The Sunshine Center, licensed by AHCA #9081, and VA approved, is COA’s therapeutic adult day care center in St. Augustine, Florida, offering care for adults with a focus on assisting individuals with memory problems.
The Sunshine Center is one of just a handful of centers that are licensed to provide adult day care in St. Johns County. Participants here enjoy skilled care, nutritious meals, exercise, socialization, and activities all geared toward improving the lives of those dealing with memory loss, brain trauma, Alzheimer’s disease, or other forms of dementia. The center also offers much-needed respite time for caregivers.
The Sunshine Center is open Monday through Friday from 8:00 am until 4:00 pm (closed on major holidays.) Individuals have the option of participating daily or weekly as best suits their needs.
“The Sunshine Center provides a special type of therapeutic adult day health care experience serving individuals with dementia and/or other chronic illnesses,” explains founder and manager Paulette Kozlowski, RN. “What makes it so special is that the program is designed as an activity center with a lifelong learning theme. The daily agenda includes a different and specific topic of the day. Participants experience an array of cognitive stimulation, as they see and hear about that topic’s history, take a virtual field trip covering information and travel about the topic, take part in trivia and brain games, art, and music geared to the day’s topic. Added to the agenda are cardio chair exercise, group games, sing-alongs with our very talented volunteer musicians, and outdoor activities as weather permits.”
The center is designed to provide a pleasurable therapeutic experience that captures the attention and provides enjoyment and companionship for persons in all stages of their illness.
Participants receive person-centered “best friend” care by skilled and certified Nursing Assistants, specially trained Program Assistants and volunteers, as well as nursing students, occupational therapy students, and physical therapy students from local colleges.
The program offers nutritious lunches, morning and afternoon snacks, medication administration, weight and vital sign monitoring, and personal care as needed.
Contact us at (904) 209-3700 to learn more about our program, fees, and to schedule a pre-admission interview to see if the program is right for you and your loved one. Scroll below to read what participants and their families say about the Sunshine Center.
When someone is affected by Alzheimer’s disease or dementia, it is a battle involving heartache for both caregiver and the person diagnosed. Sometimes, it can feel like nobody understands or even cares. Both parties are overwhelmed, lonely, and don’t know where to turn.
This was how the story began for both Kay and Joyce. Kay admitted that the loneliness can bring her to tears sometimes. Joyce said that living alone can be a real challenge.
This is where COA’s Sunshine Center can help. The center is a safe, secured facility that allows people with dementia and Alzheimer’s disease to receive a full day of care along with a wide array of cognitive and physical activities. Participants are given lunch, exercise, Bingo (Kay’s favorite!), pet therapy, music therapy, arts & crafts, haircuts, and so much more.
“These people are my family, too,” said Kay. “I’m very comfortable here; very happy. It’s easy to make friends with good conversation and a smile.”
Companionship is an extremely vital part of the Sunshine Center. The Center provides participants with a place to belong, which fights off loneliness, depression, and despair, and in turn improves their quality of life. The center validates that they are valued, needed, and important.
“I just like being here among friends,” Joyce chimed in. “I’m always ready to sing and play games. Coming here helps my daughter so she can take a break.”
Allowing a caregiver respite time is essential for those facing this situation with a loved one. More often than not, caregivers still need to work and may have children of their own for which to care. The Sunshine Center allows caregivers the opportunity to go to work with the assurance that their loved ones are safe. It also provides time for them to attend to the necessities of life, go shopping for a few hours, or even see a movie.
COA also offers caregiver education, resources, and support groups so that caregivers can get the support they need from peers experiencing many of the same issues and concerns. To learn more about our Community Care-Giving program, click here.
Scroll below to read what our caregivers say about the Sunshine Center:
“When my husband is at the Sunshine Center, I am totally confident that he is getting the best care possible – this allows me to relax and enjoy my day worry-free. I can depend on the staff to give me feedback and advice on the care of my husband. I depend upon their expertise – I feel supported. The entire staff goes ‘above and beyond’ – they are all incredible!”
“Having my loved one attend the Sunshine Center has GREATLY improved the quality of life for both my loved one and myself, the caregiver. My loved one gets the opportunity to be around others in a structured and safe environment. He gets the option to participate in activities and challenged mentally in the topics shared daily. He loves attending and always says he had a good day. For me, as the caregiver, the Sunshine Center and their amazing staff are a lifeline! I get time to myself to get things done or to take care of myself while knowing my loved one is in excellent hands. I am so grateful we found the Sunshine Center for my loved one to attend!!! I can’t imagine life without this wonderful place!!!”
“I am very happy with the adult day care, and so is my husband. The crew there are wonderful. They take very good care of him. I can leave him and not worry. I can go in peace knowing he is in good hands.”
“My loved one loves going to the Sunshine Center. He rushes out to get on the bus to go to the center. He would rather go there than stay at home with me. He enjoys being with people and this gives him the opportunity to interact with others, and it gives me time to do the things I need to do without taking him with me.”
“I’m able to not be stressed out and to take care of my health and to meet my needs as well as others in my family. My mom loves the program and it helps her in her life in so many ways. She feels independent, like she has a life too. We are very happy with all the staff there. They really care. Thank you so very much.”
“As the caregiver, the Sunshine Center gives me the time alone to get all important tasks done without hesitation, which in turn alleviates stress for me. I count on the Center for support because I don’t have any other support to help me with him. I’m his 24/7 and that gets hard!”
“The Sunshine Center has allowed me to comply with my employment requirements, which, in turn, gets me out of the house and interacting with other people my age for a few hours which is a nice break. Dad has gotten pretty sedentary at home, so the exercises and activities are good for him when he goes to “class.” And he has never made a negative remark towards anyone there. He truly likes the staff.”
“The Sunshine Center has been making an enormous difference in both our lives in a positive manner that is hard to explain. My husband has been involved in many fun and creative activities with other participants. Knowing that my husband is safe and taken care of at the center is particularly important to me, so I could plan my time and schedule my health appointments or give me time off to recharge. Thus, the center has provided me as a caregiver much needed respite time.
We are giving special thanks and recognition to the Sunshine Center staff and volunteers for providing such tender loving care to all participants and the St. Augustine community.”
For more information about COA’s caregiver support program, Community Care-Giving, please click here.
The Sunshine Center is open Monday-Friday from 8:00 a.m. – 4:00 p.m. and is licensed by AHCA #9081. For more information, please call Council on Aging at 904-209-3700.
