Adult Recreation Therapy day programs returning to Paris

By Casandra Turnbull

A valuable program that offers many services to adults with compromised health is returning to Paris next month.

The Adult Recreation Therapy Centre (ARTC) offers people who are trying to maintain a level of independence the opportunity to engage in meaningful social, recreational and therapeutic activities. An ARTC satellite program ran out of the Willett Hospital for close to 15 years but was closed in 2019 when the pandemic caused circumstantial changes at the Willett. ARTC programs continued operate out of its main location in Brantford throughout the pandemic but will reopen its satellite office for County residents starting September 28th at the Cowan Community Health Hub

After a longer than anticipated hiatus, ARTC’s return to the county gives residents a ‘closer to home’ experience and that is cause for celebration, say program organizers.

“When you see the difference attending an adult day program can make to an individual’s life and that of their care partners, you understand our drive to make it accessible to more people,” said ARTC Executive Director Lori Santilli. ARTC’s move to the Cowan Community Health Hub next month is a good fit with the facility’s purpose to offer integrated health services.

It’s also a good fit for a missing service desperately required in a rapidly growing and aging community. In 2006 when ARTC was first introduced in Paris, nearly 30% of the folks that utilized the services in Brantford were from the County of Brant. That number has certainly grown over the last 15 or more years. A new satellite office in Paris is a great start and if there’s a lot of demand for the services, Santilli said there’s a possibility it could expand from one day a week to several days, and maybe even more satellite offices throughout Brant County.

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“We know there is a need to offer adult day services to residents of the County of Brant and we are thrilled to be able to provide a service closer to home for our clients,” echoes Chris Ayres, program coordinator. “Vested in our service is the opportunity for our clients to live their lives to the fullest,” said Ayres, citing ARTC’s LIVE YOUR LIFE motto.

Caroline Casey and Shelby McConnell are the two recreation therapists who will run the County program. They both agree this program gives residents a chance to get out of their homes, socialize and participate in a variety of activities from social to intellectual to therapeutic It’s also an equally beneficial program for caregivers to give them a few hours of respite. ARTC is a unique community-based adult day program for individuals with debilitating diseases such as stroke, Parkinson’s, Multiple Sclerosis, as well as frail and socially isolated individuals. Services are provided by qualified recreation therapists, kinesiologists, pathologists, and social workers ARTC’s core business is the adult day program but offers many more including (some accessible in Brantford only) the Aphasia Program that hosts supportive conversation groups for people living with aphasia because of a stroke or acquired brain injury, the Brain Warrior Advocacy Group, Stroke Recovery Group, the popular S.A.F.E Zone Seniors, a community exercise and falls prevention program and Care Support Groups amongst others (find a complete list of programs here)

Santilli is proud to recognize that ARTC has always taken an innovative and collaborative approach to its services, which is something that is now promoted and expected in the transformation of today’s healthcare system.

Santilli began her career as a recreation therapist at St. Joseph’s Hospital in Brantford. She’s a member of the Brantford Brant Norfolk Community Health Team. She’s been Executive Director of ARTC for over 30 years

The Brantford based ARTC program has operated at several locations since its inception in 1977. Its current location at 58 Easton Road is home to the Aphasia Program, care giver support services, functional exercise programs, foot care clinics, massage therapy clinics (through Mohawk College) and various support groups. ARTC is a not-for-profit organization funded by the HNHB, LHIN and the Brant United Way It’s newest office on Easton Road was a true community partnership among many ARTC supporters including the Rotary Club Sunrise who helped contribute the financial support required to make the move to the larger state-of-the-art building. The extra space and expansion into the county will enable ARTC to continue to provide valuable services to individuals and caregivers but also lends support to an already overburdened healthcare system by helping people remain in their home, healthy and independent It has long been recognized that the trend continues whereby individuals are living longer, living with a variety of co-morbidities of challenges, and that increased responsibility is being placed on caregivers, said Santilli. “Coupled with the reality of muchneeded improvements and better integration in our healthcare system, the collaboration of healthcare partners is even more essential.”

The Brantford ARTC is open Monday to Friday 8:30 am to 4:30 pm The Paris program at the Cowan Community Health will begin Thursday, September 14th and run every Thursday from 8:30 am to 4 pm. Mayor David Bailey and local dignitaries will help ARTC celebrate its satellite office grand opening on September 28th at 10:30 am.