program that meets the needs of individuals who cannot independently participate in existing activities and services; adults who are otherwise alone and at risk of social isolation. The Supportive Day Program is designed for this group of older adults, with programs tailored to meet their needs; improving quality of life emotionally, intellectually, and physically.

Like many other such programs in the Commonwealth, the Supportive Day Program has been municipally supported since 1985. It is a successful example of long term collaboration among all six towns and every Council on Aging.

The number of clients in the Supportive Day Program has reached its current capacity of 18 per day. There is usually a waiting list.

The number of clients with early to mid-stage Alzheimer’s disease has doubled in the past 5 years, and with other dementias will continue to grow as the chance of dementia doubles every 5 years after age 65 until age 75 when 43% of the population is likely to have dementia and at 85, 45% of population is likely to have dementia, primarily Alzheimer’s.

Since local Senior Centers can NOT provide adequate dedicated space, the Supportive Day Program operates alternately between 2 towns, Edgartown and Vineyard Haven, creating client confusion, and impairing our ability to provide quality programs.

Seven years of diligent searchingand has ended with the availability of the VNA building which has been found to be the most viable and reasonable option, financially and functionally.

WITHOUT passage of the Warrant articles for the purchase of the building, the program will continue to be limited to 18 clients per day, and to 4 days per week; thisin the face of rapidly growing client population.

Capacity / Year / Potential Service Population all Srs. / Percent With some disability / Likely Potential Population / % Served w/Current Building
18 / 1990 / 1771 / 48% / 850 / 3%
18 / 2000 / 2107 / 48% / 1011 / 2%
With some dementia
18 / 2010 / 2546 / 43% / 1095 / 2%
18 / 2015* / 3570 / 43% / 1535 / 2%
18 / 2030 / 4595 / 45% / 2068 / 1%

The effects of social isolation, often underestimated, have been substantially researched and documented to include depression, declining mental status (leading to dementia) and physical strength, leading to early death.

THE ECONOMICS OF IT

Collaboration among towns and other island institutions, to improve and expand island-wide programs makes economic sense. It is not cost effective or feasible for any one town to provide services such as the Supportive Day Program. Without the Supportive Day Program, most families are unable to withstand the high cost of in-home care.

Outcomes of the Martha’s Vineyard Center for Living Programs yield on-going Benefits to all

Short-Term Outcomes
(1-3 years)
  • Client:
  • General health, memory, ability to focus and engage in conversation is improved.
  • Depression is decreased or absent.
  • Client is more engaged with family members.
  • Client Family:
  • Happier mood & less tension exists in household, Caregivers can maintain employment & miss fewer work days.
  • Lost wages are minimal.
  • Illness in family members is reduced.
  • Family economics, health and well-being are improved or stabilized.
Long-Term Outcomes
(4-6 years)
  • Community Benefits
  • Pressures on health services are minimized.
  • Business losses due to caregiver absence is minimized.
  • Family debt is minimized avoiding defaulting on obligations. Community economics and productivity are minimally impacted.
  • Social health in the community is not parallel to aging rate of general population.
  • Death rates due to heart disease are reduced.
  • Aging at home becomes the norm.
  • Productivity for the employer is not impacted.
  • Clients are less likely to become seriously depressed or aggravated or experience heart disease.
  • Medical expenses for family is minimized reducing medical expenses, avoiding bankruptcy or forcing sale of home.
  • Clients will escape the 4x as likely for morbidity & repeat hospitalization.