After three years at the Stouffville Legion, AS York Region’s DAY program returns to Parkview Village

The Alzheimer Society of York Region’s (AS York) DAY program has returned to Parkview Services for Seniors after three years at the Stouffville Legion.

Parkview was the longtime home of AS York’s DAY program until the spring of 2020 when COVID-19 forced businesses and organizations to close their doors to meet government regulations and to prevent the spread of the illness that had already killed thousands of people.

It was then that Andrea Ubell, the director of programs and services at AS York, picked up the phone and began calling around, looking for a new place for clients and their families.

“I was calling everywhere - churches, restaurants, anything I could think of - then I called the Legion,” which offered their space, Ubell said.

“We had thought we would only be there for a year but that turned into three. The Legion was a welcoming and wonderful host.”

Cheryl Hogg, the President of the Legion, said Ubell reached out to past-president Murray Pattenden looking for a space where clients would be safe and be able to participate in the variety of programming that AS York offers.

“Our (banquet) room is big enough that it allowed for that. (Clients) were able to spread out. They were still able to have one room and were together, but separate.”

The Legion’s Ladies Auxiliary provided lunch each day.

Hogg said giving back to the Whitchurch-Stouffville community is what the Legion does.

“The Legion supports the community,” including sponsoring local teams and clubs, hosting contests and offering bursaries. Having AS York use their space during the pandemic was also financially beneficial for the non-profit, helping them pay their bills when things were shut down.

Ubell said when AS York moved to the Legion, it was with a smaller number of clients.

“The space was great because it was a big bright room with bathroom and kitchen. And it was very accessible.  We had a very small group, and we could keep an eye on everyone.”

As their client numbers increased, it was necessary to go back to space like Parkview, Ubell said. The DAY program officially re-opened at Parkview on June 24, 2024.

Hogg said moving back to Parkview makes sense for AS York “as it’s easier on families, especially in the winter. My mom lives with dementia and is blind and getting her in and out the house, particularly in winter, is challenging. (But) I miss hearing their music and seeing them around.”

Hogg said the Legion’s staff and volunteers often commented about how much fun clients seemed to have at the DAY program. They also said they loved listening to clients sing along with the music.

“On behalf of the team at the Alzheimer Society of York Region, we wish to express our sincere thanks to the Stouffville Legion for stepping forward during the pandemic to help ensure that the society could continue to deliver DAY programs at a difficult time,” Ubell said. “Thank you for being our home for the past three years.”

Thanks to the generosity of an anonymous donor, the Stouffville DAY program is now open four days a week, serving 20 clients a day.

AS York has been providing quality, dementia-specific adult DAY programs since 1985.  DAY programs provide structured, individualized, social programs for people living with Alzheimer’s disease and other dementias and provides respite for their care partner. 

AS York has three DAY programs in Aurora, Thornhill and Stouffville. Learn more about the DAY program.

 

Senior Manager of DAY program, Franca (far left) and Marieflor, Stouffville DAY program manager (far right), present The Legion’s Ladies Auxiliary with a token of appreciation for all their work.

 

 

Cheryl Hogg, President of the Stouffville Legion (left) and Andrea Ubell, director of programs and services at the Alzheimer Society of York Region