Our Health and Social Care Partnership’s (HSCP) 10 day care centres for older people are helping to relieve loneliness and enable people to live more independently in their communities, by offering those who need a little more care and support a great way to spend the day.

The day care centres run Monday to Friday and provide older people in Glasgow aged 65 and above with practical assistance and a chance to socialise in their community with support from trained staff.
All that attend the day care centres are assessed and given an individualised support plan to ensure that they’re well cared for and that their specific needs are met. 
Mandy Downs, Meadowburn Day Care Manager said: “It makes me so proud to be able to welcome our service users. Day care services are not just for the person attending, they’re also really important for the family to have some respite. Having the knowledge that their loved ones are looked after and happy is really important.”

A typical day at a day care centre starts with a wheelchair accessible minibus picking the service user up from their house to take them to the purpose-built centre. See what it's like to spend the day at one of our day care centres by watching our Day Care video. 

Upon arrival, a lovely spread of tea, coffee and toast is available in the dining room. After some refreshments, the service users are given the opportunity to decide what activity they want to participate in. This could involve making crafts, using a reminiscence box, playing board games, joining an exercise class, bingo, listening to music, watching a film and more.

Marie, a day care service user who has been attending the centre for over a year, said: “I come here three days a week because I stay in a block of flats so you hardly see anybody.”

Once the morning activities have concluded, lunch is served in the dining room for all service users. The menu changes daily and caters to all diets and needs. 

Alec, a day care service user, said: “I’ve made new friends. I don’t always remember their name, but I enjoy talking to them.”

He added: “Before coming here I used to just sit in my chair all day and snooze, now I’m so happy to come here and do all the activities.”

After lunch, more activities take place until the service users make their way back home safely. 

Every week at the day care centre is different as activities and events vary from day to day. The centres also organise outings such as a river cruise and museum visits.  

Mandy Downs said: “We notice a big difference in the service users who attend the centre. They become more independent, their spirits lift and their mobility improves.”

The day care centres currently have vacancies available across the city. Robin Wallace, our HSCP’s Head of Residential and Day Care Services, is urging people to spread the word for those who might need a little more care and support to maintain their independence in their community. 

He said: “Day care centres are a fantastic way to ensure your loved ones are taken care of while maintaining their independence. We have 10 state of the art facilities that are ready to welcome new service users and make a difference in their life.”

To access a day centre, you can be referred by a social worker, a relative, GP, or you can self-refer. For those interested in attending the centre, we may be able to arrange a taster day.

To make your application, or to find out more, visit www.yoursupportglasgow.org/daycare.