MVHS to close its adult day health care program

UTICA, N.Y. — Mohawk Valley Health System (MVHS) announced it will shutter its adult day health care program on Friday, June 7. The health-care organization cited declining demand for the program as well as staffing challenges as the reasons behind the closure. The program had ceased operations during the pandemic, reopening in June 2023. According to the MVHS website, the program was a medical model program that operated under the supervision of a registered nurse to provide health care along with social, educational, and recreational activities along with transportation within a 10-mile radius. The cost listed online was $110 for an adult day health care visit with transportation costing $25 one way, or $50 for round-trip transportation. Services provided during the program included nursing care, meals, various therapy services, case management, social work, psychological counseling, therapeutic activities, dental assessments, podiatry services, health education, pastoral care, lab services, pharmacy, and barber/beautician services. MVHS indicated in a press release that its staff has worked with each program registrant to ensure they have a plan in place after the closure. This included notifying the registrants’ care teams, providing a list of community resources and other programs, helping registrants and their caregivers create a transition plan, and assisting in the transfer to another medical day program if desired. The adult day health care program was offered at the Center for Rehabilitation and Continuing Care Services facility on the St. Luke’s Healthcare campus in the town of New Hartford. The hospital on that campus was closed in October when MVHS moved to its new Wynn Hospital facility in downtown Utica. MVHS is currently working with Mohawk Valley EDGE and the town to examine possible reuses of the campus.