In the past, nursing home care seemed like an inevitable option for aging seniors. But the New Bedford-based Project Independence and the Dartmouth Council on Aging are working to shatter that stereotype to keep seniors in their homes and in their communities for as long as possible.

That’s the mission of both the Council on Aging’s Social Day Program, and Project Independence, a nonprofit organization which operates an adult day health care center on Elm Street in New Bedford.

Social Day programs are held inside the Dartmouth Street Council on Aging building, but are more structured than the Council’s drop-in programs and activities to better serve clients with more needs, explained program director Maria Aguiar.

“Our clients are very independent,” Aguiar said. “They may have medical diagnoses where they need a walker or a cane or need help with playing games due to memory loss or confusion, but for the most part they are very capable of doing things independently with the help of the staff.”

The program runs Mondays through Fridays from 8:30 a.m. to 2:30 p.m., and includes catered breakfast, lunch, and afternoon snacks, along with daily activities like crafts, card games, social outings, and seasonal events. There is one staff member for every eight clients.

The program has been growing in popularity, with an average of 20-25 seniors attending on any given day and 50 signed up overall.

Aguiar’s staff monitors each client to watch out for their strengths, weaknesses, and when they might need more support than what is offered at Social Day.

“It’s always that brink between when someone just needs supervision versus when they need real, one-on-one care and a lot more attention,” Aguiar said.

When that happens, Aguiar reviews next steps with the families and clients about more intricate care. Although nursing home placement is an option, by far the most popular outcome is Project Independence.

“We’re all working to keep the elder or the adult with disabilities within the community for as long as possible,” said Project Independence Executive Director Karen A. Maciulewicz. “We’re both alternatives to the nursing home.”

Like Social Day, Project Independence also offers an adult day program at its Elm Street health care center, with more focus on medical care with skilled nursing and health care services on-site.

A staff of trained nurses offers services including medical case and diabetes management, medication administration, and physical, occupational, and speech therapy.

Project Independence averages about 45 clients each weekday, with between 20-22 on Saturdays. A total of 70 clients are enrolled.

In addition to services for clients, both programs also provide breaks and a sense of relief for families who might be serving as caregivers, who can trust that their loved one is safe and being cared for.

Officials from both organizations are trying to get the word out about their programs. To that end, they are teaming up with Dartmouth Community Television to air shows offering tours of both facilities and an overview of each organization.

“It’s like a virtual tour,” said Council on Aging Director Amy DiPietro. “A lot of times that’s the hardest part: just getting someone through the door to see what they’re going to be walking in to. A lot of elders have a really big anxiety about that and the preconception of what they’re going to walk into is very different than the reality.”

The program will air on DCTV stating on September 6 at 10:30 a.m. and 3:30 p.m. Other air times are September 7, 3:30 p.m.; September 8, 9:30 a.m. and 4 p.m.; September 9, 11:30 a.m., 4 p.m.; September 10, 7 a.m. and 5:30 p.m.; September 11, 9:30 a.m., 5 p.m., and September 12, 8:30 a.m. and 5 p.m.

It is also available to stream online at DCTV’s on demand website.

​sept 6 1030am, 330pm

sept 7 330pm

sept 8 930am, 430pm

sept 9 1130am, 400pm

sept 10 700am, 530pm

sept11 930am, 500pm

sept 12 830am 330pm

The program will air on DCTV. The program can also be watched online through DCTV's on demand system.